How to start a swimwear brand:
a step-by-step guide
Launching a swimwear label doesn’t have to be complicated. Over 300 brands place orders with us every year, from first-time founders to established labels. This guide walks you through the full process — from early decisions about what you’re building, through to finished product at your door.
Before You Design Anything: Define Your Brand Direction
The brands that launch successfully usually have one thing in common — they are specific about what they are building and who they are building it for before they start designing.
Before getting into styles and fabrics, take time to consider:
- Who is your customer? Resort traveller, active swimmer, lifestyle brand, inclusive sizing — the answer shapes every design decision you make.
- What is your price positioning? Entry-level, mid-market, or premium affects your fabric choices, branding, and minimum viable margin.
- Do you have sustainability goals? Recycled fabrics like ECONYL® and REPREVE® are in demand, and being able to claim eco-friendly production is a genuine commercial advantage today.
- What is your product focus? Bikinis, one-pieces, resort cover-ups, or a mix.
Most new brands start with a focused collection of 6–10 styles. Too broad a first range leads to spread-thin stock, sell-outs in your best sellers, and nothing to reorder from. A tighter launch gives you a cleaner sell-through and a stronger foundation for growth.
1. Develop your designs
Once you have a clear direction, get your designs into a shareable format. You don’t need final tech packs — a rough moodboard or reference images are a perfectly good starting point.
- Front and back screenshots, tech packs, or reference samples all work
- A moodboard with notes helps us understand your direction quickly
- Your logo in vector format (AI, EPS, SVG, or CDR) at 300 dpi is ideal
- You can submit your own designs, choose from our ready-to-order range, or combine both
Many brands mix custom designs with ready-to-order styles — custom pieces for brand identity, ready-to-order for faster launch and proven sellers.
2. Choose your fabrics and colours
Once styles are confirmed, you will select from our range of high-grade imported recycled fabrics. We carry matte, shiny, and textured options across a full colour library — with over 100 colours in stock, there are no fabric wait times and production begins immediately after deposit.
- Choose base fabrics, colours, and finishes
- Add custom heat press logos, hygienic liners, and packaging
- Request digital prints if you want custom artwork on your pieces
As the only manufacturer in Bali with a complete tax-free import license on swimwear fabrics, we are able to source the highest quality materials from across the globe and pass that cost advantage directly on to the brands we work with.
Fabric tip: Most premium swimwear is built on nylon-spandex blends for their stretch and recovery, smooth finish, and durability in salt water and chlorine. If you want recycled credentials, ECONYL® and REPREVE® are the two most requested options — both perform at the same level as virgin nylon.
3. Add custom prints (if needed)
If you want prints, we have been printing for over 30 years. Digital printing is processed on REPREVE® recycled nylon imported from the US, producing sharp, deep colour with lasting results. If you have print files ready, we will take them. If not, we may be able to assist — in most cases at no extra cost.
- We do not draw prints; you need to provide vector files as a minimum
- Seamless repeatable patterns are always the best sellers
- Artwork should be in vector format or at 300 dpi minimum
- Print tests are optional but recommended for new colourways
4. Review samples and lock in the details
Sampling happens before bulk production. Your samples arrive for you to try on, check the fit, and approve all branding details — labels, heat press logos, accessories. This is the stage to make adjustments.
- Sampling takes 2 to 4 weeks from design handover
- Brands using ready-to-order styles can often skip straight to bulk
- Approving samples before quoting production saves time and avoids cost surprises
- In most cases with a good handover, samples are right in the first round — slight adjustments are corrected on the patterns rather than requiring full remakes
5. Place your production order
Once samples are approved, you are ready to place your bulk purchase order. Provide your style codes, fabrics, colours, size breakdowns, and any print specs. We will quote based on total quantity and get production underway with a 50% deposit.
Custom swimwear MOQ: 400 pieces total — 40 per style, 4 per size per colour
Ready-to-order swimwear MOQ: 300 pieces total — 30 per style, 3 per size per colour
Custom and ready-to-order styles can be mixed in a single run.
Production turnaround: 3 to 5 weeks from sample approval
Size ratio note: In most markets, sizes S and M sell fastest. We recommend starting with a ratio of 5 S, 5 M, and 3 L unless your brand specifically targets a different demographic. Ordering equal quantities across all sizes often leads to excess stock in larger sizes and early sell-outs in smaller ones.
6. Prepare Your Launch
While production is underway, use the time to prepare your brand for launch:
- Set up your ecommerce store and product pages
- Brief your photographer — product and lifestyle shots both
- Build your marketing content and launch campaign
- Line up social media content ahead of arrival
Brands that have launch content ready to go the moment stock arrives sell faster. Don’t wait until the boxes land to start building your audience.
Ready to get started?
Our team handles every stage in-house — from your first design handover through costing, sampling, custom branded accessories, production, final QC, and DHL delivery to your door. If you have questions at any point in the process, they’re the right people to ask.
