Page 262 - Anthropometry, Apparel Sizing and Design

Sizing and fit for swimsuits and diving suits 257

Fig. 10.2 Clothing intended for wearing in the water.

Each of the mentioned categories has its specific characteristics, while demand for
functionality during use and particular activities is defining specific suit design for
different activities. However, they all have the same demands for dimensional stabil-
ity and tight fit against the body, without unwanted stretch and movements against the
body in water. Depending on the activity for which the suits are used, the demand on
functionality is different and specially increased for the suits intended for professional
diving and water sports.

10.2.1 Materials and fabrics for swimsuits
To ensure the functionality of swimwear, it is necessary to satisfy particular criteria
while selecting materials for swimwear production. Since most of swimwear models
fit tightly to the body and helps shaping it in the right figure, the elastic properties of
used material are highly important. This is especially pronounced in professional sport
activities where swimwear needs to ensure high fit with no restriction on body move-
ment of sportsman in water. Materials used for swimwear production, especially for
sport activities, have to match characteristics defined by the particular standard. In that
sense, swimsuit materials are laboratory tested and evaluated in terms of quality of
use. That includes testing of elastic properties of knitted materials, puncture resis-
tance, dimensional stability, coloration stability, friction resistance and a tendency
for piling, chlorine resistance, and sometimes UV resistance properties (Tomljenovi c
and Sinel, 2015)(https://www.kiefer.com/swimwear).
Swimsuits are usually made from knitted materials. The raw material composition
is mostly a mixture of polyamide and elastane or polyamide, polyester, and elastin
fibers. Polyamide (PA, PA6, and PA6.6) is a chemical synthetic fiber with a charac-
teristic of good strength and endurance and incapability of wrinkling. Materials are
maintained by washing at low temperatures, which gives them characteristic of
smoothness and glow. Elastin fiber, frequently called by commercial name Spandex
or Lycra, is also a chemical synthetic fiber with high elasticity. It is often used in a
mixture with other fiber for production of tight-fit clothing. Elastin mixture materials
also have the characteristic of easy relaxation after stretching, meaning it will easily