The real reason that swimwear is so expensive is that it's not cheap to produce! Swimwear designers spend a lot of time and effort perfecting the design before they even start production.

They have to find the right material, work with suppliers, get samples made up, do photoshoots- everything costs money. And when you are paying for something like this, you want it to be worth your while.

Swimwear is an essential part of summer. But, it can be expensive to buy a new bikini or swimsuit every year. The average retail price for women's swimsuits ranges from $40-120, and men's can cost anywhere from $20-90. So why are they so expensive?

Three main factors contribute to the high costs of swimwear: fabric quality, labour costs, and shipping fees. Fabric quality needs to be durable enough to withstand chlorine in pools and comfortable enough for you not to feel self-conscious wearing it in public.

Labour costs account for the employees who cut out pieces of fabric by hand with their sewing machine, which takes time and effort on both ends before being shipped off overseas where the final product is.

Being that swimsuits are typically one-time wear items, they're often made with more expensive materials like silk or velvet. These fabrics cost more than cotton blends because they're usually less durable and require special care.

Because manufacturers only make small quantities of each design, there's also an increased chance that their designs won't sell out in stores, which means they'll have to pay for manufacturing costs without making any profit from the sale. This all adds up to higher prices at retail outlets.

You may be wondering why swimwear is so expensive. Well, there are a few reasons. For one, the fabric is often imported overseas, and the price of importing goods has increased significantly in recent years due to higher tariffs on imports into the US and other countries.

Plus, people aren't buying as much clothing these days because they're spending money on more important things like housing and healthcare. Lastly, it's just really hard to produce anything at scale with such small margins and still make a profit.

So if you want affordable clothes that will last for seasons or decades - this isn't your market.

The other week, I was shopping at a store, and I found this really cute swimsuit. It was super high-quality and had a great fit, but it just wasn't the right style for me.

The price tag said $150 - that's pretty expensive! But then I started thinking about how much money people spend on things they don't need all the time...like coffee from Starbucks or McDonald's...or even alcohol.

Swimsuits are an investment in your health and happiness because you'll wear them every day next summer when you're sitting by the pool or relaxing on vacation somewhere hot!

So if you're going to be spending a lot of time wearing one anyway, why not get something that will make you feel confident?

Why Are Swimsuits Always So Expensive?

Swimsuits are perhaps some of the flimsiest clothing we own, using roughly the same amount of fabric as a handkerchief, even if you prefer one-piece suits to string bikinis. How then are bikinis priced at over $100?

Slate investigated the matter and discovered that a swimsuit's engineering is frequently significantly more intricate than that of a dress. In other words, unless you have the physique (and flexibility) of a supermodel, you probably search for a suit that offers some support.

Swimsuits are also designed for physical exercise. In contrast to most other apparel items, a decent pair won't come undone or ride up during a cannonball and then begin sagging and peeling off later.

Seasonality is another factor. Anyone who has tried to find a swimsuit in the off-season (September, for instance) is well aware of how challenging it is. In addition, the small window for manufacture and promotion might result in a large increase in manufacturing costs.

Visit this blog to read the full dissection, and the next time you launch from the springboard, give your trusty triangle bikini a little more respect.

This Is Why

Have you ever questioned why your tiniest clothes items seem to be the most expensive? It is kind of soul-destroying when you have to pay the biggest amount of money for the least amount of material in bras, bikinis, and lingerie.

Despite utilising a lot less fabric than a shirt or a dress, certain swimming suits and bikinis can appear expensive. This is due to the complexity of the garment sector as a whole, which includes swimwear.

The retail cost of your favourite swimsuit depends on a number of elements, such as the swimsuit's quality, construction, and place of manufacture.

We can all relax knowing that E! has discovered the rationale behind expensive swimwear because it truly makes sense.

What makes your bikini more expensive than two triangles cut from that gorgeous sweater you just purchased from Zara? It's because far more research must be applied before your swimwear material is even created.

The best fabric for swimwear is produced in Western Europe, where materials are more expensive. Additionally, stretchy swimwear materials like spandex typically cost more than regular textiles like cotton.

The garment's structure is another consideration, and it can be just as intricate as the design of other clothes.

According to Michelle Copelman, creative director of Solid & Striped, the company recently used by Taylor Swift's team, "the procedure to produce a swimsuit actually takes significantly longer than most items." In essence, each machine needs to be adjusted for each new style, and the cloth needs to relax in between steps.

What you decide to spend on a swimsuit ultimately relies on what is most essential to you, just like with any article of clothing. You should expect to pay extra out of your wallet if using goods from ethical sources is at the top of your list.

Although mass merchants like Forever 21 and H&M may provide excellent bargains, their products might not last as long as those created by independent designers who buy all of their materials locally.

However, someone like Britney Spears (who manages to look beautiful in all of her suits!) is unconcerned by a less expensive suit. Best advice from us? Keep an eye on the bargains! That $100+ bikini you've had your eye on will undoubtedly be reduced to clearance at some point.

