Is Pride a sustainable brand?
Ready-to-wear brands are incomparably more wasteful than we are. We cut and sew to customer order, or else in very small batches. This way we can minimise off-cuts and ensure no garment will ever be dumped or destroyed.
Pride’s knit fabric is made using Econyl, the world’s leaders in the "waste-to-wear" space.
(Note: consumers should be aware of misleading claims about any fabric being “made from” ocean waste, recycled bottles, etc.. The most that can be said, is that recycled nylon may contain “some” harvested waste. The lion's share, though, is industrial surplus mixed with new fibre.)
Even more sustainable is Pride’s stretch-woven fabric, with its elastane encased, to ensure it will last.
Thinking consumers know there is no such thing as a truly "sustainable" brand. All that can be said, is that brands that make to order, are far less destructive than others.
Is Pride an ethical brand?
Nothing is outsourced. Everything is made by the owner's own hands.
Should exploitation come to light in any supply chain, alternatives will be found or else offerings ceased.
Can you custom make a swimsuit, to my design?
No, but we can mix and match our own leg and necklines, using any of our available fabric.
Would you alter a swimsuit I bought elsewhere?
No (and stop buying things that don't fit you on Depop!)
Is the men’s one piece for gay men?
We actually do get asked this question a lot, so here is the answer: our customers’ sex-lives are none of our business.
Can I buy a swimsuit, just for trying for size, and return it if I don’t like it?
Yes! Our refund policy has been specifically designed for you to do that!
Why the name Pride?
The name refers to people who take pride in themselves, and due to that fact, often ride bikes for their transport. If you’re disciplined, high achieving, and a little solitary as a result, we were thinking of you when we chose it.
Can I buy from outside of Australia?
Yes, and most items ship free! (See our shipping policy)
Is your fabric chlorine proof?
Chlorine degrades elastane (also known as spandex or Lycra). However, these fine, clear, rubbery fibres are what make swimsuits (especially if they are double-layered and have darts) supportive of your tummy and bust. So what to do?
We offer three options, each with its own balance of longevity, affordability and figure control.
Pieces in our Luxury range meet the challenge of chlorine resistance with composite fibres, each comprising a protective sheath of nylon encasing each strand of elastane.
For our Premium pieces, we use Vita brand fabric, from Carvico in Milan. Thousands of lap swimmers, all over the world, have vouched for Vita's longevity, compared to other nylon knit jerseys with elastane for figure-control.
As a special service to hydrotherapists and learn-to-swim teachers, we also offer a Chloroban Swimsuit, with no elastane.
How does a background in architecture, make Pride different from other swim brands?
All the idiomatic traits of a Pride swimsuit, have parallels in the work of avant-garde Modernists, like Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe. These include: the concealment of rubber and stitching within seams ("God is in the details", as Mies would say); subtly geometrical cuts; a distain for what Robin Boyd called "featurism" (gimmicks to mask unruly design); a shunning of applied decoration (our patterns and colours are woven in, not printed on); and a structural engineering approach to soft-tissue support.
When are your sales?
Never. We are not like ready-to-wear brands, that reduce unit costs by over-producing, then discounting, and ultimately dumping or burning. Our made-to-order (sustainable) model, means we are never left with surplus stock, that we are desperate to clear.
How should I care for my swimsuit?
As per the care label, rinse thoroughly straight after each use, and dry in the shade. It's as simple as that!
Clumps of sunscreen can degrade rubber and mark fabric, so should be rinsed off straight away.
For unsightly spot stains, try gently agitating dishwashing liquid into the stain, using the edge of a tea-spoon, then thoroughly rinsing, to remove soap residue before drying.
For zinc cream, rub baking soda into the dry fabric and leave overnight. Now sponge then handwash.
Cold/gentle machine washing won't destroy your swimsuit, but it can accelerate colour fading and the dulling of whites.