Lands' End Women's Tugless High Neck Portrait Back One Piece Swimsuit
Water-resistant finish on nylon/spandex blend raises PFAS concern without brand disclosure.
This swimsuit has a water-resistant finish applied to a nylon/spandex blend. water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. Lands' End has no PFAS statement on record for this product, and the chemistry of the finish is not stated.
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/spandex blend with water-resistant finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Lands' End Women's Tugless Piece Swimsuit is made of, ingredients and materials
This swimsuit is nylon/spandex (elastane), a common performance blend chosen for stretch and chlorine resistance. The 'water-resistant finish' almost certainly refers to a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating, typically applied to nylon swimwear to shed water and dry faster. water-repellent coating treatments have historically relied on PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") to achieve this effect, though some manufacturers have shifted to alternatives not linked to PFAS. Nylon itself is stable, but the coating longevity and composition are the safety unknowns here.
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
Water-resistant nylon swimwear is predominantly finished with PFAS-based water-repellent coating treatments. Lands' End provides no information on whether this suit uses legacy fluorinated compounds or newer non-fluorinated alternatives, making PFAS presence probable but unconfirmed.
Source, ATSDR ↗Spandex elasticity loss over time
Spandex (elastane) naturally degrades with UV exposure, chlorine, salt, and heat. This swimsuit's fit and support will decline after 50-80 wears, not a toxicity issue but a durability concern that may encourage premature disposal.
Skin irritation from dye migration or finish residue
Some consumers report itching or rash from new nylon swimwear; this can stem from excess dye, water-repellent coating chemical residues, or spandex additives. Rinsing thoroughly before wear may reduce this risk, though it is not brand-specific.
Microplastic shedding from coating or fiber breakdown
Synthetic swimwear, especially with applied finishes, can release microplastics during washing. This is an environmental and potential ingestion concern if microfibers persist in water systems; the water-resistant coating may accelerate this if it degrades unevenly.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes and chemical residues in fabric dyeing
Lands' End does not advertise restricted dyes or OEKO-TEX certification for this product. No specific recalls or complaints regarding dye toxicity for this model are on record, but dyeing processes for nylon can release heavy metals and azo compounds if not well controlled. No third-party testing data is publicly available.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Lands' End does not publicly disclose the specific water-repellent coating chemistry used in this or other swimwear. The brand has no published PFAS reduction commitment or third-party certifications (such as bluesign or OEKO-TEX Standard 100) for this product line. Unlike some competitors, Lands' End has not acknowledged the PFAS issue in swimwear or committed to phasing out fluorinated treatments. This silence is notable given the scale of their apparel business and consumer awareness of 'forever chemicals' in textiles.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream swimwear brands (Speedo, Nike, Athleta) still use PFAS-based water-repellent coating without transparency, so Lands' End is not an outlier. However, premium and eco-focused brands (Patagonia, Girlfriend Collective, Title Nine) increasingly disclose PFAS-free finishes or skip water-repellent treatments altogether. For a mid-range brand with strong brand loyalty and heritage, Lands' End lags in transparency compared to competitors investing in cleaner supply chains. The nylon/spandex blend itself is industry standard and not a differentiator for safety.
If you buy it
Wash in cool fresh water after use to minimize chlorine and salt damage to the coating and elastic. Avoid hot water, dryers, and direct sunlight, which degrade spandex and any water-repellent coating finish prematurely. The water-resistant finish will diminish with repeated wash cycles (typically 20-50 wears), at which point the suit functions as regular nylon/spandex swimwear. If concerned about PFAS exposure, contact Lands' End directly to ask for water-repellent coating chemistry details before purchase, and consider rotating with untreated suits to reduce cumulative fluorochemical contact.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Lands' End has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Lands' End Women's Tugless High Neck Portrait Back One Piece Swimsuit?
- 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.