Activewear Fabric Guide for Nylon Polyester and Spandex

Nylon carries the hand feel

Most seamless styles in this catalogue are 92% nylon with 8% spandex. Nylon gives the smooth, slightly cool hand that studio wear is bought for, and it takes dye deeply, which is why seamless colour tends to look richer.

Polyester carries the drying and the price

Where polyester appears, it is usually doing one of two jobs: moisture management in a training tee, at 92% polyester with 8% spandex, or cost and structure in a blend such as the 60% nylon, 32% polyester and 8% spandex used on two seamless styles here.

Spandex is the number to read first

Spandex content is what people mean when they say stretch. In this catalogue it runs from 4.4% on a nylon cargo fabric, through 6% on the jumpsuit and the running jacket, to 30% on the tights and the invisible thong. A higher figure is not better; it is different.

Cotton and its blends are a different brief

Hoodies and tees here run from 100% cotton and 100% cotton terry through to 51.6% cotton with 48.4% polyester. Cotton is bought for hand feel and for how it takes a wash, not for moisture management.

Modal viscose and lyocell change the drape

The women's tie-back tee is 47% modal, 47% viscose and 6% spandex, and one corduroy hoodie shell carries 29.6% viscose and lyocell. These fibres are chosen where the garment has to fall rather than hold its shape.

Recycled options exist and are published where they are used

One seamless style is knitted in 92% recycled nylon with 8% spandex. The company's published position is that it actively sources sustainable materials to client requirements.