Aexae is a swimwear brand that offers both swimsuits and resort wear, all of which are sustainably made from natural and recycled fabrics. Not only that, but they offer accessories such as sarongs as well.
More About Aexae
Aexae was founded by Amelia Perez in 2015. Inspired by her coastal upbringing, the brand was born out of a desire to recreate the 80s and 90s cuts for women of all shapes and sizes. Designed between London and Sydney, their products are currently available worldwide through several retailers, which you can find on their website.
Of course, you can also get it through their official website (they offer international shipping).
What Kind of Swimwear Do They Offer?
Aexae offers a wide range of swimsuits from classic one pieces to bikinis, all of which are available in a variety of colors and patterns. That’s not all. You can also choose the amount of coverage that you’d like (e.g. minimum, medium, full).
As far as pricing goes, you’re looking at about $160 for a swimsuit (one-piece or bikini), which is comparable to similar brands. Every now and then, they also offer discounts, which you can take advantage of on their site. Oh, and express shipping is free for all orders above $250 (otherwise, it costs $10).
Taking Care of Their Swimwear
Want to get the most out of your Aexae swimsuits? Then make sure to take proper care of them. This means keeping them out of the heat (e.g. hot tubs) and rinsing them with cool water after every wear. Also, you want to be careful with how you wash them. After all, they’re much more delicate than your average clothing.
Need some help? If so, you’re in luck—we’ll be going over how to wash them in detail below. Keep reading for more information!
What Fabrics Does Aexae Use For Their Swimsuits?
Their swimsuits are made of technical fibers, which we’ll be going over below:
Recycled Polyester (rPET)
Recycled polyester is made by melting down existing plastic (e.g. post-consumer bottles) and respiring it into new fiber. Not only is it sustainable, but it’s inexpensive to make as well. Also, it’s highly durable, which makes it suitable for swimsuits and other activewear. For one thing, it’s both wrinkle and abrasion-resistant. Plus, it’s quick-drying and has moisture-wicking properties.
Elastane
Elastane, also known as spandex or Lycra, is a synthetic fabric that’s known for its incredible elasticity. Highly stretchable, it’s often used for form-fitting garments such as tights, swimwear, and sportswear. The only thing is that it tends to stick to your body. Also, it’s not very breathable. For these reasons, it’s usually blended with other fabrics such as cotton or nylon, which makes it more comfortable to wear.
Nylon
Nylon is strong, elastic, and more durable than polyester. It also has excellent abrasion resistance and is easy to wash. Plus, it only absorbs about 10% of its weight in water, which makes it suitable for bathing suits. However, it’s sensitive to sunlight and heat in general. Not only can the colors fade, but the fibers can melt as well.
How to Wash Aexae One Pieces and Bikinis
Ideally, you want to wash their bathing suits by hand—that’s the gentlest on the fabric. Having said that, you can also put them in the washer; you just have to be careful how you do it.
Washing Your Aexae Swimwear By Hand
Rinse your bathing suit as soon as possible with cool water. If you can, let it soak in the sink. The goal is to wash off any chemicals (e.g. chlorine, sunscreen) or body oils that are on the fabric.
Fill the sink with water again (about halfway full) and add 1/2 a scoop of ACTIVE detergent. Dissolve the powder by agitating the water; you should end up with a bubbly solution. Place your suit in the sink so that it’s completely covered. Swish it through the water a couple of times to help work in the detergent and let it soak for up to 30 minutes.
Tip: You can remove stains with a bit of baking soda. Sprinkle it onto the spot so that it’s covered and let it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing with water. You can also use white vinegar.
Empty out the sink and refill it with clean water. Rinse the item thoroughly by pressing it up and down—you want to get rid of all the soap suds. Another option is to rinse it under running water. Continue until the water runs clear (it can take a couple of minutes depending on the amount of detergent that’s on the fabric).
Gently squeeze out the excess water once the suit is clean. Transfer it onto a clean surface and blot it with a towel. From there, lay it flat to dry. You can also air dry it on a laundry rack. Just don’t put it in the dryer; the extreme heat will permanently destroy the polyester and elastane fibers.
How to Machine Wash Your Aexae Swimwear Without Ruining Them
Protect your bathing suit by turning it inside out. That way, the outer layer won’t be exposed to the agitation of the machine. That’s not enough, though—you also want to put it in a laundry bag. That’ll protect the suit from rubbing against or snagging on your other clothes (if you’re washing a mixed load).
Tip: Make sure to rinse the one piece/bikini with cool water before putting it in the laundry bag—that’ll help with the overall cleaning process.
Zip up the bag and place it in the washer. If you’re just washing the suit by itself, add a couple of towels. That’ll balance the weight so that the machine will run more smoothly. Otherwise, you can just wash it with the rest of your laundry (you can wash their bathing suits with similarly-colored activewear such as tank tops, shorts, tights, etc).
Add one scoop of ACTIVE detergent to the dispenser or drum, whichever is required for your washer. Next, choose your settings. As a general rule, you should always use a gentle or delicate cycle for swimsuits—it’s pretty much the machine equivalent to hand washing (ie. it’ll be better for the fabric).
Press the start button and allow the washer to run. Wait until the cycle is complete before retrieving your bathing suit. Don’t leave them inside for too long, though, or else they’ll start to smell.
Lay the suit fly to dry on a clean surface such as a towel. As an alternative, you can use a laundry rack. As mentioned earlier, you never want to use the dryer; it will destroy the fibers.
Washing Aexae Sarongs The Right Way
Aexae also sells sarongs that you can wear as coverups. Here’s how you can wash them.
Machine Washing Your Aexae Sarongs
Fold your sarong and place it in a mesh laundry bag—that’ll prevent wear and tear damage. Once you’ve done that, place it in the washing machine. It’s perfectly fine to wash them with other similarly-colored items such as tees, tanks, swimsuits, etc. Consider adding a few towels to balance the load if you’re washing the sarongs by themselves.
Pour one scoop of ACTIVE detergent into the dispenser (or drum, depending on the washer). Next, choose your wash settings. As with swimsuits, you want to select a gentle or delicate cycle. Also, make sure to use cold water; hot water can cause the fabric to shrink.
Press start and wait for the washer to do its thing. Retrieve your sarong (and other laundry) afterward and let it air dry on a laundry rack. You can also hang it up on a clothesline. Just make sure not to expose it to the sun’s UV rays as that can cause the fabric to fade.
Avoid the dryer, if possible as that can wear out the material prematurely.
Washing Your Aexae Sarongs In the Sink
Start by creating a bath. Turn on the tap and fill a small wash bin or sink with cool water. Add 1/2 scoop of ACTIVE detergent (you can adjust the amount based on the number of items that you’re washing) and swish the water with your hand to mix. The powder will dissolve, leaving you with a soapy solution.
Tip: Feel free to hand wash your sarong with other similar garments (e.g. tank,
Place the sarong in the sink so that it’s fully immersed in the water. Wave it through the liquid a few times to work in the soap suds. From there, let it soak for 20 to 30 minutes.
Rinse the fabric thoroughly with cool water afterward. We recommend holding the sarong under the faucet and rinsing it that way, however, you can also do it in the sink (you’d have to refill it with fresh water). Continue until all of the detergent has been washed off.
Press the excess water out of the fabric with your hands. Remember to be gentle. Once you’ve done that, place it on a clothesline or drying rack and let it air dry. Avoid tumble drying.