The problem with swimwear is that you have to spend more for high-quality material. We clarify that while Western Europe produces the greatest swimwear fabric, businesses must pay more to produce it, which is ultimately passed on to the consumer.

Swimwear production takes substantially longer than other types of clothing since it is much more intricate. Solid & Striped's design director, Michelle Copelman, stated. In essence, each machine needs to be adjusted for each new style, and the fabric needs to relax between steps.

You can certainly purchase swimwear from less expensive high street retailers, but chances are good that it won't survive as long as a bikini from a more upscale brand.

We suggest? We would likely spend money on one or two timeless designs that you will always adore before shopping the high street for further novelty items that you won't mind recycling in a year or two.

Why Is A Good Swimsuit So Hard To Find?

Former world masters rowing champion Catherine Flinn has been active in aqua-athletics for more than 30 years. However, she has been disappointed and frustrated by most bikinis.

She claims that even when she would purchase the priciest brand, the food would still not be properly chopped. "The more I kicked in the water, the more they all began to ride up. I once found myself swimming while wearing bike shorts."

She only ever found one swimsuit that was both attractive and functional: "Shelf bra; a clasp to prevent the shoulders from coming off; waffle-weave fabric, not tight; a solid, mature blue-green colour. And it was the first one I ever owned that covered my behind.

Flinn's outfit was purchased in 1986 from a J Crew store in Connecticut, and she extols its qualities in almost ecstatic tones. She still wears it and owns it 35 years later (she sends me a picture of her wearing it).

Because functional, flattering swimwear is hard to come by, many women fondly remember their best purchases from decades past. I've purchased a tonne of bikinis, but I've only ever found one solid-black, modern, minimal, well-cut, and fashioned from a satisfyingly dense, snap-tight fabric two-piece that I could actually swim in.

It was made by the Australian company Seafolly, and it didn't sag, wrinkle, or suddenly become translucent. Naturally, it was dropped.

The closest we get to being naked in public is when we're wearing a bathing suit. So why is it so frustratingly difficult to locate a decent one? According to Ella Foote, a swimming teacher and lifeguard who specialises in outdoor training, "the only thing males have to concern about is the waistband."

"Women have hips, breasts, some of them had their breasts removed and must now make accommodations, and so on. Therefore, it is a lot more difficult. Women's swimwear has a ludicrous history, therefore purchasing it is even more difficult and emotional."

I polled the women in my Twitter network about their experiences buying costumes as the swimwear season began. The difficulties of finding good, even adequate, fits and swimwear that wouldn't stay in place were among the most common complaints.

"I am done trying. I doubt I'll ever swim again, unless they bring back the Victorian bathing costume. Other comments were "An absolute nightmare" and "I look like Margaret Rutherford."

Irritating patterns and garish colours were present. While another yearned for "khaki, burnt orange, etc. — genuine grown-up colours," one commenter grumbled that "most seem as if they have been made by somebody on LSD."

The majority of these women appeared ready to invest in pricey swimwear, and some had. The horrors they remembered, though, included "disintegrating fabric," "infantile colours," "insubstantial shoulder straps," "lack of bottom coverage," and "cups with pads that float away."

Can we therefore locate items that satisfy our needs? For women who are returning to swimming, Foote, who teaches "body-confidence workshops," suggests thinking of active swimwear as a technical buy similar to running shoes, sports bras, and power leggings, especially if deteriorating fabric is an issue.

She explains the rapid transparency phenomena by claiming that chlorine "eats normal nylon." "With swimwear, women ultimately improvise. A swimsuit should support your body, not pinch, and not leave gouge marks, but it should still be comfortable. And it ought to endure."

Deakin & Blue, which employs strands more resistant to chlorine than regular nylon, is the brand she prefers. Econyl, a flexible fabric produced from recycled fishing nets, carpet remnants, and other plastic waste, is used in many of its pieces.

Other Deakin & Blue items are constructed of bonded Lycra, a material that is more durable than econyl and more equivalent to neoprene.

The brand was established in 2016 by former Deloitte consultant Rosie Cook, who claims that designs adhere to a set of principles: "They should have armholes so that boobs don't fall out the sides and be long enough in the body to prevent riding up around the crotch or dragging on shoulders. The bikini line and the back are also not overly provocative."

Cook-related prints are kept to a minimum: "Most are flattering on a B or C cup. The appearance of seven to eight cherries is lovely.

However, there are 94 of them when you put them on an HH bust, and they look absurd. Multi-shapes are never considered when designing them. More than anything else, we sell more plum and navy."

Not every swimwear occasion requires tenacity. For instance, poolside lounging with the occasional dip fits heritage glamour.

Hunza G, also known as the cultish Hunza in the 1980s, creates leggy items in a knitted fabric with crinkle-stretch that is a combination of nylon and elastane. This is a relief because the fabric only comes in one size. One fashionable friend claims it's the only brand she wears.

