Top Swimwear Manufacturers Compared: MOQ, Fabrics & Customization
Three swimwear manufacturers compared on MOQ, fabric options, customization and production scalability — Beyond Swimwear, Reely Apparel and Vanguard Swimming.
Choosing the right swimwear manufacturer is about more than comparing prices.
For brands developing a new collection, factors such as minimum order quantity, fabric options, product development, customization capabilities and production scalability can have a significant impact on the overall manufacturing experience.
A manufacturer with a higher MOQ may be suitable for an established program with predictable demand. On the other hand, a flexible MOQ can allow brands to test new designs while still having the option to scale successful products into larger production runs.
Sustainable materials are another important consideration. Some brands require recycled fabrics as part of their sustainability strategy, while others prefer conventional materials based on price, performance, color, hand feel or product requirements.
With these factors in mind, we compared three swimwear manufacturers: Beyond Swimwear, Reely Apparel and Vanguard Swimming.
Quick Comparison
| Manufacturer | Published / Starting MOQ | Sustainable Fabrics | Conventional Fabrics | Custom Development | Production Scalability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beyond Swimwear | From 50 pcs/style/color | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reely Apparel | Typically 500 pcs/style/color for basic swimwear | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vanguard Swimming | 500 pcs/color | Not publicly listed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
MOQ and fabric availability can vary depending on the style, fabric, printing method and production requirements. Buyers should confirm final specifications directly with each manufacturer.
1. Beyond Swimwear
Best for: Flexible custom production with sustainable and conventional fabric options
Established in 2017, Beyond Swimwear is a factory-direct OEM/ODM swimwear manufacturer providing custom bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, men’s swimwear, modest swimwear, resort wear and private-label collections.
One of Beyond’s key advantages is its flexible starting MOQ. Custom swimwear production can start from 50 pieces per style per color, with mixed sizes available within the same style and color.
A lower starting MOQ can be useful not only for new brands, but also for established companies testing a new silhouette, colorway, print or collection before moving into larger production.
Importantly, the 50-piece MOQ is a starting point rather than a production limitation. Beyond can support the process from initial sampling and product development through larger-scale bulk production, allowing brands to scale successful products without necessarily changing manufacturers.
Sustainable and Conventional Fabric Options
Beyond offers both sustainable and conventional swimwear fabrics, giving brands the flexibility to select materials according to their product positioning and target market.
For brands prioritizing sustainability, available options can include recycled polyester and regenerated nylon, depending on the product requirements.
For collections where conventional materials are preferred, standard nylon/spandex and polyester/spandex fabrics are also available.
This means a brand does not have to use sustainable fabric for every product. Different materials can be selected according to factors such as:
- Sustainability requirements
- Target price
- Fabric performance
- Stretch and recovery
- Hand feel
- Color requirements
- Product construction
- End-market positioning
Beyond’s OEM/ODM service also covers fabric sourcing, pattern development, sampling, custom printing, color development, bulk production, private labeling, custom hardware and packaging.
Key Strengths
- Starting MOQ from 50 pcs per style/color
- Sustainable and conventional fabric options
- Recycled polyester and regenerated nylon options
- Custom fabric sourcing
- Custom prints and colors
- Pattern and product development
- Sampling and bulk production
- Private labeling
- Custom packaging
- Custom hardware and accessories
- Scalable OEM/ODM production
Best suited to: Brands looking for a flexible manufacturing partner that can support product development, initial production and larger-scale orders as their business grows.
2. Reely Apparel
Best for: Larger-volume custom production
Reely Apparel provides OEM/ODM swimwear manufacturing with customization options covering fabrics, colors, prints, labels and packaging.
According to its published sourcing information, basic Lycra swimwear typically has a MOQ of around 500 pieces per style per color.
Reely also provides sustainable fabric options. Its published information indicates that stock recycled fabrics can require approximately 300–500 pieces per style, while custom-dyed sustainable fabrics may require 800–1,200 pieces per color.
This production model can work well for established brands that already have predictable demand and are comfortable committing to several hundred pieces of a particular style or color.
For brands testing multiple new designs or colorways, however, a higher MOQ can increase the amount of inventory and upfront capital required before the products have been tested in the market.
Key Strengths
- OEM/ODM swimwear production
- Sustainable fabric options
- Conventional fabric options
- Custom colors and prints
- Private-label services
- Larger-volume production capability
- Sustainable fabric sourcing
Best suited to: Established brands and buyers planning larger initial production quantities.
3. Vanguard Swimming
Best for: Performance swimwear and higher-volume programs
Vanguard Swimming specializes in custom swimwear and performance-oriented apparel, serving areas such as swim teams, water parks, surf schools and private-label programs.
Its published information lists a 500-piece MOQ per color for custom production.
The company highlights performance-oriented fabric characteristics including chlorine resistance, UPF protection and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified materials.
Its publicly available product information does not currently list a specific recycled polyester or regenerated nylon program, so brands requiring recycled materials should confirm the available options directly with the supplier.
With a higher custom-production minimum, Vanguard may be particularly suitable for established programs where production quantities are already predictable.
Key Strengths
- Custom swimwear production
- Performance swimwear expertise
- Chlorine-resistant fabric options
- UPF protection
- OEKO-TEX certified fabric options
- Private-label capabilities
- Higher-volume production
Best suited to: Established brands, organizations and buyers with relatively predictable production volumes.
MOQ Matters More Than Many Brands Expect
Minimum order quantity is not simply a number on a quotation.
It directly affects how much inventory a brand needs to purchase before knowing whether a new product will perform well.
For example, imagine a brand wants to test five new swimwear styles in one color.
