How to Care for Luxury Swimwear So It Lasts

Luxury swimwear fabric is more durable than fast-fashion alternatives, but it is not indestructible. The habits that extend the life of a well-made suit are simple and take less than five minutes. The habits that destroy even good fabric are equally simple and equally common.

The rinse is the most important step ¶

Chlorine and salt water both degrade elastane over time. The damage is cumulative and largely irreversible, but it is also slow enough that most people do not notice it until the fabric has already lost significant recovery. Rinsing in cold fresh water immediately after swimming removes the majority of both before they have time to work into the fiber.

Cold water, not warm. Warm water opens the fiber structure and allows chlorine residue to penetrate more deeply. This is counterintuitive but consistent with how synthetic fabrics behave.

Washing and drying ¶

Hand wash with a small amount of mild detergent, working gently rather than scrubbing. Rinse thoroughly. Do not wring the fabric; press it gently against the side of the sink to remove excess water, then lay it flat on a clean surface away from direct sunlight.

Tumble drying is not an option for any swimwear fabric worth caring about. The heat degrades elastane rapidly and permanently. Hanging to dry is better than tumble drying but worse than laying flat, because the weight of the wet fabric can stretch the piece out of shape over time.

Storage between seasons ¶

Store clean, dry pieces folded loosely in a breathable bag. The cotton dust bag that comes with every Morena order is suitable for this. Avoid compression: a tightly packed drawer will distort the shape of structured pieces over months of storage.

Do not store swimwear in direct contact with sunscreen or self-tanning products. Both contain compounds that react with synthetic fabrics and can cause permanent staining or fabric breakdown.

These are the habits that keep a well-made suit looking right for several seasons. The fabric we use at Morena is selected partly for its durability, but durability is a partnership between the material and how it is treated.