Rip Curl Women's Premium Surf Short Jane Swimsuit
water-repellent coating swimwear typically contains PFAS; Rip Curl keeps details hidden; ask before purchase.
Rip Curl's premium swim shorts use water-repellent finish typical of performance swimwear, historically relying on PFAS-based water-repellent coating treatments. The brand refuses to say whether it avoids PFAS, offers alternatives, or tests products, so contact Rip Curl to learn their water-repellency chemistry.
The better-graded swap
Patagonia
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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 coating) finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Rip Curl Women's Premium Jane Swimsuit is made of, ingredients and materials
This swimsuit is a nylon/polyester blend with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish. water-repellent coating coatings on swimwear are typically applied to reduce water absorption and improve quick-dry performance. The hazard lies in the finish itself, most conventional water-repellent coating treatments historically used long-chain PFAS (perfluorinated compounds), though some manufacturers have shifted to alternatives not linked to PFAS. Rip Curl has made no public statement about which chemistry they use in this garment.
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-repellent swimwear fabrics commonly rely on water-repellent coating coatings containing long-chain or short-chain PFAS. Rip Curl's silence on this finish leaves the specific chemistry and migration risk unknown.
Source, ATSDR ↗water-repellent coating degradation and re-release
As the water-repellent coating finish wears through repeated washing and UV exposure, any PFAS or other finish chemicals may become more mobile and potentially increase skin contact or release into wash water. Rip Curl does not specify the durability rating or reapplication timeline for this garment.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in polyester/nylon
No recalls or documented issues specific to Rip Curl swimwear. Standard polyester/nylon textiles can contain azo dyes that release carcinogenic aromatic amines under certain conditions; risk is low in finished swim garments but higher if dyes migrate during sweating or in chlorinated water.
Antimony in polyester
Polyester often uses antimony as a catalyst in production. Finished garments rarely leach detectable antimony, but this material is present in the fabric matrix. No specific testing or incidents are documented for this brand.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Swimwear may incorporate formaldehyde-based resins for shape-setting and wrinkle resistance. No specific formaldehyde incidents or certifications are on record for Rip Curl products, but the brand provides no test results to rule it out.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Rip Curl is a major surf apparel brand but does not publish material safety disclosures, chemical restricted substance lists, or PFAS sourcing policies on their website. No independent lab testing or third-party certifications (such as GOTS, bluesign, or Cradle to Cradle) have been publicly documented for this specific product line. The brand's silence on water-repellent coating chemistry is typical of the swimwear industry but represents a significant gap in transparency for a product that contacts skin directly.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream swimwear brands use water-repellent coating finishes without disclosure; Rip Curl is unremarkable in this regard. Competitors like Patagonia and Outerknown have begun disclosing or eliminating PFAS in their swimwear lines, setting a higher transparency standard. Budget swimwear brands rarely disclose finish chemistry at all. For water-resistant performance in this price range, this product follows industry convention but lags behind leaders in chemical transparency.
If you buy it
Wash before first wear to reduce any loose chemical residue. Use cold water and mild detergent; avoid fabric softeners and bleach, which can degrade water repellency and potentially increase leaching. Rinse thoroughly after saltwater or chlorine exposure to prevent material degradation. Replace the garment after 2-3 years of regular use; over time, water-repellent coating coatings break down and repeated washing may increase chemical mobilization. Contact Rip Curl directly to request the specific water-repellent coating chemistry used; their lack of disclosure is your signal to ask before committing.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 52% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Rip Curl has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Rip Curl Women's Premium Surf Short Jane 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.