Lands' End · Water-Resistant Swimwear
Lands' End Women's Tugless Monokini Swim Dress Swimsuit
High PFAS risk. Avoid if you're concerned. Lands' End won't discuss water-repellent coating chemicals.
This swimsuit has synthetic fabrics with a water-repellent finish typical of performance swimwear. Lands' End won't disclose PFAS information about water-repellent coating treatments or finished products.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon/polyamide blend with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
PFAS
water-repellent coating on nylon swimwear historically contained long-chain PFAS; Lands' End does not disclose formulation, so legacy PFAS cannot be ruled out.
Source: ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Cheap synthetic dyes can contain azo compounds or cadmium; Lands' End does not publish dyeing standards or certifications, so practices remain opaque for this product.
Source: FDA ↗Microplastics
Nylon fibers can shed during washing and wear; no synthetic microfiber garment is zero-shed, though nylon is more resistant than polyester to fragmentation under normal use.
Source: EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon manufacturing can include formaldehyde-releasing resins in some dye or finish processes; no specific incident or alert on record for Lands' End swimwear, and nylon is generally lower-risk than cotton in this regard.
Source: ATSDR ↗Antimony in polyester (if present)
This product is nylon-based, not polyester, so antimony as a polymerization catalyst is not relevant; hazard excluded from concern.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This swimsuit is constructed from nylon/polyamide blend with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the fabric surface. water-repellent coating treatments historically relied on long-chain PFAS compounds to repel water while maintaining breathability, though newer alternatives exist. The nylon base itself is stable and does not leach; the risk profile centers entirely on the water-repellent coating and any finishes used during manufacturing. Lands' End has not publicly disclosed whether their water-repellent coating is legacy PFAS-based or uses PFAS-free formulations like wax or fluorine-free polymers.
The brand's record and disclosure
Lands' End has not published a chemical disclosure policy, restricted substances list, or public commitment to PFAS avoidance in swimwear or athletic wear. The brand does not appear on credible PFAS-transparent supplier lists or certifications (such as GOTS or Bluesign). No recalls or safety incidents specific to Lands' End swimwear are documented in public records. This silence is the operative hazard: consumers cannot verify whether the water-repellent coating finish is PFAS-based or PFAS-free.
How it compares in its category
Mass-market nylon swimwear often uses legacy PFAS-based water-repellent coating, making Lands' End typical rather than exceptional in this regard. Competitors like Speedo and TYR also rarely disclose water-repellent coating chemistry. In contrast, specialty brands (Patagonia, Girlfriend Collective) have moved toward PFAS-free water-repellent coating or eliminated the finish entirely and accept faster water absorption. Lands' End's price point and mainstream positioning suggest conventional manufacturing, not leading-edge chemical substitution.
If you buy it
Wash in cold water with mild detergent to preserve the water-repellent coating and minimize any dermal contact with finish chemicals. Avoid high heat (hot water, direct sunlight storage) which can degrade the coating and potentially alter its chemistry. Replace when water-repellent coating noticeably fails (water no longer beads on fabric surface), typically after 30 to 50 washes depending on care. If PFAS exposure is a household concern, contact Lands' End customer service directly to request water-repellent coating formulation specifics before purchase; silence may indicate they do not track this detail.
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
- Lands' End has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Water-Resistant Swimwear
J.Crew
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Polyamide/nylon blend (swimwear)
Lower PFAS concern for basic nylon.
⚠Risky category by default
J.Crew
Lana Classic Sculpt One-piece
Nylon/spandex blend (swimsuit)
Lower concern. Standard swimwear with no known PFAS treatment triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
J.Crew
Women's Squareneck One-piece
Nylon/spandex blend swimwear
Lower concern. Untreated swimwear fabric, but J.Crew makes no PFAS promises.
⚠Risky category by default
More water-resistant 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.