Swimwear Manufacturers in China: Fabric, Fit and Timing (2026)
Quick answer: A large share of the world's swimwear comes from Xingcheng in Liaoning province, with more makers in Jinjiang (Fujian) and Yiwu (Zhejiang). Find them on 1688 for stock styles you can relabel, or on Alibaba.com and at the town's own swimwear expo for custom designs. When you compare suppliers, look at three things: fabric that survives chlorine and sun, a size system that lets customers buy tops and bottoms separately, and test reports for any "UPF 50+" claim. Swimwear is seasonal, so plan backwards from the start of summer and get bulk orders placed before Chinese New Year, which falls on February 6 in 2027.
Where swimwear is made in China
- Xingcheng, Liaoning. Named "China Swimwear City" by the China National Garment Association in 2012. China Daily reports that about one in four swimsuits sold worldwide is made there. The town has well over a thousand swimwear businesses, its own fabric and accessory suppliers, and a yearly international swimwear expo.
- Jinjiang (Fujian) and Yiwu (Zhejiang). Other established swimwear centers, often alongside sportswear production.
- 1688.com. The quickest way to find stock bikinis, one-pieces and swim trunks in small quantities. Many listings come from Xingcheng sellers, though not all of them are factories.
- Alibaba.com. Better for custom prints and private label work with English-speaking sales teams.
A cluster this size means plenty of choice and plenty of resellers. Ask every supplier whether it cuts and sews in-house, and ask for a short video of the line.
Fabric: what lasts in a pool and what doesn't
Swimsuits stretch because of spandex (elastane), and spandex is the weak point. It is a polyurethane fiber that breaks down with repeated exposure to chlorine and sun, which is why old swimsuits go baggy. The main choices:
| Fabric | Feel | Chlorine resistance | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nylon/spandex | Softest, most stretch | Lowest of the three | Fashion bikinis, beach and vacation wear |
| Polyester/spandex | Slightly firmer | Better, especially with chlorine-resistant spandex | Printed styles, regular pool use |
| Polyester or PBT with little or no spandex | Firm, less stretch | Best | Training and lap-swimming suits |
Ask for colorfastness results to AATCC 162 (chlorinated pool water) and decide which customer you are selling to. If your buyers swim laps several times a week, a soft nylon fashion bikini will draw complaints that have nothing to do with sewing quality. All-over prints are usually sublimated, which needs a polyester base. Also check the lining: fully lined fronts and a lined seat are what stop light colors going sheer when wet.
UPF and "sun-protective" claims
Rash guards, swim leggings and kids' swimwear often carry a UPF number. In the US, the rating is measured with AATCC 183. Under ASTM D6544, the fabric is first aged with repeated washing, simulated sunlight and, for swimwear, chlorinated water, and the label under ASTM D6603 shows the lowest result. The FTC's consumer guidance says ratings above 50 are shown as "UPF 50+" and that a garment under UPF 15 shouldn't be called sun-protective. No agency certifies UPF numbers in advance, so the claim is yours: ask the supplier which standard the test followed, and test each fabric and color you print a rating on.
Fit and sizing
- Sell separates by size. Many customers wear a different size on top and bottom. Listing bikini tops and bottoms as separate SKUs, or as a set with separate size choices, cuts exchanges.
- Size tops by cup for fuller busts. Underwired and molded-cup tops fit like bras, so S/M/L sizing isn't enough. Our lingerie supplier guide explains how Chinese cup sizes convert to US ones.
- Build your size chart from samples. Measure samples in two or three sizes yourself rather than copying a factory chart, then publish bust, waist and hip in inches and centimeters.
- Check adjustability. Ties, sliders and removable pads let one size fit more bodies; fixed straps and sewn-in cups don't.
A stocking calendar for a Northern Hemisphere summer
Factory lead times vary by style and season, so treat this as an order of steps, not a promise of dates:
- Autumn: test styles in small quantities, collect customer feedback and order samples of the winners, including custom prints.
- Before mid-January: approve the final samples and place bulk orders. Many factories close for weeks around Chinese New Year (February 6, 2027) and restart slowly.
- Late winter: inspect bulk goods and get stock into the warehouse that will ship your orders, before ad spending ramps up in spring.
- Early summer: reorder only proven sellers, in proven sizes. A reorder placed late can arrive after demand has peaked.
- End of season: plan what happens to leftover stock. Storage costs money once free periods end, and last year's prints are harder to sell.
If you also sell to Australia or Brazil, their summer runs from roughly December to February, which can even out demand across the year.
Stock styles or custom prints?
Relabeling a stock style is the low-risk way to start: you buy what the factory already makes, add your label, hang tag and packaging, and drop it if it doesn't sell. Custom prints are where swimwear brands stand out, but each print is its own production run, usually with its own minimum, and a print that doesn't sell rarely works the next season. A common middle path is to keep a few stock shapes in solid colors all year, then add a small number of custom prints each season on the shapes that have already proved they fit.
The fee side is simple. Take a first order of 500 relabeled bikini sets at a hypothetical $6.00 each, so $3,000 of product. PackQuay's sourcing fee for a transaction up to $5,000 is 10% ($300), and private label adds 2.5% ($75). A customer who buys a top and a bottom as separate SKUs is still one order: $2.00 for pick and pack plus $1.00 for the second SKU on days with up to 19 orders, falling as your daily volume grows. Full tables are on the pricing page.
QC checklist for swimwear
- Print placement matches on left and right, and across seams.
- Lining is sewn in flat and cut to the same shape as the outer fabric.
- Wet test on light colors: does it go see-through?
- Elastic at legs and neckline lies flat, without waves or loose stitches.
- Metal rings, sliders and clasps are coated and don't mark white cloth when wet.
- A hygiene liner is in every bottom, and each piece is bagged individually.
- Size labels match the piece and the polybag sticker.
Labels and compliance
Swimwear is clothing, so the usual US rules apply: fiber content, country of origin and your company name on the label, plus a permanent care label, and "Imported" on your product page. Children's swimwear is a children's product, which means testing at a CPSC-accepted third-party lab, a Children's Product Certificate and tracking labels. The private label clothing guide covers these in more detail.
How PackQuay helps
We shortlist swimwear suppliers, collect fabric and test details, order samples and inspect bulk on arrival at our warehouse in Xinxiang, Henan, where 20% of each batch is checked free. Seasonal stock is stored free for the first 2 months and while you have orders to process (see storage), and orders with swimwear and activewear from the same store go out as one parcel. Send your styles and launch date on WhatsApp and we'll work back from it.
FAQ
Where is most swimwear made in China?
Xingcheng in Liaoning province is China's best-known swimwear center, and China Daily reports it makes about one in four swimsuits sold worldwide. Jinjiang in Fujian and Yiwu in Zhejiang are other swimwear hubs.
What is the most chlorine-resistant swimwear fabric?
Polyester or PBT with little or no spandex lasts longest in chlorinated pools. Nylon with spandex feels softest but breaks down fastest with regular pool use, because spandex degrades in chlorine.
Can I label my swimwear UPF 50+?
Only if the fabric has been tested. In the US, UPF is measured with AATCC 183 after aging under ASTM D6544, and labeled under ASTM D6603 using the lowest result. Test each fabric and color that carries the claim.
When should I order swimwear from China for summer?
Approve samples and place bulk orders before mid-January, because many factories close for weeks around Chinese New Year, which falls on February 6, 2027. That leaves time to inspect and stock goods before spring.
Should I sell bikini tops and bottoms separately?
Usually yes. Many customers need a different size on top and bottom, so separate sizing cuts exchanges and returns.