The five swimwear styles we make run from least to most coverage: two-piece, one-piece, swim shorts, rash guard and full-cover swimsuit. Choosing swimwear styles for brands is mostly a question of coverage, because who the range is for decides how much of the body it covers, and the fabric, branding and size run follow from that.
The five styles at a glance
| Style | Coverage | Sizes | Typical buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-piece | Top and bottom, midriff open | XS–3XL | Fashion swim brands, holiday shops |
| One-piece | Torso covered, arms and legs open | XS–3XL | Swim brands, resort shops |
| Swim shorts | Waist to thigh | S–3XL | Resort shops, family and men’s ranges |
| Rash guard | Upper body, short or long sleeve | XS–3XL | Water sports, families, modest buyers |
| Full-cover swimsuit | Arms, body and legs | XS–3XL | Modest-fashion brands |
All five come in nylon-elastane or polyester-elastane, and sizes can be mixed within a style. The minimum is 300 pieces per style.
Swimsuits: two-piece and one-piece
Two-piece
A two-piece is a separate top and bottom. It is the fashion end of the range, chosen for beach holidays and sunbathing as much as for swimming.
Details to decide include the top shape, the strap style, the coverage of the bottom and whether the top has a lining or cup inserts. Customers are often a different size on top and bottom, so think about whether you sell fixed sets or separates. Separates are more flexible for the customer, but each half becomes its own style with its own minimum.
Nylon-elastane is a common choice for its soft feel and slight sheen.
One-piece
The one-piece is the core of most swim ranges. It suits pool, beach and resort wear, and buyers of every age.
Decide the neckline, the back shape, the leg height and the strap width. A higher neckline and a lower leg give more coverage. Linings are common, and cup inserts can be added on styles built for them. Linings, inserts and leg shapes are confirmed when you choose the style.
A one-piece in a core colour such as black or navy often carries the deepest stock in a range, because it sells across sizes and ages.
Swim shorts and rash guards
These two pieces sit between swimsuits and full cover, and often sell together.
Swim shorts
Swim shorts cover the waist to the thigh, with a waistband and usually a drawcord. They sell to men, families and resort shops, and sit alongside women’s swimsuits in a holiday range.
They run from S to 3XL. Polyester-elastane suits them well, since it holds colour and takes printed designs. Swim shorts can carry a screen-printed or sublimated design, which makes them a good vehicle for a resort’s name or a seasonal print.
Rash guards
A rash guard is a close-fitting top, with short or long sleeves. It is worn for water sports, surfing lessons and swim classes, by families who want more cover, and by modest-fashion buyers over or instead of a swimsuit top.
- Short sleeve suits families and casual water sports.
- Long sleeve suits modest buyers and those who want arm cover.
Rash guards take outside branding well: a screen-printed chest logo, or an all-over sublimated design on polyester-elastane. Resorts and water sports schools often put their name across the back.
Full-cover swimsuits
A full-cover swimsuit covers the arms, the body and the legs. It is designed for modest-fashion buyers and is often paired with a swim hood.
Fit is usually more relaxed through the body than a one-piece, so the swimsuit does not cling. Sleeve length, leg length and how the top and bottom layers sit are all confirmed when you choose the style. Tell us the coverage and fit you want.
Full-cover swimsuits use the most fabric of any style. Both fabrics work, so sample both if you are unsure: some brands prefer the matte look of polyester-elastane, others the softer feel of nylon-elastane.
We describe these garments plainly by their coverage and fit, and so should your listings: the arms, body and legs covered, the fit relaxed, the fabric soft and stretchy.
Building a range from the styles
A few combinations that work together:
- Fashion swim brand: two-piece and one-piece.
- Resort shop: one-piece, swim shorts and a rash guard with the resort’s name.
- Modest-fashion brand: full-cover swimsuit and long-sleeve rash guard.
- Family range: rash guards and swim shorts in matching colours.
Keep the first range small and stock each style deeply. Our post on planning a first swimwear collection covers how to choose colours and sizes for each channel.
Next step
See all five styles, fabrics and branding options on our white label swimwear page. Tell us who your range is for and the climate where it will sell, and we will suggest the styles and fabric that suit it, then confirm the details in a quotation.