Recycled PET Softshell Fabric for Swimwear — Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Recycled PET Softshell Fabric for Swimwear: Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Recycled PET Softshell Fabric is the version buyers specify for swimwear when the base material is fixed by performance rather than by price. This entry sets out what the material actually changes, which specification to write into the tech pack, and where the cost sits — the three questions that decide whether the item passes bulk approval.
What it is
Recycled PET gives softshell fabric its weight-to-strength ratio. In practice that means the fabric behaves differently in cutting, in finishing and in wear: the finish has to be applied before assembly. Buyers who specify the material up front avoid the most common failure — an item that looks right on the sample card and behaves differently in bulk.
Typical specification
| Item | Softshell Fabric |
|---|---|
| Base material | Recycled PET |
| Standard size | 320 gsm |
| Common finishes | Rainbow Iridescent Finish, Antique Brass Plating, Sandblasted Finish |
| Processes | Garment Washing, Injection Moulding, Sublimation Printing |
| Typical application | Swimwear |
| Related applications | Lingerie, Sneakers, Gloves, Luggage |
| Test standard | Sedex SMETA |
| Usual packing | 200 pieces per polybag, 10000 per carton |
Properties that matter in buying
- Dimensional stability — 2% allowance is built into the spec before cutting.
- Colour fastness — tested to Sedex SMETA on the actual base material, not on a substitute.
- Mechanical performance — cycle life after 10 cycles or washes.
- Compliance — Sedex SMETA documentation issued with the shipment.
- Consistency — the approved counter sample becomes the reference for every reorder.
Common uses
- Bags
- Bedding Sets
- Evening Wear
- Kidswear
- Activewear
- Bridal Gowns
How to specify it
- Name the base material in the tech pack, not just the item.
- Fix the size and tolerance in writing before sampling starts.
- Approve a counter sample made from the actual bulk base material.
- Order the test report against the standard your market requires.
- Retain a golden sample at the factory and a second one with you.
Related reading
Related specifications on this site cover bonded fabric, combed cotton fabric, flannel fabric, collar stay, and the processes most often paired with softshell fabric include anodising, anti-static finishing, brushing.
Send the reference sample or tech pack and we will come back with a costed specification, a sampling timetable and the compliance documents your market requires.
