Islamic Swimsuit Fabric Care

A customer report goes like this; “I ironed the pants of my swimsuit, there is some visible damage to the fabric, what should I do now?!”  Or another; “After three months only, my swimsuit color started fading slighly, what gives?!”   

A handful of similar customer reports prompted us to write this article.  The topic of how to care for swimsuit fabric is an important one.  Some people know more than others, based on past experience, how to care for swimsuits.  Fabrics are fabrics, regardless of the swimsuit design being Islamic or not, the same care ideas apply.  But since the Islamic full-cover swimsuit concept is a recent one, many Muslim women are buying their “very first” swimsuits.  The topic of swimsuit fabric care, then, becomes a necessity.   

Swimsuit Fabrics

Before discussing how to care for the swimsuit, it may be best at this point to explain briefly the type of fabrics used in making the swimsuits.  At the time of writing this article in November 2010, all Islamic Swimsuit makers are using what is known as simple “Elastomers” to make swimsuits.  In simpler words, these are 100% polyester, or a mixture of polyester and spandex (or lycra.)  This composition provides varying degrees of water resistance, chlorine resistance, drying rate, and fabric compliance; i.e. amount of stretching.  The most popular mix is 82% polyester and 18% spandex – offering a great amount of 4-way stretching.  One important aspect about this fabric is also its soft and comfortable feel of the fabric, making it ideal as fashion swimwear and for the uses of the casual swimmer.   

The above fabric type also covers the bulk of non-Islamic swimsuits available on the market, from bikinis to full-body swimsuits, found at your neighborhood sporting goods or department stores.    

Pofessional swimming suits are a different story and they have a life cycle 20 times longer than the casual swimmer swimsuit.  Professional swimsuits are less comfortable, they feature less polyester, and feel rough when first worn.  They are also designed to be skin-tight (for performance) and are not as shiny.  The fabric is markedly different, it is designed for perforamnce and racing applications.  Such fabric characteristics make it difficult to use it to make Islamic swimsuits which observe modesty.   

Alsharifa.com is currently experimenting with fabrics that take the best features out of professional swimwear and casual swimwear fabrics.  If the results will produce new products, they will be made available in Spring 2011.   

Elasticity

Islamic swimsuits, not unlike regular swimsuits on the market,  are also designed to be stretchy, they contain some spandex or lycra.  This is a desired feature to get a wonderfully flattering swimsuit.  Like anything elastic - think of a loaded spring - the more you stretch it, eventually it will lose some of its elasticity and start deforming permanentaly.  This means the swimsuit (or bikini, etc.) may become longer or wider, or a bit looser around the body.  With proper swimsuit care, this desired feature of elasticity or “stretching” can perform its function for a long period of time.   

If you use your swimsuit a couple of times per week, whether the swimsuit is Islamic or not, so long that it is made from this traditional casual swimwear fabric, the suit will have a life cycle of one season only.  This means you will need to buy a new swimsuit every year.  If you are not using this swimsuit every week, it should last you 2 or more seasons (years), depending on your frequency of use, and how you take care of the fabric.   

Heat and Elasticity. 

The more the swimsuit fabric is exposed to heat, the more it will lose of its elasticity; i.e. it will deform to stretch permanently, so instead of having a perfect fit, it may become more loose around the body, or slightly longer since the fabric stretches in 4 directions.  What this means is that if you use the swimsuit periodically in a hot tub or sauna, its life cycle will be shortened.   

Face the Brutal Fact - Chlorine Will Be the Winner!

 When you buy a skirt, or a pair of pants, you would expect them to last for months, some for years.  Skirts and pants, during their life cycle, are exposed to wear and tear from friction sitting on chairs and other surfaces that can be rough or smooth.  Such environments these clothing items get exposed to are not as severe as the highly chlorinated public pools where swimsuits function.     

Today, chlorinating public swimming pool water is a necessary evil.  Germs and other pathogens can quickly travel from body to body in a swimming pool, and chlorine, dangerous as it is in other aspects, helps to protect our bodies from these pathogens.  While chlorine kills or damages bacteria and viruses, it does damage more than that.  More important to the focus of this article, chlorine damages swimsuits to an almost irreparable extent.  Swimming in a chlorinated swimming pool is effectively equivalent to soaking your swimsuit in diluted bleach for a couple of hours.  Needless to say, this is hardly a practice that encourages the durability and color-fastness of the swimsuit.  

