Bikini Bottoms Glossary

Banded Bottoms –A bikini bottom that incorporates a wider fabric covered elastic band in the front waist for a flat, sleek look.  Moderate back coverage.

Embellished – Beads, decorations, heat transfers, embroidery added to any swimsuit.

Full bottom – A bikini bottom with additional coverage on the low hip.

Gusset – A rectangular piece of fabric sewn into the crotch area of shorts or pants to allow for a better fit where the center back and center front seam meet the inside leg seam.

High-waist bottom – A bikini bottom designed with the waistline just below the navel.

Hot shorts – A bikini bottom in the design of short shorts.  Fold down waistband for comfort. Fully lined.

Light fastness – The degree to which a fabric holds its original depth of color after being exposed to sunlight for an extended period of time.  Pastel colors such as pinks and light blues do not have the light fastness of dark colors such as black and brown.

Low-rise bottom – A bikini bottom designed to sit low on the hips and straight across in the front.

Lycra – Lycra is a trademarked name for spandex.

Mid-rise bottom – A bikini bottom designed to sit mid way between a low-rise and scoop bottom.

Moderate bottom  – A bikini bottom with the classic “American” coverage.  Not too much, not too little.  Perfectly sexy.

Ruched – The technique of gathering the fabric as to create a puckered effect.

Sash – A soft fabric tie at the neck, back or hips to secure the suit on the body.

Scoop bottom – A bikini bottom designed to have a scooped waistline and a slightly higher leg line.  This bottom accentuates your curves. Moderate coverage.

Scuba bottom – A low-rise bikini bottom with an accenting belt.  Also known as a surf bottom.

Skirted bottom – A bikini bottom with an attached skirt.

Spaghetti – Thin fabric strings used on swimwear.

Spandex – A synthetic fiber which gives the swimwear fabric (poly or nylon) excellent memory and the ability to stretch a lot more than yarn without spandex.

Specialty foil fabrics – Metallic foils are applied to fabric using a special adhesive in a multi-step process.  With care, foils can retain their luster all season long.

Swim shorts – A bikini bottom in the design of a short. Fold down waistband for comfort.  Fully lined. Longer length than hot shorts.

Tie-side bottom – A bikini bottom that is bare on the hips except for spaghetti ties or sash ties.  Moderate coverage.

Tricot – Tricot refers to the type of stretch that the knit fabric has.