If you're a fan of sports swimsuits and fashion bikinis, you might even consider turning that passion into a business. Swimwear is a huge industry, and it's likely to gain quite a boost as travel resumes -- so now's the time to turn your dreams into reality.
In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about how to create a swimwear brand. Specifically, we'll look at whether this is a good idea for you, who you can sell to, and what you need to know about the manufacturing process.
Figure out where to source your products. You can find a print-on-demand company to print your own designs, partner with wholesale swimwear brands, or find a manufacturer to design your own swimwear collection. This is a swimsuit manufacturer. If you need help, you can consult Welon.
Whichever option is right for you, it's worth learning more about the manufacturing process. Therefore, we will briefly cover the creation of swimwear in the following sections.
Professional fabric
Understanding fabrics is crucial when designing a successful swimwear collection. The suit must tolerate chlorine and sunscreen, and it must be flexible but able to return to its original shape to continue to fit the body. Nor do these standards apply only to the main surface of the suit; Lace, fasteners and decorative trim must all meet the same standards and not deteriorate when exposed to sunlight, salt, chlorine and water.
Most swimsuit fabrics are made in Italy and contain 20% Lycra or elastic fibers for added elasticity. Other ingredients include nylon, polyamides, or polyester. That said, three main variants are used globally:
The cheapest is made of 20% spandex and 80% polyester
The second uses 80% nylon instead, which is stronger and more durable
Finally, there is a variant that contains 53% polybutanediol terephthalate (PBT) and 47% polyester. This has the highest chlorine resistance (270 h compared to 160 h for the other mixtures)
Performance and Leisure
It's also worth remembering that clothing manufacturers have two important types of swimwear.
Leisure suit
Performance based swimwear
Casual swimwear is suitable for beach and poolside. These garments are designed for leisure and are best suited for sunbathing and the occasional leisurely swim. For casual wear, it is essential that the fabric retains its shape and color and tolerates chlorine and seawater. For those interested in starting their own swimwear line, check out this article, how to start a swimwear brand.
In contrast, performance-based swimsuits are for swimming professionals and those who swim for long periods of time for exercise. Therefore, performance-based swimwear must be able to resist hooking and fading and provide a precise fit to the body.
Manufacturing requirements
Most swimsuits are made with overseers, which create the unique seams we associate with knitted fabric clothing. The stitch of the overlock sewing machine is serrated and consists of three circulating threads. This allows for a lot of stretching, making it perfect for swimwear.
Manufacturers that specialize in swimwear may also have popular swimwear styles that are comfortable to wear. They may also have in-house custom fabrics that can add more value to your product.
The bottom line is that swimsuit manufacturing is very different from other clothing, so when looking for the right manufacturer, try to find a manufacturer that specializes in swimsuits.
Now you know what your options are when it comes to swimwear.
However, there are so many manufacturers and suppliers to choose from that it can be difficult to find the best fit. That said, here are some tips on how to choose the best option for you:
Request samples: Whether you are working with a direct selling platform or a private manufacturer, always order samples first for quality control purposes. This enables you to check that your design colors work well on the fabric and that the labels, tags, seams, comfort, dimensions, and everything else are up to par.
Ethical sourcing: Educate yourself about what your supplier's factory looks like. Are employees paid fairly? Are they working under fair and humane conditions? If you work closely with manufacturers, it might even be worth visiting their factories. If responsible product sourcing is critical to your brand, understanding the manufacturer's values is critical.
Sustainability: Does the factory provide sustainable products? Recycled swimsuit fabric is just the first step. You can also ask if they use clean energy, if they filter and recycle water, and how they dispose of waste.
Communication: Some direct selling platforms have difficulty communicating directly with suppliers, but you may need to cut out the middleman if you want more control over your brand's products. So find out who you will be talking to if a problem arises. Is support fast and useful? Can I contact the manufacturer directly? And so on.
Products can be transferred from swimsuit manufacturers to swimsuit retailers in a number of ways. Not all swimsuit wholesalers serve the same market. Understanding the distribution channels and supply chains of your swimsuit industry can help you wholesale suppliers for your retail or online business. Different types of swimsuit wholesalers include:
Swimsuit Manufacturer: For some items, you can purchase directly from the swimsuit manufacturer. Boutiques often buy from small (and sometimes one-person) swimsuit makers.
Importer/Exclusive Swimsuit Distributor: The Company may have the sole right to import and distribute products in a certain country/territory. Some may be sold directly to swimsuit retailers, while others may be sold to smaller local swimsuit wholesalers, who then sell to stores.
Swimsuit Wholesalers/Regional Swimsuit Distributors: There are usually regional swimsuit wholesalers that take a lot the size of a shed car and sell it to a local swimsuit wholesaler and then sell it to a small business.
Jobbers: These people make daily deliveries to local grocery stores and retail brick-and-mortar stores.
If you're looking for a swimsuit for women with small breasts, you can find out here, the best swimsuits for small breasts
Some swimsuit retailers will shift enough volume to bypass temporary workers, or in the smaller swimsuit industry, importers will sell directly to the swimsuit retailer. Each swimsuit industry has its own unique distribution channel, which then varies by product, region, or country/region.