There are a few steps you can take to prolong the life of your swimsuit. Chlorine will always be the eventual victor; it is too powerful of a chemical to vanquish entirely. Still, attentive care to the washing of your swimsuit can help to ensure that it maintains its life and vitality throughout the summer. The point here; you need to face the brutal facts - unlike your other clothing items, your swimsuit is used in a severe environment.  Sooner or later the inevitable will happen; the life of the swimsuit will come to an end, typically much faster than you would expect with your other clothing items.   

Steps for Best Care of Your Swimsuit Fabric

If you have accepted the ultimate demise of your beautiful swimsuit but are not yet willing to give up the fight, here is what you can do to prolong the life of your swimsuit, despite constant dippings in chlorinated water. 

1. You must truly accept the fact that your swimsuit is not meant to last forever. While there are fabrics that are treated for chlorine resistance, no fabric can entirely resist chlorine’s damaging effects. 

2. You should make a consistent effort to take care of your swimsuit.  

3. After swimming, rinse your swimsuit as soon as possible in cold water. This act will remove much of the chlorine before it has too much of an impact. 

4. When washing your swimsuit, be sure to hand wash in cold water. 

5. You should never put your swimsuit in the dryer; the dryer will tend to exacerbate any color fading that may occur.  A heated drying option will also affect the elasticity of the fabric.  

6. The Islamic swimsuit is a larger-than-average swimsuit made using 3-5 yards of fabric, you must never use a SuitMate machine to squeeze water out of it.  The use of other types of swimsuit spinners and wringgers will have a damaging effect to your swimsuit.  These machines are typically designed to handle smaller swimwear pieces.

Are Muslim Women Allowed to Swim?

We, at alsharifa.com, oftentimes receive the question about why we would even make Islamic, or Sharia, Swimsuits available; and whether such swimsuits should be allowed in Islam for women to use.  This is a very important question.  Alsharifa.com is a manufacturer, and not an authority on religion or issues of faith, we provide in this article some pointers to consider.  In no way should this article be considered a final word on this topic, nor the information should be construed as being alsharifa’s opinion on the matter.  Alsharifa has no stance on the issue and we do respect all opinions on the matter.  The information below is a collection of ideas that we came to learn about from our customers and friends.  Please add more in the comments section below.  This is a very important dialogue.  

The most commonly cited drive behind wanting to swim is the Sunnah of the prophet (pbuh) through the verified hadith: {Teach your children : Javelin throwing, Swimming, and Horse Riding .}  The hadith in Arabic uses the word “Awlad” which has the literal translation of children.  It did not talk about “boys” alone, so both men and women are included.   

Come to think about it, many of the early Sahaba Muslimahs took part in pilgrimage and war; crossing mountains, valleys, rivers, oases, and eventually seas, oceans, and continents as Islam expanded beyond the Arabian Peninsula.  One would ask the very simple question:  how did those early Muslim women cross the waters? It is for certain that they must have learnt how to swim, to avoid dangers at least.  It is certain they did not have water-resistant clothing, but there must have been a protocol for moving around.  Learning to swim is seen as must, by direct inference.  

It was a sad period in the history of Indonesia and other Muslim countries when the Asian Tsunami hit a few years ago.  The BBC reported that four times more women died than men in Indonesia.  In some small villages only women and children died.  Swimming and experience with the waters can be one of the keys for surviving such events.  Most Indonesian men in the small villages and kampongs are fishermen who know very well how to swim and stay afloat.  As a disclaimer, there may be other reasons for the higher rate of death of women, for example, women looking for their children near their homes, refusing to leave the immediate residence areas – among other factors.  This higher loss in women will leave an impact that the entire society and families will suffer for many years to come in the affected areas.  

Imagine for a minute - and heaven forbid - that a similar calamity or Tsunami would hit a different Muslim country where most women do not know how to swim.  And there are countries in the Middle East and outside of it where most women are not swimmers.  

In Cairo, Egypt, the use of Islamic swimsuits have been on the rise for a simple reason.  Muslim women, regardless of religious devotion, used to wear Western style swimwear and were the subject of harassment by some male beach-goers.  Now with the availability of Islamic and full-cover swimsuits, women have the freedom to participate in watersports with modesty.  The same trend is seen amongst non-Muslims demanding for full-cover swimsuits.  

