How to Choose the Right Swimwear Manufacturer for Your Brand: A Complete Guide by Swimwear Bali
Choosing the right manufacturer is one of the most important decisions you will make when building or scaling a swimwear brand. Production quality, fabric selection, consistency, communication, and ethical standards all influence your final product and long-term success.
As a Bali-based manufacturer with over 30 years of experience producing custom swimwear for brands across Australia, California, the United States, the EU, Southeast Asia and the UAE, Swimwear Bali has helped hundreds of labels navigate this decision.
This guide explains how to evaluate a manufacturer and what to look for before committing to sampling or bulk production.
1. Evaluate their experience and production history
Manufacturers with long operational history tend to have more stable production processes, trained teams and predictable outcomes. In the swimwear industry, precise sewing techniques, stretch handling and pattern accuracy all require years of refinement.
Swimwear Bali operates under PT King Trading, founded in 1993, and produces between 50,000 and 60,000 pieces per month using a team of around 250 skilled staff.
Brands should look for:
- consistent production volumes
- long-term operational stability
- specialised swimwear experience
- predictable turnaround times
If you want to understand the full process, read our manufacturing overview here: custom swimwear manufacturing
2. Understand their fabric sources
Fabric quality determines fit, stretch recovery, colourfastness and longevity. Many manufacturers rely on locally sourced fabrics that sacrifice performance to reduce cost.
Swimwear Bali works exclusively with imported Italian and American recycled fabrics, held in stock in Bali. These fabrics offer superior hand-feel, retention and wear-life compared to local alternatives.
Brands should ensure manufacturers offer:
- Premium imported fabrics
- Eco-certified bases
- In-stock colours for sampling
- Reliable print reproduction options
3. Check their licensing and import status
In Indonesia, only bonded KITE factories are permitted to import fabrics tax-free. This significantly reduces the landed cost of high-grade imported textiles.
Swimwear Bali holds Bali’s only tax-free Bonded KITE licence, reducing fabric import costs by around 35 percent and allowing brands access to premium materials at competitive pricing.
Manufacturers without this licence often rely on lower-grade local fabrics.
4. Review their patterning and sampling process
Accurate swimwear fit relies on professional patterning.
Swimwear Bali uses 2D AutoCAD digital patterning for precise grading, minimising tolerance differences across sizes.
Brands should look for:
- Digital patterning (not hand-drawn)
- Experienced sample specialists
- Clear QC checks
- Detailed approval process before bulk.
For more on how our process works, see our full sampling process
5. Evaluate communication and support
Brands need transparent communication and a dedicated point of contact.
At Swimwear Bali, each client is assigned a dedicated swimwear merchant who oversees sampling, approvals and production.
Look for:
- Fast response times
- Clear instructions
- Predictable workflow
- Ability to schedule calls when needed
6. Confirm ethical standards
Modern consumers expect ethical production.
Swimwear Bali:
- Provides fair wages
- Offers full staff benefits
- Uses biodegradable cassava bags
- Operates water purification
- Supports Bali Street Mums charity
Finding the right manufacturer is a major step in building a long-lasting swimwear brand. With extensive experience, imported fabrics, Bonded KITE licence status and a fully integrated production floor, Swimwear Bali provides a reliable path from concept to finished collection.
