The swimwear sector is evolving very rapidly under the combined effect of several dynamics: textile innovations, increasing regulatory pressure, digitalization of commerce, heightened consumer demands for sustainability, and the rise of new digital players.
According to several market analyses, the global swimwear market represents over 20 billion USD in 2024 and could exceed 30 billion USD by 2030–2032 (Grand View Research, Fortune Business Insights, The Business Research Company).
In parallel, the fashion & textile sector is responsible for 2 to 8 % of global greenhouse gas emissions and consumes hundreds of billions of liters of water per year, according to the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). These orders of magnitude are regularly cited in scientific literature and NGO reports on fashion sustainability.
In this context, the ability to build a strong partnership with a design-oriented swimwear factory constitutes a real strategic advantage. Such a collaboration allows for the alignment of:
technical expertise (swimwear, stretch fabrics, UV/chlorine tests);
product innovation (recycled materials, circular design, cut and support);
industrial efficiency (OEE, lead time, costs, quality);
environmental performance (LCA, certifications, waste reduction).
Key Points
Place design at the heart of the strategy to structure value across the entire product life cycle.
Define common objectives and shared indicators upstream to ensure consistency and trust.
Organize swimwear co-design workshops to foster collective creativity and limit iterations.
Adopt agile project management (Stage-Gate type) to quickly adapt directions.
Use centralized digital tools (PLM, Slack, Notion, Teams…) to ensure traceability and informed decisions.
Value the factory's specific expertise: elastic stitching, heat-sealing, 3D modeling, lab tests.
Deploy circularity and eco-design strategies compliant with ISO 14040/44 standards.
Identify public and private aid to accelerate investments in responsible design.
1. Why design has become central in swimwear
Design is no longer limited to aesthetics: it becomes a management system that organizes the compromise between style, performance, costs, durability, and user experience.
Reports like the State of Fashion published by McKinsey & BoF show that the most successful brands are those that integrate design upstream into industrial decisions, sustainable investments, and collection management.
Major trends pushing to reposition design at the center:
Strong demand for sustainable swimsuits (recycled materials, mono-material, circularity);
Hyper-segmentation: high-performance sport, surf, beach, leisure, aquafitness, body inclusive;
Acceleration of time-to-market (moving from 12 months to 4–6 months for certain launches);
Strengthening of European regulations (EU Textile Strategy, Green Claims, ESPR);
Increased demand for digital experience: detailed product sheets, storytelling, transparency.
The factory is no longer a mere executor: it becomes a design partner involved in material choices, product engineering, testing, cost arbitration, and environmental performance.
2. Strategic alignment around design
Design constitutes a decision-making framework. By placing it at the heart of the strategy, you improve the consistency between creative intent, industrial feasibility, sustainable performance, user experience, and profitability.
2.1 Defining common objectives
Clarification of expectations from the kick-off
During the launch meeting, the brand and the factory must precisely clarify:
priorities: swimwear quality, innovation, deadlines, durability, target cost, price positioning;
technical constraints: materials, weights, elasticity, certificates, industrial tolerances;
monitored indicators: OEE, rework rate, lead time, conformity rate, cost of non-quality, DPPM.
Formalization of the vision
The common vision must integrate:
collection ambitions (sporty, premium, inclusive, technical);
innovation expectations (recycled materials, mono-material, low-carbon processes);
evaluation criteria (LCA, carbon score, durability, UV/chlorine resistance);
project governance (roles, responsibilities, milestone reviews, design/cost arbitration).
Tip: set up a visual dashboard (Kanban, RACI, Stage-Gate roadmap) to track objectives, milestones, and key decisions.
2.2 Examples of successful alignment
Brands like Patagonia structure their collections around sustainability, with a detailed environmental and social responsibility program (Patagonia – Our Footprint).
Sports players like Speedo have developed Fastskin/LZR ranges with technical fabrics and extensive hydrodynamic studies, aligning design, performance, and innovation (Speedo – Fastskin).
