Thread: Swarovski vs. Chlorine

Some of you may know already, I'm a mermaid performer as well as a belly dancer. Since the mermaid has migrated for the winter (as in, way too tail-flippin' cold to be in that damn pool!), I'll be earning my money through pumping out costumes for the resort, for the next season.

Since I now have the time AND initiative, I intend to make the costumes very fancy and durable, and just NICE. I'd really REALLY like to use some Swarovski on the tails to be used in the pool, but I have some concerns about the crystal and the chlorine. The pool is bearable when it comes to chlorine damage (I can open my eyes and my hair is only marginally destroyed), but I KNOW it's not good for the crystal. Obviously I would use only sew-on crystals since the pool would ruin any adhesive.

Basically, would my crystals be safe if I were to polish and clean them off after every swim? I only swim for two hours at a time.

You could do an experiment with OTC cholorine and just throw one in a tub of it and see how it does- that's probably what I would do. (I'd toss a few wraps of thread and maybe said fabric as well- but teh stone and thread are probably the more important ones.

Or use large ones and then just replace them every couple of ___________ whatevers depending on the wear and tear.


very cool by the way- what an interesting job!!! :)

I wouldn't wast $ on Swarovski if it was going in the pool water. I'd start with the lower end Chinese and Korean stones. Do lots of test. Also, clear colors will probably hold up better than AB, since the AB coating may be fragile in the pool chemicals. The pool chemicals may also affect the silver back coating, which gives many stones their extra reflectivity. So perhaps use a holographic, silver or gold lycra with foil back stones, so when the foil back starts to wear, you still have some reflectiveness off the lycra?

http://www.swarovski.com/is-bin/INTE...ContactVGStep2

I found this on the Swarovski website:

The following Customer Relations Team is at your service:
United States
Swarovski North America Limited
Customer Relations
1 Kenney Drive
US - Cranston, R.I. 02920-4468
USA
Phone: +1 800 426-3088
Fax: +1 800-870-5660
customer_relations.us@swarovski.com

There is also an on-line form you can use to submit questions.

Maybe they've had this question before, who knows?

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

So perhaps use a holographic, silver or gold lycra with foil back stones, so when the foil back starts to wear, you still have some reflectiveness off the lycra?

You would want to look for swimwear-grade fabric. I washed small segment of holographic sequin trim in the regular laundry with non-chlorine bleach as an experiment once, and the finish came off completely, leaving only transparent sequins. You definitely want to experiment with how much abuse the materials can take before investing a lot of money and sewing time in the project.

In Synchronized Swimming they use crystals for the swimsuits. I don't know what they use of how durable are. But it's possible.

Thanks for the tips and suggestions everyone! I'm going to the resort on Friday to drop off timesheets and I'll get some of the actual pool water to do some experimenting with. I've got TONS of scrap tail fabric, so I'll do some simple stitching with sequins, crystals, and acrylic gems as well and soak it in the water. I'll report my discoveries when my super-scientific experiments are complete. I don't MIND using acrylic gems for sub-aquatic costuming, but I've gotten spoiled with Swarovski, so it's just not the same ;)

One of the managers at the Swarovski shop was APPALLED when mentioned that some of the dancers I know throw their jewel encrusted costumes into the washer. Seems that the foil backing will come off very quickly. Not to mention that the crystal itself will become cloudy. So I am going to agree with Sabrina, you probably want something which is less expensive but in the end more durable.

The other thing which I would be careful about with glass crystals of any kind is breakage in water. just a thought.

{{{HUGS}}}