My not-at-all-scientific Twitter focus group believes that Eres' supersoft garments are the ultimate investment. Eres is a refined, minimalist French fashion label. Favorite suits from Mara Hoffman, Maui, and J Crew (the company that makes Flinn's old favourite) were all singled out for appreciation.

I'll be resuming wearing my black bikini from the 1990s this year. But armed with all this new information, I found more bikinis that were appropriate for lazing by the pool and swimming quite vigorously. Are they going to last as long as my bikini? In 30 years, ask me.

13 Swimsuit Brands That Will Never Go Out of Style

You'll have a full wardrobe for your beach days, ranging from supportive one-pieces to chic bandeau bikinis and even the occasional string two-piece.

Swimwear shopping and wearing can be challenging, and for good reason—if you think about it, wearing swimwear is probably the least amount of clothing you ever wear in public.

Whether you're lounging by the pool, at the beach, or, let's face it, sitting on your roof, you obviously want to look your best. Unfortunately, flattering fabrics and sophisticated cuts produced with them can be hard to find, as can styles that don't change with the seasons.

The truth is that you should have confidence that you are donning the most stylish, aesthetically pleasing, and comfortable maillot possible when donning a high-waisted bikini or a one-piece. Your go-to suit should be flawless in every way, including the fabric, fit, and cut.

Fortunately, the swimsuit industry has grown rapidly over the past few years, introducing high-fashion shapes, timeless cuts, and items that we turn to season after season.

These are the greatest swimsuit labels to choose from this year, whether you're seeking for a traditional bandeau bikini from French swimwear designer Eres or want to explore the world of feminine and whimsical one-pieces from LoveShackFancy and Oseree.

1. Marysia

When Marysia first appeared on the swimwear scene, her scalloped hem and basketweave fabric instantly became iconic. The feminine curves of the fabric will enhance your figure whether you're searching for a halter one-piece or a straightforward two-piece.

2. Tabacaru

When it comes to dramatic one-pieces, Tabacaru excels. While their singlets' lines may be classic, it's the playful patterns and bow accents that really stand out, whether you're lounging by the pool or having a bachelorette party at the beach.

3. Eres

Timeless Classic:

You can always expect the same thing from Eres. Smooth lines: whether wearing a classic string bikini or a supporting strapless bandeau with the ruched U clasp. These suits maintain their aesthetic appeal season after season.

Additionally, the high-quality fabric appears to keep its flexibility for years.

4. Jade Swim

Minimalist:

Clean-lined individuals will be drawn to Jade Swim's incredibly straightforward cuts. The materials are so thin and soft that they feel bare on the body, yet the colour scheme elevates their stylings to a new level.

This line has a variety of colours for you if you wish to own one bikini in each colour.

5. Solid and Striped

By reworking classic silhouettes like the underwire bikini and one-piece suit with vibrant colours and trendy materials like terrycloth for anything but plain necessities, Solid and Striped carved out a position for themselves in the fashion industry.

6. Juillet

Juillet's are tough to beat if you like a high-waisted maillot due to the body-hugging fit, playful textures, and feminine details like eyelet fabric and florals.

7. Oseree Swim

The iconic dazzling swimwear from Oseree is playful but never childish. The one-pieces, bikinis, and cutout bathing suits' glittering weave is classy rather than corny, and their colour palette never fails to please.

8. Tory Burch

Preppy Pick:

There is no better place to seek for preppy swimwear than Tory Burch. The line particularly shines in one-pieces with classic lines and tasteful ornamentation.

9. LoveShackFancy

If you're going for whimsy, check out LoveShackFancy, which adds Laura Ashley ruffles and prairie dress designs to bikinis and one-pieces with an unequalled ease.

10. Zulu and Zephyr

Think of a typical Australian surfer gal. Salt in her hair, cool and effortless. This ethos is embodied by Zulu and Zephyr.

It will be difficult to discover a style from the brand that you don't adore if you choose a triangle cut two-piece or a balconette cut bikini, both of which are ethically created swimwear.

11. Lido

Lido, an Italian swimwear brand, pretty much personifies the phrase "dolce far niente."

Their suits mix Italian design savoir-faire in all its subtle sexiness with basic cuts. They are made for those lovely and leisurely beach days, the ones where you lean into the joys of the heat, waves, and sand.

Particularly their one-pieces are simply out of this world.

12. Anemone Swim

Eco-Friendly Pick:

The simple swimwear from Anemone is manufactured from fabric that is certified to be environmentally safe and has an extra SPF protection factor, but the pieces are simply unstoppable thanks to the brand's characteristic floral embroidery.

13. Follow Suit

Embrace the Suit brand One idea sums up the ethos: a day at the beach should be enjoyable.

Apply that carefree mindset to swimwear that is manufactured from ghosted nylon and fishnet waste in a sustainable manner. You'll receive flawlessly tailored and artistically cut swimwear as a consequence, giving your favourite beach classics the slightest twist.