We were initially surprised when members of the local churches where we are located began purchasing swimsuits from us.  The demand for cover is there, regardless of faith.  Some people cover for religious reasons, others to keep a more flattering look in cases such as overweight or having an irregular body shape.  One of our customers Nora who purchased the Malibu swimsuit said “I think it’s important for a woman to be able to dress modestly and still look sporty.”  

On the theological side, many people have made statements about the topic of Islamic Swimwear.  Suad Saleh, Professor of Fiqh at al-Azhar University and the former Dean of the College of Islamic Studies opines that hitting the beaches to relax and getting relief from stress  is permissible as Islam is “deen-ul-waseeta”, which means it is a religion of moderation.  So one neither has to be too hard on oneself, nor the opposite extreme.    

On the other side of the spectrum, Pof. Mustapha Umara who is a member in the Higher Council For Islamic Affairs in Cairo, Egypt, has the opinion that woman is “awra” or “aurat” as a whole so she cannot wear short or tight clothing, or anything that shows the details of her body, whether at the beach or in public places.  The direct definition of Awra / Aurat is “something than cannot be exposed in public.”  

It is important to point out here that alsharifa, while designing our swimsuits, take into account maximizing coverage and preserving modesty – the Awra concept is taken into account.  This is highlighted in the addition of long tunics, modest roomy upper arm and thigh fabric cuts, buckles to secure tunic to pants, and clips at bottom of legs to tighten them to avoid exposure or control length from ground or ankle level.  

Last but not least, not all buyers of full-cover swimsuits use them for swimming, below is a quick rundown from customer feedback for some indirect applications:  

1. Safety Measure by the Pool.  Some women purchase a full-cover swimsuit to stay by her children as they swim in public pools.  If there is an emergency where she needs to help her children, she can jump in while dressed in proper swim clothes.  Otherwise, local ordinances may deny her pool area access if she were not dressed properly.  For example, if she was wearing cotton that would absorb water.. or just imagine the alternative, jumping in dressed up in an abaya.  This alternative is unacceptable vis-a-vis the Awra concept and showing modesty, the abaya fabric will cling to her skin and show her awra.
2. Medical Needs.  Some skin patients require full cover swimsuits sometimes just to be able to enjoy the pool,  skin cancer patients may require the same to walk by the beach; since the swimsuits are also UV-protective against harmful sun rays.  Seniors and patients with joint problems who are required to use water for walking or exercising may find the same swimsuits indispensable in lieu of traditional swimwear.
3. General Exercise.  Whether you would like to exercise at the gym, do a tri-athalon or more, the same swimsuit can provide you with the coverage you need, along with the comfort and modesty of a tracksuit, if you do not have one readily available.  In addition the versatility that the Alsharifa garment provides will impress you.

To summarize, the arguments supporting the need for women to take up swimming far outweigh the calls for not swimming.  Most of the disagreements are not on the right to swim, or the what about swimming, but rather they are focused on the how and where.   The answer to these questions will be subjective and will differ by culture and location.  Some countries like Saudi Arabia offer women-only clubs where Awra concepts still apply between women.  In the US we have heard of many groups having women’s only hours at pools and fitness clubs.  Other initiatives in North Africa and Europe includes beach rentals for women-only.  Some families have no issues swimming in public pools in full cover swimsuits as they provide full cover and do not cling to skin.  The choice is yours, alsharifa provide the tools, it remains up to you on how and where to use them.

Look modest and stylish in this beautiful fishtail skirt with grommets.

Play it safe and stylish in this beautiful classic A line skirt.

Have you been on the lookout for the perfect fall skirt?  Look no more because they’re in NOW!  We have two different styles that just came in stock.  One plays big into the fall trend of studs & details (“Motorcycle Chic”) with its stylish metal grommets.  This skirt is 42 inches long, & is 97% cotton 3% linen.  Comes in two gorgeous colors: grey & classic black.
 
The length of these skirts at 42 inches puts them on the list of longest skirts. Most modest skirts begin at 38 inches and continue up to 40 or 41 inches. Here, we introduce 42 inches.

