Swimwear Fabric
Composition
82% Polyester / 18% Elastane (Nylon-Elastane & Recycled options available)
Weight
180-240 GSM
Swimwear Fabric Manufacturer & Swimming Costume Material Supplier
FuncFabric is a factory-direct manufacturer of high-performance swimwear fabric — the four-way stretch, chlorine-resistant swimming costume material used by apparel brands and OEM partners to produce swimsuits, competition swimwear, bikinis and performance beachwear.
Our core swimwear fabric is an 82% polyester / 18% elastane knit engineered for the demands of pool and open-water use: excellent chlorine resistance, superior shape retention, UPF 50+ sun protection and fast drying. Nylon-elastane (soft-touch) and GRS-certified recycled blends are also available for fashion and sustainable collections.
Supplied at 180–240 GSM, 150 cm width, and sublimation-ready for bright, permanent prints, our swimwear fabric holds colour and shape wash after wash. With a starting price of $3.50/m and a 1,000 m MOQ, we support both sampling and full production runs with consistent specification control.
Key properties
- Chlorine resistance: Excellent — built for repeated pool exposure.
- Stretch: True four-way stretch with superior recovery
- Sun protection: UPF 50+ (blocks 98% of UV)
- Colourfastness: High, sublimation-print ready
- Quick-drying and shape-retentive
- Certifications available: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, GRS (recycled options)
| Option | Composition | Best for |
| Polyester-Elastane (standard) | 82% PES / 18% EL | Training, pool, printed swimwear |
| Nylon-Elastane | 80% PA / 20% EL | Fashion & premium soft-touch swimwear |
| Recycled Polyester (GRS) | rPET + Elastane | Sustainable collections |
| Recycled Nylon (ECONYL-type) | Recycled PA + Elastane | Premium sustainable swimwear |
Blend options
OptionCompositionBest for
Polyester-Elastane (standard)
82% PES / 18% EL
Training, pool, printed swimwear
Nylon-Elastane
80% PA / 20% EL
Fashion & premium soft-touch swimwear
Recycled Polyester (GRS)
rPET + Elastane
Sustainable collections
Recycled Nylon (ECONYL-type)
Recycled PA + Elastane
Premium sustainable swimwear
New to swimwear fabrics? Read our complete guide to swimming costume material to compare fibre types before you order.
→ Request free swimwear fabric samples · Get a bulk quote
Related Products & Applications
Swimwear Fabric is part of FuncFabric's broader UV Protection Fabric category, engineered to shield skin from harmful solar radiation while maintaining comfort and durability. It shares core performance characteristics with several complementary fabrics in our lineup. Like our UPF 50+ Fabric, Swimwear Fabric delivers maximum-rated ultraviolet blocking, making it ideal for prolonged sun exposure. It also aligns closely with UV Resistant Polyester Fabric, which offers similar colorfastness and dimensional stability under intense sunlight and repeated wear. For customers building complete sun-safe product lines, Swimwear Fabric pairs naturally with Sun Protective Apparel Fabric to cover both water-based and land-based garment needs.
Typical applications for Swimwear Fabric extend well beyond swimsuits. It is widely used in Sportswear & Activewear, where quick-dry performance and four-way stretch support high-movement designs such as rash guards, training tops, and competitive racing suits. It is equally suited to Outdoor Apparel, including sun-protective cover-ups, beachwear, and water-sport garments that demand both flexibility and lasting UV defense.
These applications make Swimwear Fabric a strong fit for the Sportswear & Fitness Industry, where breathable, chlorine-resistant, and UV-blocking materials are essential for athletic performance. It also serves the Outdoor & Adventure Industry, supplying reliable sun protection for surfing, paddleboarding, sailing, and coastal recreation.
FuncFabric supplies Swimwear Fabric on flexible wholesale terms, with a typical minimum order quantity of 500 meters per color or specification. We offer full OEM and ODM customization, including custom weights, finishes, prints, and UPF ratings tailored to your brand. Standard production lead times range from 15 to 30 days depending on order volume and finishing requirements. Contact our team for samples, pricing, and bulk order support.
Can you match custom colours for swimwear fabric?
Yes. We match custom colours to Pantone references, physical swatches or approved lab dips, and prepare strike-offs for approval before mass production. For recycled swim fabric we lean on lab dips more heavily, since recycled feedstock can shift colour slightly between batches.
What is the minimum order quantity for swimwear fabric?
Most swimwear fabric starts from around 1000 meters per colour, though certain stock-supported blends and development projects can run lower. MOQ shifts with composition, weight and finishing, so tell us the build and we will confirm the exact minimum.
Does recycled swimwear fabric perform as well as virgin?
At the spec band we run, recycled polyester matches virgin on the numbers that matter for swim: chlorine resistance, four-way stretch, UPF 50+ and quick dry. The one honest trade-off is colour, since recycled feedstock varies slightly batch to batch, which we manage with lab dips before bulk.
What is recycled swimwear fabric made from?
Recycled swimwear fabric is usually spun from post-consumer PET bottles into RPET polyester, then blended with elastane for stretch. Recycled-nylon versions are also made from reclaimed nylon waste such as fishing nets, and both can carry GRS certification for traceability.
Does swimwear fabric offer UV protection?
Tightly knit swim fabric can reach UPF 50+, blocking more than 98 percent of harmful UV radiation. The protection comes from a dense weave plus UV-absorbing engineering, and it holds up through chlorine and saltwater rather than washing out.
What GSM is best for swimwear fabric?
180-200 GSM suits lightweight fashion swimwear, 200-220 GSM is the workhorse band for most one-pieces, and 220-240 GSM gives the compression and opacity needed for team and competition suits. Below 180 GSM the fabric can turn transparent when wet.
How long does chlorine-resistant swimwear fabric last?
A pool-grade polyester-elastane holding 100-plus hours of chlorine exposure typically lasts two to three times longer than a standard swim fabric. For a daily lap swimmer or swim-team member, that is the difference between a suit surviving a full season and one dying by mid-summer.
Is swimwear fabric chlorine resistant?
Pool-grade swimwear fabric is engineered to resist chlorine, with our polyester-elastane blends holding 100-plus hours of chlorine exposure before performance drops. Nylon blends feel softer but break down faster in chlorinated water, so blend choice depends on how often the garment meets a pool.
Request Swimwear Fabric Specifications
Need custom widths, colors, or tensile requirements? Our engineering team can configure this product to match your exact B2B specifications.
Request a Technical Quote