What Is Sportswear?

The word “sportswear” has become one of the most popular descriptions for clothes that cater to a fast-paced lifestyle. It’s also a hugely lucrative business that rakes in millions of dollars each year.

While sportswear can be worn in a variety of situations, it’s usually designed to accommodate the specific needs of sport. This requires a range of fabric fabrications, including stretch, wicking, anti-microbial, padding and thermal qualities.

Origins

In fashion terms, sportswear is a term used to describe fashionable clothing that is appropriate for everyday activities or casual social events. It consists of a broad range of garments, including jeans, shirts, jackets, sweaters, blazers and pants. It is worn by both men and women in a variety of settings, from the office to parties.

The origins of sportswear can be traced back to the eighteenth century when the first coats designed for riding and country wear were introduced. These were long, straight and narrow, and came in a variety of colors and styles.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that American designers began to take note of the style and adapted it into mainstream clothing for the general public. Among the most popular sportswear styles were baseball caps, jersey tops and gathered dirndl skirts.

The most significant technological advancement in this category was the use of micro fibers for lightweight, moisture-wicking fabrics. This innovation, coupled with an increased awareness of the health benefits of a regular exercise routine, helped to make this style a household name. Today, it’s not just a trendy fashion choice, it’s an essential part of many modern day wardrobes. And thanks to a plethora of high-quality, affordable options, it’s an easy purchase for the average consumer.

Styles

Sportswear is a type of clothing that is specifically designed to suit a specific sport or activity. This kind of clothing comes in a variety of styles and materials to ensure that you can get the most out of your experience.

The most important thing to remember when buying sportswear is that it needs to be made from a material that has a good grip on your body, especially your muscles. This way, the clothes will be able to protect you from injuries while performing your activity.

In addition to protecting your body from damage, sportswear should also be comfortable to wear. This is why some fabrics have stretchy properties and are made to wick sweat away from the skin. This makes it very easy for you to stay dry and comfortable while exercising, so it’s a great idea to invest in some quality clothing that will keep you happy and satisfied.

There are also some sportswear fabrics that are made to withstand extreme conditions and help you stay warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. This is especially useful for people who like to play a lot of sports, such as gymnastics or swimming.

One of the most common types of fabrics used in this category of clothing is polyester. This fabric has a high wicking property, meaning it will absorb your sweat and allow it to evaporate easily. It is also light-weight and breathable, making it perfect for wearing during exercise.

Another popular type of material is nylon, which is a very soft material that stretches easily. It sportswear also wicks away sweat and is mildew resistant. Nylon is also a very durable material and will last longer than most other types of fabric.

Other common fabrics include cotton, which is a natural fabric that is lightweight and breathable. It dries fast and is very wrinkle-free, which means that you won’t have to worry about your clothes getting creased while exercising.

The popularity of sportswear has grown rapidly over the past decade. In fact, it’s predicted that the industry will reach $232bn by 2024. The popularity of sportswear is a direct result of the increasing number of people who are interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping fit.

Materials

There are a number of materials that can be used to make sportswear. Some are natural and others are synthetic. Each material has its own unique properties that help to make it a good choice for specific sportswear styles and functions.

Cotton: A popular choice for warm-weather clothing, cotton is lightweight and breathable. However, it can trap sweat and cause the skin to become damp after exercise. This can restrict movement and make the wearer feel uncomfortable, especially if they’re wearing it to do strenuous exercises.

Another natural choice is hemp, which is a plant-based fibre that has insulating, moisture-wicking, and antibacterial properties. It also helps protect the body from the sun’s harmful rays and is a great choice for outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, or mountain climbing.

Organic cotton: The most popular choice for sportswear, organic cotton is produced using non-GMO seeds and does not use pesticides or chemicals. This means it’s healthier for you and the environment and supports local farmers and labourers.

Wool: A common co-material, wool is a natural insulator and has great moisture-wicking properties for both hot and cold weather. It is often paired with polyester for outdoor base-layer clothing.

Polyester: One of the most commonly used fabrics, polyester is durable, breathable, and lightweight. It can be used to create many different types of sportswear, including running jackets, sweatpants, and t-shirts.

Nylon: A light, soft fabric with a texture similar to silk, nylon is durable and a good insulator, so it’s often used in cold-weather gear as well as tank tops, T-shirts, and shorts. It’s also a very durable and water-resistant material, so it’s a popular choice for raincoats and other waterproof sportswear.

Polypropylene: A synthetic plastic-based fabric, polypropylene is a great option for outdoor sportswear as it’s water-resistant and stretches well. It’s used in raincoats, sports bras, tight base layers, and socks.

Spandex: A stretchable material that’s popular in gym and sportswear, spandex is a favourite among manufacturers because it is highly absorbent, breathes well, and dries quickly. It’s a cheap, feature-rich material, but it isn’t as durable as other types of fabric and can be difficult to embroider on.

Functions

Sportswear serves a variety of functions to ensure the safety and comfort of sports persons. Aside from the functional requirements, it has to meet certain aesthetic requirements as well such as silhouette, colors and other design details. It is also essential to have a uniform for team sports that can be easily identified from other members wearing the same.

Thermo-physiological comfort aspects of sportswear are influenced by many fiber, yarn and fabric variables that influence inter yarn spaces for heat transfer, passage of air and moisture diffusion. These include the geometry, packing density and structure of constituent fibers in yarn and the variation in these variables influences the structure of fabrics. Thermo-physiological comfort properties of sportswear are further impacted by the thermal and mass transport properties of the fabrics.

Speciality fibers engineered for performance sports exhibit excellent moisture management and wicking sportswear properties. For instance, bicomponent fibers exhibiting side by side, sheath core, islands in the sea, segmented pie cross-sections are used for designing second skin and first layer garments to achieve efficient moisture management along with rapid sweat dissipation (Figure 1b).

These fibers are designed by varying fiber cross-sectional shape factors to enhance the capillary absorbency of fibers and increase the number of inter yarn pore spaces in fibers. They have good moisture absorption and release properties due to the presence of small grooves on the surface of the fiber that facilitate capillary action.

Another important feature of these specialized fibers is that the body of the fiber has a proliferation of small holes that cause the formation of micro pores in the fiber. This enhances capillary absorbency and increases the number of air spaces in the fiber that helps in wicking the perspiration next to the skin and in turn provides improved thermo-physiological comfort.

This specialized fiber can be manufactured by blending polyester and cotton fibers to achieve optimum wicking and moisture transfer properties. It is a preferred choice for active wear sportswear since it offers the benefits of both polyester and cotton.

Plated fabrics with contrastingly different fibers and yarns exhibit push- pull effect. This is caused by a large difference in humidity between the inner and outer layers of the fabric. This enables the perspiration next to the skin to be pulled away by hydrophilic fibers in the outer layer and absorbed by hydrophobic fibers in the inner layer. This makes plated fabrics a popular choice for active sportswear as they provide the wearer with effective moisture management and thermo-physiological comfort.