Girl in a Pera Sport red bikini stretching on the beach

Fabric & care

Chlorine resistant swimwear that survives the pool

MADE TO LAST MORE THAN A SEASON

We make Pera from recycled Italian fabrics from Carvico. One of them, Sumatra Rec, is 80% recycled nylon. The other, Vita Power, is 78% ECONYL® — a nylon made from old fishing nets and other waste — with 22% XTRA LIFE LYCRA®. Some pieces also use REPREVE®, a recycled fibre made from plastic bottles. All of it is chosen because it holds up in pools: it keeps its shape and stays thick enough that nothing shows through. But good fabric is only half of it. How you rinse, dry, and store your swimwear decides how long it lasts.

Two girls in Pera Sport bikinis playing beach volleyball

What chlorine actually does to swimwear

Chlorine attacks elastane (the stretch fibre that gives swimwear its hold). As those fibres break down, the fabric goes slack and slightly translucent, seams lose tension, and a top that used to sit flat starts to gape. Cheap swimwear with a high elastane content and loose knit fails first, often inside a single pool season. That is why chlorine resistance is a fabric question before it is a styling one.

Why our recycled nylon and XTRA LIFE LYCRA® blend holds up

Nylon-dominant knits handle chlorine far better than polyester-elastane blends at the same price, and the XTRA LIFE LYCRA® in Vita Power is a substantially more durable elastane than generic spandex. Our knits run 78–80% recycled Italian nylon to 20–22% elastane, knitted at a density that keeps the fabric opaque when wet and stops it thinning out where it stretches most (across the chest, the bum, and strap anchors)

Girl in a Pera Sport bikini sitting on stone beach steps

How to make chlorine resistant bathers last longer

Rinse in cold fresh water straight after every swim, before the chlorine dries into the fibres. Never wring or machine dry. Instead, press the water out and lay flat in the shade, because heat and direct sun accelerate elastane breakdown. Keep swimwear away from sunscreen oils, spa chemicals and hot tubs, and rotate between two pieces if you swim daily so each one dries fully. Cared for like this, a good chlorine resistant swimsuit lasts seasons.

Fabric and fit notes

The recycled Italian nylon we use is quick-drying, soft against the skin, and opaque when wet. It is chlorine ultra-resistant, rated for pool use, and carries UPF 50+ protection. The fabric has a firm handfeel that relaxes slightly in water, so pieces should feel snug when dry. If you swim in pools year round, size for compression rather than comfort.

Cared for in Australia

We're a small Sydney label shipping domestically in recyclable packaging. Every order ships with a care card, and we design each piece knowing it will be washed, stretched, and rinsed repeatedly. If you're unsure about sizing or care, the size guide and FAQ cover the most common questions.

RINSE IT. DRY IT FLAT. WEAR IT FOR SEASONS.

Chlorine resistant · Recycled Italian nylon · UPF 50+