Team Swimwear & Modest Burkinis for School Galas

Swim galas are a fixture of the UAE school year, and they are one of the few sports events where the whole team is seen together, lined up on the pool deck in the same colours. They are also where differences in what students are comfortable wearing are most visible.

This guide helps PE heads, swim coaches and school procurement teams plan team swimwear that includes every swimmer: standard suits and jammers, modest full-coverage swimwear and swim hijabs, caps and poolside clothing.

See our team and modest swimwear page for the garment options.

What this guide covers

• Team swimsuits and jammers
• Modest full-coverage swimwear and swim hijabs
• Fabric, chlorine and sun: what to ask and how to care for it
• Sizing junior swimmers
• Team caps and branding
• Poolside wear
• Gala-day checklist
• Start your team swimwear
• Frequently asked questions

Team swimsuits and jammers

For most school squads, the standard set is a one-piece suit for girls and jammers for boys, in the school colours.

One-piece suits

Training and gala suits usually have a racer or open back, which leaves the shoulders free. Knee-length leg suits give more coverage on the thigh and are a useful middle option for students who want more than a standard cut but do not need a full-coverage set. Check that light colours are lined at the front, and look at a sample wet as well as dry, because pale fabrics can become more transparent in water.

Jammers

Jammers are close-fitting shorts that end above the knee, with an internal drawcord. They are the usual choice for school boys’ teams because they stay in place on dives and turns. Loose swim shorts are fine for lessons but hold water and are not suited to racing.

Some galas and federations set rules on what may be worn in competition. Check your own organiser’s or federation’s current rules before you finalise styles.

Modest full-coverage swimwear and swim hijabs

Full-coverage swimwear, often called a burkini, lets students who dress modestly swim, train and race with their team. It should be planned as part of the team kit from the start, in the same colours and with the same crest, not left for families to source separately.

A typical set has three parts:

• A long-sleeved top, tunic length or shorter, cut to sit close enough that it does not billow in the water.
• Full-length swim leggings or trousers, with a way of securing the top to them so that it does not ride up.
• A swim hijab or hood, attached or separate, in a matching colour. A team cap can be worn over it on gala day.

For racing, a closer cut makes swimming easier, while some students prefer a looser cut for lessons. Offer both if you can, and let the swimmer and her family choose. All of it must be made from swim fabric; many pools do not allow everyday clothing fabrics in the water.

Team swimwear is available in men’s and unisex, women’s modest and Muslim women’s hijab-friendly fits. Nenoush is a Mustang group brand for modest activewear; see the Nenoush brand page. Our guides to modest sportswear for UAE schools and sports hijab coverage, fabric and fit give more background.

Fabric, chlorine and sun: what to ask and how to care for it

School swimwear in the UAE has a hard life: chlorinated water at every session, strong sun at outdoor pools, and a wet journey home in a kit bag. No swim fabric is unaffected by this, and how long a suit lasts depends on the fabric, the pool and the care it gets.

What to ask the supplier

Swim fabrics are blends of polyester or polyamide with elastane, in different proportions. Ask what the fabric composition is, whether there is any test evidence for colour and stretch after exposure to chlorinated water and sunlight, and whether the suit is lined. Compare swatches in the hand. Final specification will be confirmed during quotation.

Care advice to send home

• Rinse the suit in cool fresh water as soon as possible after swimming.
• Do not leave it rolled in a wet towel or sealed in a bag overnight.
• Hand wash with a mild detergent. Do not wring, tumble dry or iron.
• Dry flat in the shade, not in direct sun.
• Avoid sitting on rough pool edges, which roughen the fabric surface.
• Swimmers who train most school mornings or afternoons should alternate two suits.

The fabric care guide has general laundering advice for other team garments.

Sizing junior swimmers

Swimwear is the one garment that should not be bought with room to grow. A loose suit fills with water, drags and slips at the shoulders. A suit that is too small digs in at the straps and leg openings.

For one-piece suits, torso length matters more than chest or waist, so a tall, slim child may need a larger size than her age suggests. For jammers, check the waist with the drawcord tied. For full-coverage sets, check sleeve and leg length with the arms stretched overhead, as in a streamlined push-off.

Students can try a size set at our Jebel Ali showroom, and sizes are kept on record so that each new intake can be added to the team order. Because children grow, re-check sizes at the start of each school year instead of repeating last year’s list.

Team caps and branding

On gala day, the cap is what identifies a swimmer in the water. Silicone caps take a printed crest well; stretch fabric caps are more comfortable for younger children but sit less closely. Many schools use caps in house colours for inter-house galas and a single school colour for external fixtures. Order spares, because caps split, and ask about larger caps for swimmers with long hair or who wear a cap over a swim hijab.

On the garments, keep branding small and flat: a crest on the chest or hip of a suit, on the leg of jammers, and on the chest of a modest top. Avoid individual names on school-owned kit. The garment printing service page explains the branding methods and what artwork is needed.

Poolside wear

Swimmers spend most of a gala out of the water, and indoor pools and early starts can be cool for a wet child. Poolside kit keeps the team warm and recognisable.

• Team T-shirt to wear between races and for the journey.
• Towel or hooded poncho for warmth and for changing on the pool deck.
• Tracksuit jacket or hoodie for early mornings and air-conditioned venues.
• Kit bag with the school crest, ideally with a separate section for wet items.

T-shirts, jackets and bags can be branded to match the swimwear. Ask at quotation which towel and poncho options can be produced in your team design. Coaches and officials should have a T-shirt or polo in a distinct colour.

Gala-day checklist

Mustang recommendation: put the modest set and the standard suit on the same mock-up and approve them together. When the full-coverage option is designed alongside the team suit, in the same colours and with the same crest, students choose what they are comfortable in and the team still lines up as one. It also avoids a second, smaller order later in the year.

Start your team swimwear

Every order begins with a free design mock-up and a free sample against your confirmed order (LPO), and your sizes and artwork are stored for repeat orders. Students can try a size set in person at our Jebel Ali showroom before committing. Delivery timelines are confirmed during quotation.

Browse team swimwear, see our school sports kits page, or return to sports uniforms. Then request a quote or request a sample.

Frequently asked questions

Can modest swimwear be made in the same colours as the team suit?

Yes. Full-coverage tops, leggings and swim hijabs can be produced in the team colours with the same crest, and shown on the same mock-up as the standard suit and jammers.

Is full-coverage swimwear allowed in school galas?

That depends on the pool and the organiser. Rules differ, so check your gala organiser’s or federation’s current rules before the event.

Is the swimwear fabric resistant to chlorine?

All swim fabrics are affected by chlorine and sunlight over time. Ask for the fabric composition and any available test evidence at quotation, and follow the care advice above.

Should we order swimwear a size larger for growing children?

No. Swimwear needs to fit closely to work in the water. Re-check sizes at the start of each school year instead.

Can caps and poolside clothing be ordered with the swimwear?

Yes. Caps, T-shirts, jackets and bags can be quoted with the team swimwear so that colours and crest match.

How do new swimmers get matching kit?

Approved artwork and sizes are kept on record, so later orders can be matched to the original design. Delivery timelines are confirmed during quotation.