Athleta Womens Aqualuxe Plunge One Piece
Avoid until Athleta discloses water-repellent coating chemistry or switches to PFAS-free.
The Aqualuxe one-piece uses nylon blend with water-repellent coating finish typical of performance swimwear, which commonly relies on PFAS-based chemistry. Athleta offers no public disclosure of its water-repellent coating treatment or PFAS status without third-party testing or commitment to PFAS-free alternatives.
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 blend with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Athleta Womens Aqualuxe Plunge One Piece is made of, ingredients and materials
Athleta Aqualuxe is nylon-blend with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the fabric surface. water-repellent coating coatings on swimwear are typically fluorochemical-based (PFAS family) or occasionally silicone alternatives, though Athleta has not publicly disclosed which chemistry they use. Nylon itself is a stable synthetic polymer with low leaching risk in water; the concern centers entirely on the water-repellent treatment and how it degrades with washing and UV exposure.
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.
PFAS
Nylon swimwear water-repellent coating finishes are predominantly fluorochemical-based (PFAS); Athleta's silence on composition suggests conventional treatment. PFAS can migrate into skin during wear and into wastewater during laundering.
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Water-repellent coating and elastic finishes on swimwear may contain trace formaldehyde releasers. Nylon blends with stretch components sometimes use formaldehyde-based resins; Athleta does not publicly disclose finish chemistry.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microfiber shedding
Nylon garments shed microfibers during washing, contributing to marine microplastic pollution. Athleta Aqualuxe offers no stated microfiber-reduction technology (e.g., anti-shed yarns).
Coating degradation and chemical release
Water-repellent coating coatings on synthetic textiles degrade with laundering and UV exposure, potentially releasing residual treatment chemicals. Athleta provides standard care tags but no specific guidance on minimizing chemical release during product lifetime.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in synthetic textiles
No recalls or public safety data specific to Athleta Aqualuxe dye composition. Nylon can carry azo dyes; reputable apparel makers screen for banned carcinogenic azo compounds, but absence of reported hazard does not guarantee independent testing.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Athleta, owned by Gap Inc.has not published a public commitment to transparency on fluorochemical use in swimwear water-repellent coating chemistry as of available records. The brand has not faced major product recalls for hazardous coatings, but silence on water-repellent coating composition is notable given industry-wide pressure to disclose or eliminate PFAS. This lack of transparency is the primary red flag, not an established safety failure.
How it compares in its category
Water-resistant swimwear routinely relies on water-repellent coating finishes; Athleta's approach is standard industry practice. Competitors like Patagonia and some EU brands have begun transitioning to PFAS-free or wax-based water repellents with full disclosure, making Athleta's silence increasingly notable. Budget swimwear often uses similar undisclosed water-repellent coating, while premium brands increasingly lead on transparency. This product sits in the middle of a market in transition.
If you buy it
Wash in cool water and air dry to minimize water-repellent coating degradation and chemical leaching into your home water. Avoid high heat (dryers, hot water) which accelerates coating breakdown and potential release of residual chemicals. Replace when water beading noticeably diminishes (typically 1-2 years with regular use), as degraded water-repellent coating offers no protection and may concentrate residues. Request water-repellent composition from Athleta customer service; consumer demand for disclosure drives industry change.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Athleta has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Athleta Womens Aqualuxe Plunge One Piece?
- Nylon/polyester blend with elastane (standard swimwear)
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Elastane (spandex) degradation under heat or chlorine
- Cotton/cotton-blend seersucker plaid
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Azo dyes and colorfast stability
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- Polyester/nylon swimsuit fabric, likely uncoated or standard finish
- Azo dyes and synthetic colorants
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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.