Custom Swimwear Sample Process for Private-Label Buyers

Swim samples fail on coverage, hardware wash and chlorine gates — not on moodboard colour. Lock AquaForm™, write the coverage map, then approve PPS before bulk (typically 30–40 days after PPS).

A swim sample is a gate pack: fabric hand, coverage map, lining/hardware behaviour and chlorine / colourfast checks — before you argue colour bulk. This guide sits behind the swimwear manufacturer desk.

Commercial doors

Bikini manufacturer — triangle, halter, studded / hardware
One-piece swimsuit manufacturer — plunge, cut-out, scallop, modest coverage
Private-label narrative: /manufacture/swim#private-label

Fabric lock first

Start on AquaForm™ 220. Yoga bases are not chlorine-aware substitutes. If sustainability is required, mark it in the Fabric Selector (product = bikini or one-piece) — GRS is mill/TC scoped, not a sitewide default.

What the sample must prove

Coverage map — top/bottom rise or plunge depth written before proto
Lining & cups — wash behaviour and pocket openings where used
Hardware — rings, studs, ties: colourfast with the body fabric
Chlorine / colourfast — programme gates before bulk booking (see chlorine testing)

Sample → PPS → bulk

Brief / tech pack or library pull
Fabric lock (AquaForm™ or approved custom)
Proto sample (typically 7–9 working days on library bases)
Fit notes → PPS sign-off → deposit
Bulk typically 30–40 days after PPS

Sample fee: US$50–100 per garment piece (sets usually 2 pcs). Standard MOQ: typically 150 pcs / style / colour.

FAQ

What fabric do you sample on?

AquaForm™ 220 is the primary private-label swim base (UPF / chlorine gates on programme). Use the Fabric Selector if you need a GRS path or a custom development route.

Are bikini sets billed as one or two pieces?

Sets are usually billed as two garment pieces for sample fee and MOQ counting (top + bottom).

What is bulk lead time after PPS?

Swim programmes typically run 30–40 days after PPS — longer than stocked-fabric yoga cut-and-sew.