Andie Women's The Amalfi Swim Dress
Skip until Andie discloses water-repellent coating chemistry or certifies PFAS-free.
The Amalfi is a swimsuit with water-repellent coating treatment, a common application for PFAS-based fluorochemicals in textiles. Andie makes no public disclosure about the water-repellent coating finish's chemistry or PFAS status.
The better-graded swap
Patagonia
Patagonia Women's Bottom Turn Racerback Bikini Top
90/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon/polyester blend with water-repellent coating water-repellent treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Andie Women's The Amalfi Swim Dress is made of, ingredients and materials
The Amalfi Swim Dress uses a nylon/polyester blend treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish. water-repellent coating coatings on swimwear are almost always fluorochemical-based (PFAS), which persist in the body and environment. Nylon and polyester both shed microplastics during wear and washing, especially under chlorine and UV exposure typical of swimming. The synthetic blend also means potential dyes and finishing chemicals are locked into the fibers.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating chemistry
Nylon/polyester swimwear water-repellent coating treatments are predominantly fluorochemical-based. Andie's silence on this ingredient and lack of PFAS-free certification strongly suggests a conventional fluorinated formula, though the specific chemical compound cannot be confirmed without disclosure from the brand.
Microplastic shedding
Nylon and polyester swimwear release microplastics during wear and laundering, particularly in chlorinated or saltwater environments. Studies document this release; frequency and quantity depend on fabric density, water-repellent coating degradation, and wash cycles. Frequent swimmers will shed measurable plastic fibers into waterways.
Synthetic dye and finishing chemical residues
Nylon and polyester fabrics are dyed and finished with industrial chemicals. While regulated in many markets, residual azo dyes, heavy metal mordants, and formaldehyde-based fixatives can remain in the fabric and leach into skin or water with extended wear and moisture exposure.
water-repellent coating degradation and reactivation products
If users attempt to refresh the water-repellent coating finish with commercial sprays or treatments, exposure to additional fluorochemicals occurs. Andie does not provide guidance on this, leaving consumers to guess at reapplication methods.
Chlorine and UV interaction with synthetic fibers
Nylon and polyester degrade under repeated chlorine and UV exposure, accelerating microplastic release and potentially breaking down the water-repellent coating into smaller particulates that may be ingested or inhaled during water use.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Andie has not publicly disclosed the chemical composition of its water-repellent coating treatment or provided PFAS-free certification. The brand does not appear to have published materials transparency reports, third-party safety testing results, or commitments to fluorochemical-free finishes. This silence is significant because swimwear brands with transparency typically lead with PFAS-free or PFOA-free claims; absence of such messaging suggests no proactive testing or commitment.
How it compares in its category
Most conventional swimwear brands (Speedo, Land's End, TYR) use water-repellent coating treatments and rarely disclose chemistry; however, an increasing number of brands (Girlfriend Collective, Patagonia) have committed to PFAS-free or are transparent about suppliers. The Amalfi's nylon/polyester blend is standard, but the lack of brand transparency puts it behind competitors who have moved toward accountability. Price point and design do not offset the chemical disclosure gap.
If you buy it
Rinse immediately after saltwater or chlorine exposure to reduce chemical and microplastic load. Machine wash in cold water with gentle detergent and skip fabric softener, which can degrade the water-repellent coating finish and increase leaching. Line dry to avoid heat damage to synthetic fibers. Replace every 1-2 years if worn frequently, as water-repellent coating coatings degrade and microplastic shedding increases with age. Consider requesting a care sheet from Andie that specifies the water-repellent coating chemistry before purchase.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Andie has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Elastane (spandex) degradation under heat or chlorine
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Find an alternative on AmazonMore swimwear grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.