Before they started using the lycra all the suits were 100% nylon and fit great. Suits were generally 2 or 3 inches on the sides and either solid colors or stripes. (patterns came just before Lycra hit the market) There were also some all nylon suits that we called tank suits. They were about 5 or 6 inches on the side and had an inner "under pant". (They are now sold as drag or training suits) Lycra had fun patterns but as is the case today, they don't hold up anywhere as long as the nylon suits did. The also had to be treated better with rinsing and hand washing. The nylon suits got tossed in the lockers after practice while still wet with pool water and when washed went in the the reset of the wash. I still have 20+ year old nylon suits while not a single lycra suit lasted more than two. I think that Lycra was used so that guys would have to buy suits every year.
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