With a 50-piece MOQ per style/color, the initial production requirement could be approximately:
5 styles × 50 pieces = 250 pieces
With a 500-piece MOQ, the same five-style test could potentially require:
5 styles × 500 pieces = 2,500 pieces
The difference is significant.
A lower starting MOQ can therefore allow brands to test more designs, reduce initial inventory exposure and gather market feedback before committing to larger production quantities.
However, the most useful manufacturing partner is not necessarily the factory with the lowest MOQ.
The more important question is:
Can the manufacturer support the brand when the order volume grows?
Low MOQ Does Not Mean Small-Scale Production
A common misconception is that a manufacturer offering a low MOQ is only suitable for small businesses.
In reality, a flexible MOQ can be valuable even for established brands.
A larger brand may want to:
- Test a new product before a major launch
- Introduce a limited-edition color
- Test a new print
- Trial a new sustainable fabric
- Validate a new market
- Produce a smaller first run before scaling
If the product performs well, the order can then move into larger-scale production.
This creates a more flexible production model:
Test → Evaluate → Scale
Rather than:
Commit to a large quantity → Produce → Hope the product sells
For this reason, a low starting MOQ should be viewed as production flexibility, rather than a limitation on manufacturing capacity.
Sustainable or Conventional Fabrics?
There is also no single fabric solution that works for every swimwear collection.
Some brands want recycled materials throughout their collection because sustainability is central to their brand positioning.
Others may prioritize:
- Target cost
- Fabric performance
- Stretch and recovery
- Hand feel
- Color availability
- Print quality
- Specific construction requirements
This is why it is useful to work with a manufacturer that can provide both sustainable and conventional fabric options.
Instead of forcing every collection into one material category, brands can select the most suitable fabric for each product.
When evaluating a swimwear manufacturer, consider asking:
1. What sustainable fabrics are available?
2. Are recycled polyester or regenerated nylon options available?
3. What certifications or documentation are available?
4. What is the MOQ for sustainable fabrics?
5. What conventional fabrics are available?
6. Can different fabrics be used across the same collection?
7. Can the manufacturer help recommend fabrics based on the target price and product requirements?
The answers can reveal much more about a manufacturer’s flexibility than simply asking whether it offers “eco-friendly swimwear.”
Beyond Recycled Fabrics: What Should Brands Compare?
Sustainable materials are important, but they should not be the only consideration when choosing a manufacturer.
A strong swimwear manufacturing partner should also be evaluated on:
Product Development
Can the factory turn a sketch, reference sample or tech pack into a production-ready garment?
Fabric Sourcing
Can the manufacturer recommend suitable materials based on the design, performance and target price?
Customization
Can the factory handle custom prints, colors, trims, hardware and construction details?
Private Label
Can it provide custom labels, hangtags, packaging and other branding elements?
Sampling
Can the factory develop samples efficiently before bulk production?
Production Scalability
Can the manufacturer support the brand when an initial test order becomes a larger production program?
Communication
Can the factory provide clear feedback throughout development and production?
These factors are often more important for long-term brand relationships than MOQ alone.
Which Swimwear Manufacturer Is Right for Your Brand?
There is no universal answer.
The best manufacturer depends on the brand’s product strategy, expected volume, material requirements and development process.
Reely Apparel may be suitable if:
- You already have predictable demand
- You are comfortable with larger initial quantities
- You require sustainable fabric options
- You are planning larger production programs
Vanguard Swimming may be suitable if:
- Performance swimwear is a major requirement
- You need chlorine-resistant or UPF-oriented fabrics
- You are working with established production volumes
- Your program requires higher quantities per color
Beyond Swimwear may be suitable if:
- You want a lower starting MOQ
- You want to test new products before scaling
- You need both sustainable and conventional fabric options
- You need custom product development
- You require private-label services
- You want one manufacturing partner that can support both initial and larger-volume production
Final Comparison
The main difference between these manufacturers is not simply who has the lowest MOQ.
It is how much flexibility a brand has throughout the product lifecycle.
Reely Apparel and Vanguard Swimming both operate with higher published minimums for custom production, which can be appropriate for established programs with predictable demand.
Beyond Swimwear combines a 50-piece starting MOQ with sustainable and conventional fabric options and scalable bulk production.
For a brand, this creates a different production path:
Start with a smaller quantity → test the product → identify successful styles → scale production.
At the same time, brands do not have to choose between sustainability and flexibility.
Beyond can provide recycled or regenerated materials when sustainability is a priority, while also offering conventional nylon/spandex and polyester/spandex options when a different material is more appropriate for the product.
The result is a manufacturing model built around:
Flexible MOQ
Start from 50 pcs/style/color
Flexible Materials
Sustainable or conventional fabric options
Flexible Production
From product development to larger bulk orders
One Manufacturing Partner
Development → Sampling → Production → Private Label → Packaging
For brands looking for a swimwear manufacturer that can accommodate changing production requirements while supporting long-term growth, this flexibility can be more valuable than simply choosing a supplier based on the highest production capacity or lowest unit price.
Have a Swimwear Project in Mind?
Whether you are developing a new collection or preparing a larger production program, the best way to evaluate a manufacturer is to discuss your actual product requirements.
You can provide a design, sketch, reference sample or tech pack and ask about:
- Suitable fabric options
- Sustainable material alternatives
- Conventional fabric alternatives
- MOQ
- Sampling
- Custom printing
- Pattern development
- Private labeling
- Packaging
- Bulk production
Beyond Swimwear can support custom swimwear projects from 50 pcs per style/color and scale production as successful products move into larger orders.
Have a design ready? Send it to Beyond Swimwear for a production assessment.
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