Fabric & Technology · 5 min read
Key takeaways
- Chlorine resistant is not a regulated term, any brand can print it on a tag without proving anything
- Chlorine destroys elastane, not colour, the stretch dying is the cause, the fading is just the symptom
- PBT is the fibre that actually holds, stretch is built into the yarn so there is less elastane for chlorine to eat
- A blend that is partly PBT behaves nothing like one that is entirely PBT
- You still need to rinse, chlorine proof means the fibres resist damage, not that chlorine is doing them any favours
You know the exact moment.
Six weeks into the season, you're standing on the blocks, and you do the tug. That quick little pull at the back of your suit before anyone clocks it. The colour has gone chalky, the straps have stopped holding anything, and the togs you were obsessed with in January have quietly given up on you.
If you know, you know.
Here's the annoying part. Your suit didn't fail because you swim too much. It failed because the swing tag said chlorine resistant, and chlorine resistant doesn't actually mean what you thought it meant.
Why does "chlorine resistant" mean almost nothing?
Because nobody has to prove it. Chlorine resistant is not a regulated term. There's no test a fabric has to pass, no minimum hours it has to survive, no standard behind it at all. Any brand can print it on a tag, and pretty much all of them do.
Which is how you end up with a rack of suits that all promise the same thing, and half of them are see-through by June.
We'll be straight with you: chlorine proof isn't a certified term either. It's a stronger word, but it's still just a word.
So the real answer to "what's the difference?" is this. The words are marketing. The fibre is the fact. Stop reading the tag and start asking what the fabric actually is.
What is chlorine actually doing to your togs?
It's not going after the colour. It's going after the stretch.
Most swimwear is nylon or polyester blended with elastane, the stuff you might know as Lycra or Spandex. Elastane is what makes a suit hug you. It's also exactly what chlorine chews through.
As those fibres break down, your suit loses its snap. The seat starts sagging, the straps stretch, the fabric goes thin, and then comes the see-through moment nobody wants on a pool deck.
The fading you notice is the symptom. The stretch dying is the cause.
That's why a suit can feel completely fine for a month and then fall apart in a fortnight. Elastane doesn't wear out politely. It holds, holds, holds - and then it's gone.
So what makes a suit actually survive?
The suits that last are the ones that don't rely on elastane for stretch in the first place.
Enter PBT. It's a polyester-family fibre, but unlike standard polyester it's textured so the stretch is built into the yarn itself instead of borrowed from elastane. Less elastane in the fabric means less for the chlorine to eat. That's the whole trick, and it's why competitive swimmers have quietly been wearing PBT for years.
The catch? Loads of brands use a bit of PBT, or a PBT blend, and still call the whole thing chlorine resistant. A lining that's partly PBT behaves nothing like one that's entirely PBT.
What to ask before you buy any training suit
Four questions. Ask them of any brand. Ask them of us.
1. What is the lining made of, exactly?
Not "chlorine resistant." A fibre name and a percentage. If a brand can't give you that, the swing tag is doing all the talking.
2. Is the outer fabric chlorine proof too, or just the lining?
Plenty of suits protect one and leave the other to fend for itself. Both layers matter.
3. Where does the fabric come from?
Good mills get named. Vague ones don't. Italian performance fabric mills produce to a standard that isn't replicated elsewhere, if a brand sources from there, they'll tell you.
4. How much elastane is in it?
The less there is, the longer your suit holds its shape. A fabric that relies heavily on elastane for stretch is a fabric that chlorine will win against eventually.
How JAYD answers those four questions
JAYD Swimwear, an Australian performance swimwear brand from the Gold Coast, builds every suit from premium Italian performance fabric with a 100% PBT lining. Not a blend. Not mostly PBT. The whole lining.
Both the outer fabric and the lining are chlorine proof, so there's no weak layer sitting there waiting to give out first. That's the difference between a suit that still has its shape and compression at the end of a full season of squad, and one that's tapping out by the school holidays.
It's also why our suits cost more than the ones at the shopping centre, and why they end up costing you less. One suit that lasts three seasons beats three suits that each last four months, every single time. We did that maths here.
Once you've swum in a suit that actually holds, there's genuinely no going back.
Do you still have to rinse it?
Yes. Sorry. Any brand telling you otherwise is having a lend of you.
Chlorine proof means the fibres stand up to chlorine, not that chlorine is doing them any favours. Rinse in cold water after every swim, no soap, and hang it in the shade. Never the dryer, never the washing machine, and never rolled up wet in the bottom of your bag until Thursday. We've all done it. Your suit remembers.
Do that and your JAYD will outlast the season easily. The full routine lives in our swimwear care guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chlorine proof the same as chlorine resistant?
No. Chlorine resistant means a fabric slows chlorine damage down. Chlorine proof means it stands up to it. Neither term is regulated, so what actually matters is the fibre underneath. JAYD is chlorine proof through both the outer fabric and the 100% PBT lining.
What is PBT and why does it matter in swimwear?
PBT is a polyester-family fibre with stretch built into the yarn itself, so it needs far less elastane than standard swimwear fabric. Elastane is the fibre chlorine destroys, so less of it means a suit that holds its shape and compression for much longer.
How long should a training swimsuit last?
A chlorine proof suit worn for regular squad training should last multiple seasons with proper care. A standard polyester or nylon blend suit doing the same laps often starts sagging and fading within three to six months.
Why does my swimsuit go see-through before it looks worn out?
Because chlorine attacks the elastane that gives the fabric its stretch, not the colour. The fabric thins and loses its recovery before the dye visibly fades, so transparency usually turns up before the suit looks obviously old.
Does chlorine proof swimwear still fade?
Good chlorine proof fabric holds its colour through repeated chlorine exposure. Fading is normally a sign the fibres themselves are breaking down, which is exactly what PBT is built to prevent.
Do I still need to rinse a chlorine proof suit?
Yes. Cold water after every swim, dry in the shade. Chlorine proof fibres resist damage, they don't make chlorine harmless. The full care routine lives in our swimwear care guide.
Your suit should still be showing up for you in October, not just in February.
Shop the chlorine proof range and dive in with confidence.