Tingting's swim parka, aka The Original sPARKA, differs from the traditional swim parka in these ways:

• resembles an everyday coat
• achieves a slimmer fit that still feels comfortable and allows room for layering
• thigh-length instead of over-the-knee-length
• extra soft fleece lining that is made from 100% recycled polyester
• ribbing elements in the hem and cuffs to hold in heat
• fabrics have been tested for the use of harmful chemicals
• hood-opening contours the face to keep out cold drafts
• intentionally minimalistic to reduce unnecessary plastic usage and potential points of weakness (No snaps, Velcro, drawstrings, bungee cords and stoppers)

A swim parka is a hooded long coat that typically has a water-resistant shell and a warm fleece lining. It is warm and comfortable. Some parkas are so big that you could change under it.

It is meant to be worn when you're out of water. You can wear a swim parka for

• pool swimming,
• open water swimming,
• other water sports,
• and non-water sports, such as soccer, gym, tennis (think of it as a sports parka).

We incorporate thoughtful design elements in Tingting's swim parka, aka sPARKA. Not only does it work well at the pool, it could be styled up to look great outside the pool.

Yes, it's necessary if you want to enjoy every part of swimming (including changing, walking on the breezy deck, staying warm in between your events at a swim meet, etc)!

People wear a swim parka because it's warm, comfortable, and convenient to use before and after swimming. Tingting's swim parka is made for everyone who swims. It reduces the hassles associated with swimming, thus helping you stick to your health goals.

Yes, it has a fleece lining and a windproof shell that will keep you warm! Whether you swim easy or hard, you're losing heat to the cold water. Once you're out of water, you're losing heat through the evaporation of water from your breath, wet hair, skin, and swim suit. It can get chilly and uncomfortable quickly!

Competitive swimmers wear the swim parka to stay warm in between racing, because there's a fair bit of wait time at a swim meet. The features of a swim parka (water-resistance, warm fleece liner, hood, full zipper) are appreciated when you're cold and damp. Our swim parka is designed to keep you warm so that you can swim your best! The water-resistant shell of a swim parka protects you from splashes and sneaky puddles. Have you accidentally sat in a wet chair?! The shell also protects you from the wind and rain.

Tingting's swim parka is lined with a soft and warm fleece. It has a relaxed fit and Raglan sleeves that allow movements. There is room for layering too.

Some people wear a swim parka to and from swim practice for convenience.

Showering and changing at a public changeroom can be awkward, and that's enough to turn some of us away from swimming! You can wear the swim parka over your swim suit, and head home for a private shower.

You can hang up Tingting's swim parka to air dry after each use; the fleece lining is moisture
wicking (quick drying). Alternatively, you can wash it in the machine when it gets dirty.

It's up to you! You can hang it up to dry after use and wash it when it's dirty. Some people wash it weekly, others biweekly, or monthly.

Tingting's swim parka is designed to be machine washable. Its construction is sturdy and the fabrics used to make the parka are long-lasting. Simply put it in the machine to wash and hang to dry.

Yes, you can wash a swim parka in the washing machine!

Please follow the care instructions:

• Machine wash cold
• Wash with like colors
• Close zipper
• Wash inside out
• Use laundry net
• Hang to dry
• Do not bleach
• Do not iron
• Do not dry clean
• Wash regularly to maintain water repellency. To reactivate DWR, tumble dry on low heat for 20 mins.

We've done 13 rounds of Wash & Dry testing. We're happy to report that there are no observable pilling on the fleece lining, and the outer shell looks fresh and crisp after 13 rounds machine washing and drying.

We recommend "Hang to dry". If you need to use the dryer for speeding up the drying process, use a low heat setting (permanent press).

Wash with similar colors to prevent color transfers between garments. Dust and dirt come off of this fabric easily. You can spot clean it with a wet cloth! If the stain involves grease, add a bit of soap, scrub it with a wet cloth, then rinse off the soapy water.

For more details, check out this blog post!

Dirt and grease can affect the effectiveness of the Durable Water Repellent (DWR). To maintain the water repellency of your swim parka, wash it regularly. Tumble dry on low heat (permanent press) for 20 minutes to reactivate DWR. 

Yes, Tingting's swim parka is rain-resistant so you can wear it on rainy days.

We use a waterproof /breathable softshell fabric to make the outer shell. It is coated with Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finishing, and bonded to a waterproof membrane. The membrane blocks out large water droplets while allowing tiny water vapors (sweat) to escape.

Having said that, there are tiny holes along the seams where water seepage may occur (if you stand in a heavy rain storm for a long time). The tiny holes are made during sewing when the threaded needle pushes through the fabrics to join the fabrics together.