We also have another style for those who wish to play it a bit more safe, but still stylishly.  Check our our A line skirt also made of 97% cotton 3% linen.  This skirt is also 42 inches long & has two pockets.  You can buy it in two lovely shades which are tan & brown.  

One of the most important things you can do for your abaya is to wash it with special abaya shampoo such as Persil.  If you are in the States and that is not available, you can use woolite dark. 

Your First Step with Your New Swimsuit.

Whether you consider buying an Islamic swimsuit for the first time, or you just bought one, you may be wary to take the plunge.  You may hesitate to go in public in your full cover swimsuit, and for different reasons; you are going aginst the stream, you worry that the swimsuit may not be acceptable at the public pool, among other concerns.  We share below one sample of a frequently asked question at Alsharifa.com Support Center, which addresses the above points.

Email Question:

Dear Alsharifa,

I really want to go swimming and I love your swimsuits.  I am afraid though of what people will say, or if I’ll even be allowed to swim.  What should I do?

Signed Khadija

Response:

Dear Khadija,

Salaam alaikom!  Thanks so much for your note.  It’s actually a common concern, and in fact was a concern of mine prior to starting this company.  I grew up here in the USA (I’m a convert) so I was used to going swimming whenever I felt like it.  After I started covering I really missed swimming.  Yet, I was afraid like you mention of what others will say.

One day I was talking to another convert.  She actually taught water aerobics to non-Muslims.  I was impressed.  I thought, if she could do it, I could do it!  Why not?

Now after all this time I can only say positive things about going swimming wearing full-cover Islamic swimsuits.  My kids enjoy the pool with me too (and that includes my own little hijabi mini-me!).  One great thing about alsharifa swimsuits is that they are designed to be stylish and modest.  There is no reason to wear something not flattering.  That will cause undue attention.  In fact, you may be surprised, but I get many questions from women who do NOT wear hijab.  They like the idea that they could swim in something more than what amounts to glorified underwear.  Over 20% of the swimsuits sales at alsharifa.com come from non-Muslims, people of other faiths that would like to have coverage.  Another bonus is that the full-cover swimwear at alsharifa features UV protection to protect your skin from sun damage (of course you still need to use sun block on your face).  In all the times I have worn my suit I have to say I only felt uncomfortable one time which was from an older couple who I think were just genuinely curious.

As far as will you be allowed to swim I have to say that I’m so happy that I live in the USA.  Alhamdulillah we have our first amendment rights which includes free exercise of religion.  This means that you can wear clothing for religious purposes and no one can bother you.   We do hear about reports of people being kicked out of the pools for not wearing proper swim gear.  This is understandable, the last thing a swim pool facility needs is a liability from someone wearing improper swim clothing from cotton or other fabric that would absorb water and get the swimmer to become heavy and possibly drown.

At Alsharifa.com, to date, we have not had any reports of anyone having any problems swimming in our product.  If any problem should arise please feel free to contact us and we’re happy to help you in any way that we can.

Generally, alsharifa swimsuits are made from Swimwear fabrics, they are water-resistant, chlorine-resistant, soil-repellent, light-weight but with high-density, and in many respects they are superior to other types of swimwear garments such as bikinis, shorts, etc.  Many of our styles are made on the same manufacturing lines where Speedo and other major brands are produced.  The cutting and sewing quality is very high.  More or less, you are looking at a world-class product.  It is unlikely that anyone will stop you from using this product in a public pool, they will have no arguments against it.

I wish you the best of luck with your new swimsuit, I’m sure you will really enjoy going swimming again. 

Walaikom salaam,

Kelly

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Since the month long fast does fall in the summer months this year (for us here in North America anyhow) make sure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water in the evenings.  If you perspire  a lot in the day time you may choose to drink a beverage that includes electrolytes.  Electrolytes are very important to the human body as they help regulate nerve and muscular function, help maintain blood pressure and also hydration. 

We also have a special at Alsharifa.com this month (while supplies last):  When you purchase a Caftan use coupon code FREE-WRAP to receive a free chiffon wrap with your caftan purchase (one for each caftan).  Again, this is only while supplies last.

You will however be very comfortable and worry free in this gorgeous gown.  It is of our supreme magic silk fabric which is worry free and even better, wrinkle free, so don’t worry about ironing it!