A garment for covering the wearer’s body between the waist and thighs, comprising an impermeable shell 1, a permeable lining 11, and an antimicrobial agent disposed between the two, preferably in the form of an inorganic antimicrobial agent such as silver, vacuum deposited onto a knitted textile (9, figure 27). Preferably the garment is suitable for use as a swimwear diaper, the impermeable shell and antimicrobial agent acting to prevent the release of dangerous faecal matter into the water. Also claimed is (figures 12-13) swimwear comprising an inner garment comprising an antimicrobial agent and an outer garment 15, 16 preferably stitched together around the waist. The inner garment might be as described in the previous invention. Also claimed is a method of manufacture of an item of swimwear comprising the steps of providing a yarn or textile, coating the yarn or textile with an antimicrobial agent using a physical deposition process such as vacuum deposition, forming the yarn into a textile and forming a garment from the textile. Also claimed is a method of use.
