Activewear & Swimwear

1.   Activewear & Swimwear

Swimwear fabric should be composed of 100% man-made fibers. Natural fibers such as cotton will absorb water, making it an impractical choice. Look for fabrics that are mostly composed of nylon (from 80% to 90%) but also have a significant amount of Lycra or spandex (10% to 20%).

Polyester is extremely chlorine resistant and colorfast, and you can usually expect a polyester swimsuit to last at least 2-3 times longer than a Lycra suit. “100% polyester” usually means a near equal blend of polyester and PBT – a special type of polyester that has the stretch needed for swimwear.

Whether blended with Lycra® or by itself, polyester is the leading fabric for competitive swimwear. New technologies in polyester have improved the hand and feel of the material, allowing it to surpass other fabrics. Polyester holds its color and is resistant to chlorine.

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