Image by Ostrosky Photos via FlickrCotton
We all love cotton. It's natural, breathable and it just feels good to wear a cotton shirt especially in hot summer days. Even the clothing vendors now know that natural fibers are very desirable and you can now find more and more clothes made from organic cotton. Cotton absorbs body moisture and is therefore appropriate for underpants and socks, because it doesn't create a moist environment where fungi would flourish. The downside of cotton is that it shrinks and is not as durable as synthetic fibers, which is important when it comes to workout clothes that have to be strong and long-lasting. And although it absorbs moisture it doesn't dry as quickly as some synthetic fibers. The result is that the skin cannot breathe effectively which means that you will be soaked the whole time during a strenuous workout.Polyester
Polyester doesn’t breathe the way that cotton does. But it dries very quickly, is more durable and also has higher color retention. However, polyester is generally made from petroleum by-products and therefore has a less-natural feel compared to cotton or bamboo. As a result, polyester in sportswear is usually blended with cotton to produce clothing with mixed properties. If you are passionate about being eco-friendly, you can now buy workout clothes made from recycled polyester fabrics.Rayon (Viscose)
Made from cellulose, viscose rayon is also called green fiber. Workout clothes made from rayon are strong, extremely absorbent, soft and silk-like. However, rayon may also stretch when wet or shrink when washed. There are however different varieties of rayon, namely lyocell – obtained by a relatively eco-friendly process – and modal – is about 50% more water absorbent than cotton – that are all very soft, absorbent, resistant to wrinkles and shrinkage and less prone to stretch when damp or wet. All rayon fabrics should be washed at lower temperatures.Spandex
Spandex is a man-made fabric also known as Lycra (trade name) or elastane (in European countries). Praised for its elasticity, spandex is used to make workout clothing and bras. The clothes made from spandex are comfortable and usually tight fitting – which is very important in Pilates – and they allow the freedom of movement. Spandex is very resistant to washing and drying and won't lose its elasticity the way that lastex (elastic fiber made from latex) will.Nylon
Nylon is also often used in workout clothes and like all synthetic fabrics it is most widely used in combination with natural fabrics such as cotton. Nylon is resilient, elastic and it dries quickly. Used to imitate silk, nylon fibers are smooth and therefore dirt doesn’t cling to them. But you have to pay attention to nylon whites because they have to be washed separately to avoid graying.Bamboo
Clothes made from bamboo are known for their softness, strong absorbency and anti-bacterial properties, when processed in a chemical-free way. Bamboo is also breathable and doesn’t stick to the skin, since it efficiently absorbs and evaporates sweat. But you have to be careful when buying bamboo clothes. Not all bamboo fabric clothes are eco-friendly. There are two ways to process bamboo in order to obtain fiber for fabric. The mechanical method that is also used with hemp and flax is eco-friendly and the fabric obtained this way should be labeled as »natural bamboo fabric«. The chemical procedure, which also destroys any anti-bacterial quality, is very aggressive and this kind of product should be labeled as rayon – with the optional – made from bamboo. Unfortunately this labeling still isn't put into practice by many clothing vendors.Flax (linen)
Linen is not often used in activewear since it has poor elasticity and it wrinkles easily. But it is sometimes blended with other fabrics, because it is known for its extremely high absorbency (20 % compared to hemp’s 8%) and the ability to lose water rapidly, that is why it always feels cool to the touch. Workout clothes made from linen are very durable and will last a long time. They will also get softer the more they are washed.Hemp
Hemp is again becoming a very popular fiber because it’s natural, strong, breathes better than cotton, and is resistant to ultraviolet light and mold. It is very comfortable and known for its good absorbency. Being hypoallergenic and nonirritating to skin, hemp is also an extremely healthy fabric to wear. Similar to flax, hemp also makes the wearer feel cool and fresh in hot conditions such as a good workout.Pilates and yoga workout clothes should be comfortable, elastic and tight fitted. But don’t forget that a good workout also means a lot of sweat. So you should always choose workout clothes that are made from a type of fabric that will best suit your needs. If you have a sensitive skin, you should definitely buy more clothes made from hemp, bamboo or organic cotton. If your body sweats a lot and you don’t want to be wet during the whole workout you need clothes that dry fast and should look for those made also from nylon or polyester. If you just hate it when clothes stretch or shrink than stay away from cotton and rayon. Usually, workout clothes contain both natural and synthetic fibers and you should always know in what relation the fibers are blended together. Get informed about the fabric before you buy your workout clothes, so that you will know what to expect.
