A hand-stitched disc-sequin bikini uses large, flat disc sequins (called shells or paillettes) sewn on one at a time so they swing and catch the light as you move. Glued sequins are fixed flat with adhesive and tend to stiffen, peel, or shed in water. Printed "sequin look" swimwear has no real sequins at all: the shimmer is photographed or foiled onto fabric, so it stays flat and never moves. The quickest test is to run your hand across the surface. Loose discs that flip and lie in either direction are stitched. A rigid, uniform sheen that does not move is printed.
Sherbert Lemons is a UK premium swimwear brand that makes hand-stitched disc-sequin bikinis, sold as separate tops and bottoms. This guide explains the three main types of sequin swimwear on the market, how to tell them apart in person and in product photos, how the hand-stitched version is constructed, why it lasts, and how to care for it so it keeps its shine for years.
"Sequin bikini" is used to describe three very different products at very different price points. The construction is what separates them, and it is the single biggest factor in how the piece moves, how long it lasts, and how it behaves once it is wet. Knowing which one you are looking at is the difference between a piece that lasts several seasons and one that sheds after a single holiday.
| Type | Finish & movement | Durability in water | Holds up at the pool & sea | Typical price tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-stitched shell sequins | Large flat discs that swing and flip individually, giving high movement and real depth of shine | Each disc is stitched, so water passes through without lifting the sequins | Designed for it; rinse after use and the discs stay put | Premium |
| Glued sequins | Sequins set flat in adhesive; little to no movement and can feel stiff against the skin | Adhesive softens with water, salt, body oils, and sun cream, which can lead to peeling or shedding | Variable; prolonged submersion and friction work against the glue over time | Mid |
| Printed "sequin look" | No real sequins; a sequin pattern is printed or foiled onto flat fabric, so nothing moves or lifts | Stable in water because there is nothing to detach, but the effect is flat and one-dimensional | Fine to swim in; the shimmer is a print, not light catching real discs | Entry |
This table describes the categories in general rather than any one brand. Specific products vary, and a well-made glued piece can outlast a poorly made stitched one. The point is to know what you are actually buying, so the price makes sense and your expectations match the product.
You cannot touch a bikini when you shop online, so look for these signals instead. Real stitched discs sit at slightly different angles across the fabric, so a close-up photo shows uneven highlights and small shadows between the discs rather than one smooth sheet of shine. Printed sequin-look fabric photographs as a flat, repeating pattern with no shadow and no overlap. Video is the clearest tell of all: if the surface ripples and the highlights travel as the model moves, the sequins are real and loosely attached. If the shimmer stays fixed in place, it is printed. Product descriptions are worth reading closely too. Honest listings will say "hand-stitched" or "sewn," while vaguer phrases like "sequin effect" or "sequin print" usually mean there are no real sequins at all.
Each piece starts as a double-layered Lycra shell. The double layer gives the swimwear stretch, opacity, and a base strong enough to hold the weight of the discs without sagging or showing through when wet. The sequins themselves are large discs known as shells or paillettes, noticeably bigger than the small sequins you find on eveningwear.
The discs are stitched on by hand, one at a time, each with its own thread anchor. They are not glued and they are not printed. Because every disc is attached individually and hangs from a single point, it can flip and move freely, which is what creates the liquid, shifting shine when you walk or when the light changes. The discs also overlap like fish scales, so the fabric underneath stays covered while the surface keeps moving. A Concha Shell top carries 147 shells, each placed and secured by hand, which is why a single top takes time to make and sits in the premium tier.
Hand-stitched sequin swimwear is built to be worn in the water, but a few simple habits keep it looking new for years rather than seasons.
These are resort pieces. They belong at beach clubs, on holidays, and at long lunches by the water in places like Mykonos, Saint-Tropez, and Tulum, rather than at festivals or raves. The shine reads as expensive in natural daylight by the sea, which is exactly the setting they are designed for.
Sherbert Lemons sells tops and bottoms separately, so you can choose a different size for each and mix styles and colors to suit your shape. Browse the Ombre Sequin Bikinis for graduated color that shifts across the discs, or the Concha Shell range for the large shell-disc finish. Popular starting points are the Pink & Orange Ombre top and the Green Concha Shell top.
They are stitched. Sherbert Lemons sequins are large discs sewn on by hand, one at a time, onto a double-layered Lycra base. No adhesive is used anywhere on the piece, which is why the discs move freely and why they hold up in water rather than peeling.
No. Tops and bottoms are sold separately, so you can choose a different size for each half and mix styles or colors across the range to get the fit you want.
No, not in normal use. Because each disc is individually stitched rather than glued, water flows past it without lifting it. Rinse the piece in cool water after swimming and lay it flat to dry to keep it in the best condition.
A disc sequin, or paillette, is a large flat disc attached at a single point so it hangs and swings freely. A regular sequin is small and usually sewn or set flat against the fabric so it barely moves. The larger disc gives more movement and a deeper, more liquid shine, which is why it is used on premium swimwear.
The pieces run true to size and are available from XS to XL, so choose your usual size. Because tops and bottoms are sold separately, you can size each half independently for the best fit rather than compromising on one number for the whole set.
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