How Much Do Swimsuits Cost? A Transparent Breakdown From a Swimwear Founder

Posted by Veronique Eve Magnan on December 07, 2025
Graphic with the word swim spelled out in large letters, each filled with photos of women wearing swimsuits outdoors, including on the beach and near water. The image introduces an article about swimsuit pricing.

If you’ve ever wondered why swimsuit prices vary from $20 to $200, you’re not alone. As one the founder of Vie Swimwear, a slow-fashion, eco-conscious swimwear brand, I’ve spent years researching, sampling, and producing high-quality swimsuits.

What I’ve learned is this: the true cost of a swimsuit goes far beyond fabric and sewing.
And most customers never get to see what’s behind the price tag.

In this article, I’ll break down exactly how much swimsuits cost to make, what influences their price, and what you should be paying for a quality, long-lasting swimsuit.

Why Swimsuit Prices Vary So Much

The swimwear industry is split into two worlds:

  • Fast fashion, where swimsuits can cost as little as $5 to produce
  • Slow, ethical, high-quality production, where one piece can cost $30–$60 just to make

Both can look similar online, but the difference is in how they are made and how long they last.

Let’s take a closer look.

Side by side images promoting sustainable swimwear. The left images shows a close up of a person wearing a black two piece swimsuit with text about durable, eco-friendly fabric and a button that says shop sustainable swimwear. The right image shows people in protective suits standing among piles of discarded clothing with text encouraging choosing items that are better for your wardrobe and the planet.

The Real Factors That Influence Swimsuit Prices

Fabric Quality

The number one cost driver is the fabric.
High-quality fabrics, especially recycled, eco-certified ones, are expensive. They provide:

  • Better support
  • Longer lifespan
  • Shape retention
  • UV, saltwater, and chlorine resistance

Cheaper brands use thin, low-grade materials that stretch, fade, and lose elasticity quickly.

Construction & Craftsmanship

A quality swimsuit isn’t just sewn, it’s engineered.

Slow-fashion brands invest in:

  • Double lining
  • More precise stitching
  • Reinforced seams
  • Hidden support structures

All of this increases production time and cost, but dramatically improves the fit and comfort.

Slow-Fashion Production

Producing small batches means:

  • No mass-production discounts
  • Higher per-unit costs
  • More quality control
  • Less waste
  • Fairer wages

Fast fashion keeps costs low by producing thousands (or millions) of units at once. Slow fashion prioritizes responsibility over scale.

Ethical Labor & Worker Safety

One of the biggest unseen costs is ethical manufacturing.

At Vie Swimwear, even though we produce overseas in Indonesia, we intentionally chose a factory that:

  • Treats workers fairly
  • Pays proper wages
  • Provides safe working conditions
  • Uses environmentally responsible practices

This is far more expensive than the factories used by big fast-fashion brands, but it aligns with our values.

Environmental Responsibility

Eco-friendly production (like using sustainable recycled fabrics) always costs more, but for us, it is non-negotiable.

A collage showing a swimwear brand working closely with their ethical manufacturer. One image features fabric with text about promoting equality. Another shows two people reviewing color swatches and design boards at a table. A third image shows a small team gathered around a worktable examining a bikini sample. The final image includes text about prioritizing quality. Together, the visuals highlight the brand’s commitment to fair practices, thoughtful design, and craftsmanship.

Learn more about our commitment to ethical manufacturing.

How Much Do Swimsuits Actually Cost to Produce?

Many people assume a $100 swimsuit costs $5 to make.
Not true.

Here’s full transparency from Vie Swimwear:

  • Top: about $32 to produce
  • Bottom: about $29 to produce

This is only the sewing and materials, nothing else.

It does NOT include:

  • Pattern development
  • Sampling and revisions
  • Fit testing
  • Shipping from factory
  • Import duties
  • Packaging
  • Website costs
  • Branding
  • Marketing
  • Photography
  • Customer service
  • Inventory risks

Once you add all of those in, the real cost of bringing a premium swimsuit to market is much higher than customers expect.

Price Comparison: Cheap vs. High-Quality Swimwear

Cheap (Fast Fashion) Swimwear

  • Costs $5–$10 to produce
  • Thin, low-quality fabrics
  • Lasts 1 season
  • Poor support and fit
  • Often produced in unsafe or unethical conditions
  • Prone to stretching, fading, and sagging

High-Quality Swimwear

  • Costs $30–$60+ to produce
  • Premium eco-friendly fabrics
  • Reinforced construction
  • Lasts 3 seasons or more
  • Feels supportive and comfortable
  • Holds its shape over time

The difference in quality is huge, and customers often feel it the moment they try on a premium piece.

What Customers Should Look For in a High-Quality Swimsuit

If you’re investing in a good swimsuit, here are the signs of true quality:

  • Fabric feel: smooth, supportive, and luxurious
  • Support without compression: holds you without squeezing you
  • Even stitching: clean seams, no loose threads
  • Double lining: prevents transparency and adds durability
  • Shape retention: maintains structure after many wears
  • Comfort: it should feel right the moment you put it on

These are exactly the details we obsess over at Vie Swimwear.

Image of a woman wearing a green two piece swimsuit, standing in the center with her hands on her hips. Around her are close up photos of fabric details with short captions pointing to them. The labels describe features such as smooth fabric, double lining, support without squeezing, durable stitching, shape retention, and overall comfort. The image is designed to explain the quality features of the swimsuit in a visual way.

Discover the difference with our best selling Essence tops.

Seasonal Trends & Price Fluctuations in the Industry

Prices can shift depending on the season and global demand. Industry-wide trends include:

  • Higher fabric prices before summer
  • Production costs rising due to demand for popular cuts/colors
  • Limited edition prints costing more due to smaller quantities
  • Shipping and logistics spikes in peak months

For small slow-fashion brands, these fluctuations can significantly affect overall costs.

The Cost of Branding and Marketing

Most people don’t realize how expensive it is to present a swimwear brand professionally.

Brands typically invest in:

  • Professional photoshoots
  • UGC and influencer content
  • Website hosting and design
  • Packaging and branding
  • Paid ads

For many companies, this can be thousands per month.

Vie Swimwear is self-funded, so we grow through:

  • Organic content
  • Customer loyalty
  • Word of mouth

This saves money, but takes longer to build recognition.

 

So… How Much Should a Good Swimsuit Cost?

Based on quality, sustainability, craftsmanship, and ethical manufacturing, a fair price for premium swimwear is:

  • $100–$140 for a top
  • Around $100 for a bottom
  • $180–$200 for a one-piece

This is the range that allows brands like ours to produce responsibly without compromising fabric quality or ethics.

As we grow, our goal is to reduce prices, but we will never cut corners on the values we stand for.

Final Thoughts: Your Swimsuit Is an Investment

A swimsuit shouldn’t last one summer.
It should make you feel confident, supported, and comfortable, season after season.

When you invest in a high-quality, ethically made swimsuit, you’re paying for:

  • Better materials
  • Better construction
  • Ethical practices
  • Longevity
  • Comfort
  • A better planet

And over the long run, the cost per wear becomes much lower than replacing cheap swimsuits every year.

If you’re looking for swimwear that combines premium materials, hidden support, sustainability, and flattering design, this is exactly what we created at Vie Swimwear.

Explore our swimwear collection.

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