Bikinis have been made out of just about every material used in fashion. The fabrics and other materials used to make bikinis are an essential element of their style and crucial modifiers of swimsuit design. The use of cotton made the swimsuit more practical, and the increased reliance on stretch fabric after 1960 simplified construction; alternative swimwear fabrics such as velvet, leather, and crocheted squares surfaced in the early 1970s. Crochet, lace, PVC, raffia, fur, latex, velvet and other uncommon items are also used as bikini material.Rose-Marie Turk, "In the Swim Velvet? Raffia? These and other unconventional fabrics are hitting the beach. And in hues-pine and wine anyone?-you never imagined", Los Angeles Times, page 1, 1994-03-25.