Yarn manufacturers like Carvico offer swimwear fabrics made from regenerated yarns (Econyl®, recycled polyester), reinforcing the alignment between performance and responsibility (Carvico – Sustainable Fabrics).
3. Design management and interdisciplinary coordination
Design management consists of orchestrating all involved stakeholders: designers, pattern makers, material engineers, quality, production, purchasing, product marketing, as well as fabric suppliers and printers.
Effective coordination ensures a swimwear collection is delivered at the right time, at the right cost, with the right level of quality and durability.
Fashion project management: multi-trade coordination, milestone tracking, arbitrations.
Collection management: structuring of families, material budgets, margins, selling prices.
Design-technical steering: feasibility / aesthetics / cost arbitration via regular reviews.
Innovation-design synergy
Interdisciplinary workshops (design, materials, industrialization, quality) allow for:
reducing back-and-forth,
accelerating development,
integrating sustainability from the choice of materials and finishes.
Advice: schedule short synchronization points (15–30 minutes) each week to quickly adjust strategy and technical arbitrations.
4. Collaboration and co-creation
The success of a sustainable partnership relies on a collaborative model combining transparency, continuous dialogue, and collective intelligence, supported by concrete tools and rituals.
Image source : Pexels
4.1 Collaborative methods
Swimwear co-design workshops
co-construction of a sustainable vision for swimwear;
expression of professional viewpoints (design, pattern making, production, marketing, CSR);
accelerated resolution of technical points (support, lining, straps, fasteners);
use of CDD cards (Conception – Decision – Durability) to structure the debate.
Agile project management
Organization in short sprints improves:
responsiveness to prototype feedback,
visibility on model progression,
rapid integration of design or material adjustments.
Tip: organize weekly 15-minute synchronization meetings to keep everyone aligned (design, factory, purchasing, marketing).
4.2 Transparent communication
Digital tools
Teams, Slack, Notion, PLM solutions, and collaborative platforms ensure decision traceability, tech pack management, and fluid communication between remote teams.
Regular feedback
Prioritize transparency in feedback.
Ensure regularity of exchanges (weekly points, monthly milestones).
Vary channels (written, video call, photos, videos) to maintain engagement.
5. Valuing expertise and technologies
5.1 Skills mapping
Factory's key know-how
Examples of swimwear-oriented factory skills:
high-resistance elastic stitching (zigzag, flatlock, coverstitch);
no-sew bonding or heat-sealing;
chlorine/UV-resistant printing and sublimation;
3D modeling and virtual fitting;
mastery of technical fabrics (Carvico®, Econyl®, Seaqual®, recycled polyester).
The brand team provides: artistic direction, collection design, understanding of consumer expectations, digital marketing, e-commerce data, etc.
Advice: draw a clear mapping of expertise (brand / factory / suppliers) to facilitate synergies and quickly identify potential bottlenecks.
Differentiating expertise
material certifications (OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, GRS, GOTS…);
reduced-impact sublimation;
laser cutting and heat-sealing for seamless finishes;
3D molding for certain technical parts (cups, reinforcements).
5.2 Technological synergy
Advanced design tools
2D/3D CAD dedicated to apparel;
3D printing for accessory prototypes or technical parts;
textile simulations (elasticity, drape, tension);
real-time annotation platforms on tech packs and patterns.
Resource mutualization
partnership negotiation of payment terms and volumes;
multi-criteria approach (cost, quality, impact, lead time) for technical choices;
modularization of parts to reuse certain modules on multiple models;
"usage" orientation rather than "technological gadget."
Tip: use a technical module tracking table (straps, linings, fasteners, cups) to capitalize on robust, already validated solutions.
6. Circular design and eco-design
Image source : Pexels
Circular design helps reduce environmental impact while creating more sustainable products, aligned with new regulations. To frame these approaches, ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards define the framework for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) (ISO 14040).
