Help finding fabric!

[MerEmma]

Right now I'm choosing out fabric to make a skin for my MerFin. It's very exciting! :D I've already got the colors but I'm having trouble finding any fabric that won't degrade really fast in the water.
I want colors like these two, but everywhere I find seems to be holographic or foil which from what I've read would come off really quick? I understand it'll degrade like a swimsuit but these look like they'll rub right off in the first swim.
http://spandexworld.com/c3/catalog/product/1214
http://spandexworld.com/c3/catalog/product/1210

FinFun has these two colors, which aren't exactly like I want however I do trust their fabric choices as my swimshorts from them lasted the entire summer (still are lasting but the bum is pretty scratched out :P)
http://www.finfunmermaid.com/mermaid-tails/kids-mermaid-tails/caribbean-blue-tail.html
http://www.finfunmermaid.com/mermaid-tails/kids-mermaid-tails/diamond-shimmer-monofin-option.html

I just want a sparkly royal blue and silver--separate fabrics. That won't come immediately off. Any help? I've looked at all the spandex sites I could find.

[Mermaid Oshun]

I suggest you take a look at metallic pvc or vinyl fabric for your fluke instead. Here is one vendor with many colors http://www.ebay.com/itm/METALLIC-SHINY-PVC-VINYL-PLEATHER-STRETCH-GOTHIC-FETISH-FABRIC-SEXY-CATSUIT-54-W-/370711512100?pt=US_Fabric&var=640050906236&hash=item565020c424

[MerEmma]

You mean something like this? : http://spandexworld.com/c3/catalog/product/11472

It comes in silver but not really the right blue. :\

[Mermaid Oshun]

yes that's it. Since it stretches you might want to make your tail out of it too and simply stencil on some scales!
It will indeed be a rubber tail!
Your tail could look like this!
14050
but with scales stenciled on
14051

[Mermaid Oshun]

14052
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Royal-Blue-Sparkle-Metallic-Vinyl-54-wide-per-yd-/190767011103

(this one does not stretch so you can only use it for the fluke)

[MerEmma]

Wow, that's a gorgeous fabric. I've read how well Raina's stretch vinyl tail has seemed to hold up and I'd love to use it, but my design is a blue body with silver fins. D:

[Mermaid Oshun]

there are several stretch blues by this vendor. http://www.ebay.com/itm/METALLIC-SHINY-PVC-VINYL-PLEATHER-STRETCH-GOTHIC-FETISH-FABRIC-SEXY-CATSUIT-54-W-/370711512100?pt=US_Fabric&var=640050906236&hash=item565020c424
look around a bit maybe you can find the blue you want somewhere in stretch vinyl too!
Good luck

[MerEmma]

I will keep looking around for stretch vinyl!

[Mermaid Oshun]

I personally prefer this stretch vinyl over neoprene a LOT! The neoprene looks like dull fabric or something even after you paint it. But this can easily look like a wet and shiny dolphin without even painting it. Imagine after you paint on a few metalic streaks in the fluke and after you draw the outline of scales with a magic marker even!

[Miyu]

See, now between Raina's tail being sequinned, and this thread, y'all are making me want a stretch vinyl tail!

I had a ballgown made of vinyl once, I will say that you can make it fit like a glove, and I'd loooove to have a nice slick dolphin-y tail!

Golden Pearl, thanks for the links ;D

[Mermaid Oshun]

sure hun. I would make one for myself if I wasn't making the other one!
I personally would prefer that over neoprene. Although I just discovered that there is a RAW neoprene which does not have fabric on top of it and I do like that one. It is the neoprene which I've seen which is fabric coated that I really do not like.

[BayouMermaid]

The fluke of my spandex tail is made with the same type of holographic fabric that you linked to (I ordered mine from spandex world as well). I'm only 3 swims in, so I can't really give any info on the longevity of it, but I will say that there are some spots that have gotten scraped and the foil is not as shiny as it once was. Since the fabric itself is the same color as the foil, you really don't notice it unless the light hits it a certain way. I'll keep you posted on how well it holds up.