Swimwear Manufacturing
Swimwear production is released from the approved sample, production patterns, size chart, fabric specification, elastic lengths, sewing construction and trim list. Shell fabric, lining, elastic, cups, rings, sliders and closures are recorded as individual production materials.
FashionMe offers Stock Match from 10 pieces and Made to Order from 50 pieces.
Swim Fabric and Lining
The shell specification records fiber composition, knit construction, weight, usable width, color, finish, stretch direction and recovery.
Bulk fabric is checked against the material used for the approved sample before cutting.
Fully lined one-pieces have separate shell and lining pattern pieces for the body sections that receive lining. Bikini bottoms use the specified crotch lining or full lining. Bikini tops may include regular lining, power mesh or cup-pocket lining.
Shell, lining and support fabrics are cut in the stretch direction written into the production specification.
Production Patterns
A one-piece production pattern gives the finished measurements and positions for:
Panelled one-pieces add the exact front, side, bust or waist panels used in the approved style.
Triangle bikini tops have separate cup pieces and marked strap attachment points. Bandeau tops record the finished width at the measurement lines stated in the size chart. Underwire tops add the cup pieces, bridge, side wings and underwire channels.
Bikini-bottom patterns set front rise, back rise, side height, crotch width, front coverage, back coverage and leg shape.
Cutting
Shell, lining and support materials use their own markers.
Paired pieces such as left and right cups are cut as matching pairs. Small parts such as cup pieces, gussets and straps remain identified with the same style, color and size bundle.
Cut bundles carry:
Engineered prints, borders and centered motifs are positioned on the pattern before cutting.
Elastic Application
The production sheet gives the elastic type, width and cut length for every opening that uses elastic.
A one-piece can have separate lengths for the neckline, armholes and leg openings. Bikini bottoms use separate waist and leg-opening lengths. Bikini tops may use elastic at the underbust, neckline and cup edges.
Elastic ends are joined into a loop where the construction requires a closed elastic ring. The elastic is distributed along the marked garment edge, then enclosed, turned or topstitched according to the sample construction.
The two leg openings use matching elastic lengths on symmetrical styles.
The same applies to paired armholes.
Neckline, armhole, waist and leg-opening measurements are checked after the elastic is sewn and the garment has relaxed.
Bikini Top Production
Lined triangle cups are assembled from the shell and lining pieces for each cup. Seamed cups are sewn to the cup shape shown in the production pattern.
Removable-cup tops contain an internal cup pocket and cup insertion opening. Fixed cups are secured inside the lining at the position shown on the approved sample.
Underwire styles include:
The underwire channel follows the lower cup seam. Its start and end positions are marked in the construction specification. The wire size is matched to the cup pattern and channel length.
Left and right cups are checked for finished width, height and strap position.
Bikini Bottom Production
Front and back panels are joined at the side seams and crotch using the construction shown on the approved sample.
The crotch lining is cut to the specified width and length and attached at the marked front and back positions. Full lining is cut to the coverage required by the shell pattern.
Waist and leg elastic are applied before the final edge stitching is completed.
High-waisted styles use the front rise, back rise and side height stated for that design. Low-rise styles use their own shorter rise measurements.
Cheeky, Brazilian and fuller-coverage bottoms use different back widths and leg curves in the production pattern.
Both sides are checked for equal side height and matching leg-opening shape.
One-Piece Production
Bust cups or support layers are secured at the positions marked in the front body construction.
The shell and lining are assembled through the neckline, armhole, side and crotch operations used by the style.
Elastic is applied to the neckline, armholes and leg openings at the specified lengths.
Fixed shoulder straps are attached at measured front and back positions. Adjustable straps receive the specified rings and sliders.
Finished inspection checks the two leg-opening heights, the two strap positions, front and back body length and the position of the bust section.
Seams and Stitching
Internal side, crotch and panel seams use the stitch construction assigned in the sewing specification.
Overlock is commonly used for internal assembly. Zigzag and coverstitch are used on elastic and finished edges where they appear on the approved sample.
Cup seams and curved panel seams are checked against the sewn shape of the approved sample.
The sewing check records:
Straps, Rings, Sliders and Closures
Strap width and finished length are recorded by style and size.
Adjustable straps receive rings and sliders sized for the finished strap width. Fixed straps are sewn to the marked attachment positions.
The trim list records the material, dimensions, finish, color and quantity for rings, sliders and closures.
Back clasps are attached at the finished back opening. Tie straps are cut to their specified finished lengths.
Sliders are moved along the finished strap to confirm adjustment. Closures are fastened to check alignment. Strap attachment seams are checked for complete and secure stitching.
Printed Swimwear
Repeat prints use the direction and color lot specified for the order.
Engineered artwork is positioned from fixed pattern references such as center front, cup center or panel seam.
Matching bikini sets use the same released colorway for top and bottom.
For sublimated styles, the production specification identifies the print method and artwork placement before cutting. Artwork can be applied to fabric yardage or to prepared panels according to the selected production method.
Finished pieces are checked for motif position, panel direction and color consistency between adjoining sections.
Size Grading
| Area | Graded Measurement |
|---|---|
| Bust | finished bust width |
| Waist | finished waist width |
| Hip | finished hip width |
| Body length | front and back body length |
| Rise | front rise and back rise |
| Crotch | crotch width |
| Leg | opening measurement and curve |
| Neckline | width and depth |
| Straps | position and finished length |
One-piece grading changes the measurements that define the body and openings.
Bikini-top grading includes cup width, cup height, underbust width, wing length and strap position.
Bikini-bottom grading includes waist, front rise, back rise, side height, crotch width, back coverage and leg opening.
Elastic cut lengths are released for each size together with the graded opening measurements.
Finished Measurements
A one-piece measurement sheet records:
front body length
back body length
bust
waist
hip
front rise
back rise
crotch width
leg opening
neckline
strap position
A bikini top records cup width, cup height, underbust, wing or band length, strap length and closure position.
A bikini bottom records waist, front rise, back rise, side height, crotch width and leg opening.
Measurements are taken after the elastic, lining, cups and closures are installed. Styles receiving a production wash or heat-finishing process are measured after that process.
Final Inspection and Packing
One-piece inspection records body measurements, front and back length, neckline, armholes, leg-opening height, straps, lining and cup position.
Bikini tops are checked for matching cup dimensions, underbust measurement, strap position, hardware, cups and closure alignment.
Bikini bottoms are checked for front rise, back rise, side height, crotch-lining position, waist opening, leg openings and back coverage.
Sewing inspection records open seams, broken stitches, skipped stitches, exposed elastic, twisted edges and loose thread ends.
Fabric inspection records holes, snags, stains, print faults and visible shade differences.
Matching bikini sets are paired by style, color and size before packing.