6.1 Resource reuse and pioneering materials
Circular strategies
use of high-performance recycled materials (Econyl®, Seaqual®, recycled polyester);
development of timeless models with high durability;
establishment of take-back or deposit systems;
experimentation with usage models (rental, second-hand).
For example, ECONYL® fiber is regenerated nylon made from waste (fishing nets, textile scraps, industrial plastics) while offering performance comparable to virgin nylon (Econyl – Who we are). Swimwear and surf brands make it a major sustainability argument.
SEAQUAL® fiber, derived from marine plastic waste and recycled PET, shows significant impact reductions compared to virgin polyester, notably around −37 % of CO₂ and −34 % of water thanks to an LCA-studied process (SEAQUAL FIBER, Interview SEAQUAL Initiative).
Tip: offer versatile models (sport + beach, aquafitness + leisure) to limit multiple purchases and extend useful life.
6.2 Material table: readability and sourced data
Material | Technical description | Environmental benefits (order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
Q-NOVA® | Pre-consumer recycled polyamide fiber developed by Fulgar, from selected industrial scraps. | LCA studies published by Fulgar indicate a reduction of approximately −80 % of CO₂ eq emissions and −90 % of water consumption compared to an equivalent virgin polyamide yarn (Fulgar / Q-NOVA Environmental Study). |
SEAQUAL® | Fiber produced from SEAQUAL MARINE PLASTIC and recycled PET, with traceability from marine waste collection to textile fiber. | Data from SEAQUAL and partner analyses show reductions of approximately −37 % of CO₂, −34 % of water, and −40 % of energy vs virgin polyester (SEAQUAL FIBER, SEAQUAL – LCA). |
Recycled polyester | Recycled PET (bottles or textiles) reprocessed into textile yarn; widely used in swimwear. | According to the Materials Market Report by Textile Exchange, recycled fibers account for 7–9 % of the global market, primarily through recycled polyester (Textile Exchange – Materials Market Report). Recycled polyester helps reduce the use of fossil resources and increase the share of recycled materials in collections. |
According to the UN and the UNEP, fashion generates between 2 and 8 % of global GHG emissions and a significant portion of industrial wastewater. Hence the interest in integrating eco-design into swimwear design decisions.
6.3 Eco-design structured by LCA
Responsible materials
ISO 14040/44 standards provide the framework for measuring a product's environmental impact throughout its life cycle (ISO 14040 – LCA). In collaboration with the factory, it is possible to compare several fabric options (PA, recycled PES, blends) in simplified LCA and choose the combinations offering the best performance/impact/cost compromise.
integration of LCA data into material choices;
limitation of blends that are too complex to recycle;
selection of less impactful dyes and finishes.
7. Selecting a design-focused swimwear factory
7.1 Selection criteria
Design maturity
specialization in swimwear or technical sportswear;
proven experience in stretch materials, linings, supports, cups;
ability to produce custom designs and small test series;
portfolio of references consistent with your positioning.
Sustainable commitment and certifications
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, label for textiles tested for harmful substances (OEKO-TEX® – Standard 100);
GRS – Global Recycled Standard for traceability and control of recycled materials (Textile Exchange – GRS);
GOTS for organic textiles in the case of cotton blends or linings (GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard);
ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environmental management).
7.2 Collaboration with the factory
Structured selection process
detailed brief on the collection, volumes, and positioning;
material and process review, with technical sheets and certificates;
prototypes + technical tests (UV, chlorine, salt water, elasticity, support);
aesthetic + industrial validation via a joint committee (brand / factory).
Tip: prioritize factories that provide OEKO-TEX® / GRS / GOTS certificate numbers and link to public registers (e.g., OEKO-TEX® Label Check) for verification.
