Fabric and Care for Men's Swimwear
Fabric and care for men's swimwear, the short answer
Most swimwear at OUTFAIR is a nylon, polyamide, or polyester blend with elastane or spandex for stretch, and the blends are what make a suit quick-dry, close fitting, and able to hold its shape in the water. Chlorine and saltwater resistance is claimed in this catalog only by KBAYO, while quick-dry fabric is claimed across many brands, from The Locker Room Jock to CandyMan Fashion and The Poof Store. The only full care routine printed on products in this store comes from CA-RIO-CA: rinse with cold water after each use, wash on a delicate cycle or by hand, and lay flat to dry.
What fabrics are men's swimwear made from here?
The product pages name the blends, and they cluster into three families. Nylon and polyamide blends are the classic swim fabrics, smooth and strong, like the JOR swim bikinis at CandyMan Fashion at 84% nylon and 16% elastane, and the CA-RIO-CA sunga outer at 85% polyamide and 15% spandex. Polyester blends show up in performance lines like ETHAN UNDERWEAR, whose TECHSKIN fabric is polyester and elastane, described as seamless, smooth, and second-skin in feel. Recycled fabric is the third family, and the clearest example is the Onishi Swim Brief, made from recycled Italian fabric at 78% recycled nylon and 22% Lycra Xtra Life, with a lining at 95% recycled polyester and 5% spandex. In every family, the elastane or spandex share, usually between 10% and 22% on the products checked, is what gives the suit its stretch and its snap back.
| Fabric or feature | What it does | Where it appears in this catalog |
|---|---|---|
| Nylon or polyamide with elastane | Smooth, strong, classic swim feel with stretch | JOR swim bikinis (CandyMan Fashion), CA-RIO-CA sungas, Mortal Under Gear trunks |
| Polyester with elastane | Second-skin performance feel | ETHAN UNDERWEAR TECHSKIN briefs and bikinis |
| Recycled nylon | Premium recycled swim fabric with stretch | Onishi Swim Brief, recycled Italian fabric |
| Quick-dry or fast-dry finish | Sheds water fast between swims | The Locker Room Jock, KBAYO, CandyMan Fashion, The Poof Store, LAVISH NY, Chris Turk Swim, and more, 117 swim products carry the claim |
| Chlorine and saltwater resistance | Built to handle pool chemicals and sea water | KBAYO briefs and shorts, the only brand that claims it in this catalog |
| 4-way stretch | Stretches in every direction, moves with you | KBAYO and LAVISH NY swim lines |
| Mesh | Breathes, drains, and supports as a liner or a brief fabric | KBAYO short liners, Chris Turk Swim mesh shorts, The Locker Room Jock mesh briefs |
| UV protection | Sun protection built into the fabric claim | KBAYO swim lines, and UV 50+ on some CA-RIO-CA styles |
Is this swimwear chlorine resistant?
For KBAYO, yes, that is the brand's own claim. KBAYO briefs like the Brava Town Briefs and shorts like the Barraca de Dali Shorts are described as chlorine and saltwater resistant, with UV protection, 4-way stretch, and quick-dry fabric. No other brand in this catalog prints a chlorine resistance claim on its swim products, so for other brands the honest answer is that the claim is not made, and the care routine below is what protects the suit. CA-RIO-CA, for example, talks about chlorine in its care instructions, as something to rinse out after each use, not as something its fabric resists.
What does quick-dry actually mean for a swim day?
It means the fabric sheds water instead of holding it, so the suit feels light out of the water and is comfortable again fast. It is the most common fabric claim in this catalog: briefs from The Locker Room Jock like the Second Skin Swim Brief, the Palm Springs Swim Brief from The Poof Store, Clever Moda swim briefs at CandyMan Fashion, and LAVISH NY trunks like the Total Black Swim Trunks, which pair fast-dry with 4-way stretch, are all sold as quick-dry or fast-dry. For a cruise or a pool party day with repeat swims, a quick-dry suit is the practical pick, and for packing, LAVISH NY adds wrinkle-free on some styles, which is why its suits travel well.
Where does mesh show up, and why?
Mesh does two jobs in this catalog. As a liner, it supports and breathes inside a short: KBAYO shorts carry a breathable mesh liner for structure and comfort, and Chris Turk Swim builds its Swim to Gym Mesh Short with a mesh outer and a built-in brief liner, so one short works in the water and in the gym. As a brief fabric, mesh is the bold, breathable option, like The Locker Room Jock mesh low cut briefs. If you run hot, or you want one short that trains and swims, mesh is the feature to look for. Lining options in full, from mesh liners to fully lined briefs, are explained in Pouch and Lining Explained.
How do I care for men's swimwear?
Follow the routine the brands in this store actually print. CA-RIO-CA prints it on its sungas, including the Team Brasil Flag Sunga: rinse with cold water after each use to remove any chlorine, salt water, or lotions, wash on a delicate cycle or handwash only, and lay flat to dry. Chris Turk Swim prints a shorter version on its thongs, like the Red Crown Thong: hand wash, hang dry. Those are the only care instructions printed on swim products in this catalog, so where a product page gives no care line, the CA-RIO-CA routine is the safest habit to copy, rinse after every swim, wash gentle, and dry flat and out of the dryer. What the catalog does not do is print a different routine per brand, so do not expect one on the label of every suit.
Which fabric should I pick for my swim plans?
For pool training and heavy chlorine, start with KBAYO, the one brand here that claims chlorine and saltwater resistance. For all day beach wear and repeat swims, pick a quick-dry brief from The Locker Room Jock, The Poof Store, or CandyMan Fashion. For a gym to pool day, pick a mesh short with a built-in liner from Chris Turk Swim. For a handmade Brazilian cut with a printed lining and a stated fabric blend, pick CA-RIO-CA. Shop the full range at Gay Men's Swimwear and Bikinis, and for fit before fabric, read How to Size Swim Briefs by Brand.