Performance monitoring
Tool / KPI | Main function | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
MES (e.g., Pollen, other solutions) | Real-time monitoring of production data (outputs, stops, OEE) | Detailed performance analysis, bottleneck identification |
Flow simulation (e.g., WipSim) | Simulate planning scenarios and workshop flows | Lead time optimization, reduction of work-in-progress and disruptions |
OEE / OLE / TME | Synthetic indicators of overall yield and efficiency | Global view of industrial efficiency, comparisons between lines and periods |
Note: implement monthly performance reviews (quality, deadlines, costs, sustainability) to continuously adjust the collaboration.
8. 4C Model of Swimwear Partnership (original framework)
To structure the relationship with your swimwear factory, you can use a simple and actionable 4C model:
Coherence: alignment of vision, positioning, CSR values.
Competencies: real technical level in swimwear, certifications, R&D.
Collaboration: quality of exchanges, tools, transparency, response speed.
Calculations: KPIs, LCA, costs, margins, service rate, data reliability.
This model can be broken down into a scoring grid (1 to 5) and tracked each season. It provides a quantitative view of a relationship often perceived as purely qualitative.
9. Support mechanisms and resources
9.1 Aid and subsidies
crowdfunding: Mymoneyhelp, Tudigo, We Do Good;
ADEME grants for eco-design projects;
committed banks: Crédit Coopératif, Caisse d’Épargne, La Nef;
microcredits: ADIE, local support structures.
9.2 Collaborative platforms
Teams, Slack, Notion, fashion PLM solutions;
professional networks (textile clusters, sustainable fashion associations);
textile fairs (Première Vision, Mare di Moda, Fashion Green Days…).
9.3 Feedback and best practices
Circularity and eco-design initiatives conducted with support structures (local authorities, incubators, associations) illustrate the value of structural support around responsible digital practices, reuse, and local employment.
Best practices:
optimize resources from design (margins, placements, tests);
prioritize recyclable or recycled materials when relevant;
encourage responsible consumption through design (timelessness, durability, repairability);
structure recycling or second-life channels with specialized partners.
Tip: document these projects with key figures (recycled material rate, kg of waste avoided, emissions avoided) and link to reports or articles where possible.
10. FAQ
How to choose a design-focused factory?
Analyze specialization in swimwear, portfolio, innovation capacity, certifications (quality, environmental), and sample quality. Check recent references and, if possible, ask for client contacts or press releases/articles mentioning the factory.
What are the benefits of circular design?
Circular design reduces waste and environmental impacts, improves product durability, meets consumer expectations, and facilitates access to certain funding or calls for projects. It also prepares the brand for future regulatory obligations.
How to organize co-creation with the factory?
Combine co-design workshops, collaborative tools (PLM, Notion, Slack), agile management in sprints, structured prototype reviews, and a feedback culture. Formalize decisions in shared, dated, and versioned reports.
Which certifications to prioritize for sustainable swimwear?
The most frequent: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, GRS, GOTS, as well as specific labels for certain materials (e.g., labels specific to Econyl®, SEAQUAL® or to yarn manufacturer programs). For industrial sites, ISO 14001 and possibly ISO 50001 complete the system.
Which digital tools facilitate collaboration?
Slack, Teams, Notion, PLM platforms, and 3D annotation solutions for patterns facilitate information centralization, validation tracking, and reduction of version errors.
How to measure the performance of the partner factory?
Using KPIs such as OEE, OLE, TME, lead time, non-conformity rate, rework rate, costs of non-quality, and adherence to deadlines. Supplement these indicators with CSR metrics (certified material rate, energy consumption, waste) to drive continuous improvement.
Are there aids to finance a sustainable design project?
Yes: ADEME grants, European schemes, BPI innovation programs, crowdfunding platforms (Tudigo, We Do Good), committed banks, ADIE microcredits, as well as regional calls for projects on sustainable fashion and textile recycling.
Why value the unique expertise of each partner?
Because differentiation comes from the combination of expertise (design, materials, industrialization, marketing, CSR). By documenting this expertise with labels, studies, client cases, and specialized articles, you strengthen the credibility of your brand and your factory with distributors, investors, and consumers.