Every time you go to choose sportswear, do you also get confused? Looking at the labels of “quick drying”, “elasticity” and “sunscreen”, you can’t start, and you want to take into account the function and appearance and worry that it is not environmentally friendly enough? In fact, sportswear is no longer a simple “undershirt + shorts”, it hides the university questions of fabric technology, scene needs and design aesthetics. This guide starts from the issues you care about the most and helps you choose the right piece of sports equipment.
1. Let’s look at technology first: the “hard core power” of sportswear is hidden in the fabric
The first step in choosing sportswear is always to look at its “inner strength” – fabric technology. Good technical fabrics can help you reduce movement distractions and even improve performance. When I was purchasing, I once met a marathon enthusiast who reported that after changing to a suit with cool yarn and quick-drying fabrics, the perceived temperature of long-distance running in summer dropped by 3°C, which is the power of technology.
1. Basic Functional Fabrics: Addressing core pain points in sports
The most annoying sweat, stuffiness, and odor in sports can be solved by special fabrics. For example, when doing yoga, the seamless knitted top will not wear red skin; When running at night, a jacket with a reflective design can ensure safety; When hiking outdoors, the UPF50+ sun protection and waterproof DWR-coated jacket can cope with changeable weather.
Here is a comparison table of core functional fabrics to help you quickly match your needs:
Sports pain points | Recommended fabric/craftsmanship | Applicable scenarios |
|---|---|---|
Sweat sticks to the body | Quick-drying fabric, breathable mesh | Running, HIIT |
Strange smells arose | Antibacterial, anti-odor, ionic and antibacterial | Fitness, football training |
Movement is limited | Four-way stretch, hot press fit | Yoga, rock climbing |
Keep warm at low temperatures | Graphene keeps warm and regulates body temperature | Skiing, winter morning running |
2. Smart wearable technology: make sports more “numbered”
Today’s sportswear can be used as a “personal trainer”. I have come into contact with a sports brand’s heart rate webbing sports bra, which can transmit heart rate data to the mobile app in real time to avoid excessive exercise; There are also tights with myoelectric sensing yarn that can help fitness novices correct their movements – these are not gimmicks, but real experience upgrades.
For outdoor enthusiasts, GPS positioning sports bras and fall alarm vests are even more “safety artifacts”, and there have been donkey friends who got lost in the mountains and were successfully rescued by these equipment, which is the value of intelligent technology.
2. Choose according to the scene: Don’t let sportswear hold you back
The core needs of different sports are very different, and choosing the right equipment can get twice the result with half the effort. For example, running should be “light, transparent, and elastic”, and yoga should be “soft, sticky, and stable”, which are my experience summarized in procurement over the years.
1. Indoor Sports: Prioritize comfort and take into account performance
- Yoga/Pilates: Choose a Pilates bodysuit or high-elastic yoga suit, the creamy fabric is skin-friendly and not stuffy, and it will not get stuck when doing doggy pose; Avoid styles with metal trim to prevent scratches on the yoga mat.
- Fitness/HIIT: Fitness tights and HIIT high-intensity shorts are standard, and the compression support design reduces muscle tremors and allows for faster recovery after exercise.
- Basketball/tennis: Basketball vests should be loose and breathable, tennis skirts are best with built-in safety pants, more secure when running and jumping, laser-cut hems will not curl the edges, will not affect the swing action.
2. Outdoor sports: Protection is the main focus, coping with changing environments
The “protection” of outdoor equipment is a sense of security. Last year, when organizing a hiking event, some team members wore ordinary T-shirts up the mountain and were scratched by branches, while those wearing trekking jackets had no problem – this incident made me more convinced of the “importance of professional equipment”.
Specifically, ski quick-drying clothes should be made of graphene to keep warm, with a sweat-absorbing inner layer and a windproof outer layer; surfing sun protection clothing must be environmentally friendly fluorine-free and water-repellent, protecting both yourself and the ocean; Climbing safety belts should be professionally certified, and every stitch should not be sloppy.
3. Daily Commuting: Sports and life flow seamlessly
Nowadays, many people like to wear “sports + commuting”, urban commuter sports jackets are very suitable, the design of urban functional wind is not obtrusive, and the detachable vibration module can also remind you to sit up for a long time and move, which is full of practicality.
3. New trends: environmental protection and fashion, none of them are missing
When buying sportswear now, everyone not only looks at the function, but also cares about “whether this dress is environmentally friendly enough” and “whether it is good-looking”. This is also a major trend in the industry – sports brands are shifting from “selling products” to “conveying ideas”.
1. Sustainable and environmentally friendly: Sports also love the earth
When I buy now, I give preference to brands with GOTS certified cotton or recycled polyester (rPET). There is a brand of cycling pants made of ocean-recycled nylon, and a pair of pants is equivalent to recycling 6 plastic bottles, which is both practical and environmentally friendly.
There are also plant dyeing processes and waterless dyeing technology, which can reduce water waste by 90%, and degradable packaging is slowly replacing traditional plastic bags – these details are the embodiment of the brand’s sense of responsibility.
2. Stylish design: Sportswear can also be worn out
Sportswear is no longer a “black, white and gray” world. Morandi’s yoga clothes are gentle and high-end, the gradient tie-dye running T-shirt is full of vitality, and the co-branded illustration print is a must-have for hipsters. I have friends around me who buy functional vests, not only to wear during sports, but also to wear with jeans every day.
It is worth mentioning the return of the millennial Y2K style, with metallic sheen fabrics and asymmetrical cuts, allowing sportswear to be worn directly from the gym to the street, achieving “one outfit for more”.
4. Everyone should have the right sportswear: inclusivity is the real need
There should be no “threshold” for sports, and the same goes for sportswear. What I have been most gratified about over the years is to see more and more brands paying attention to the needs of different groups of people.
For example, plus-size girls can buy sports skirts with widened straps and adjustable waistlines, pregnant women have special maternity support pants to protect the abdomen, Muslim swimsuits allow Muslim women who love sports to go into the water with peace of mind, and adaptive disability zippers open the door to sports for disabled friends.
There are also youth sports bras and anti-slip pants for the elderly, and the petite/tall special edition solves the problem of “not fitting” – these designs allow everyone to enjoy the joy of sports.
5. Yigu’s procurement perspective: 3 core principles for choosing the right sportswear
As a purchasing agent who has been deeply involved in the industry for many years, I have three criteria for choosing sportswear: first, “functional matching scenarios”, don’t pay for functions that you can’t use, such as warm technology that doesn’t require professional ski wear for daily running; The second is “pay attention to details”, whether the stitches are flat, whether the label is rubbed on the skin, these small places affect the experience; Finally, “cost-effectiveness”, not the more expensive the better, BLUESIGN certified or carbon footprint label affordable brands are often more worth buying. Sportswear is for sports, and what suits you is the best.
6. FAQs of frequently asked questions
- Q: What is the difference between a quick-drying suit and a regular T-shirt? A: Quick-drying clothes are made of hollow fibers, which can quickly guide sweat to the surface of the fabric to evaporate.
- Q: How to choose the size of sports bras? A: In addition to looking at the bust, but also looking at the support, large breasts choose underwire and widened shoulder straps, small breasts can choose flat breasts and small breasts exclusive styles to avoid empty cups.
- Q: Will eco-friendly sportswear be much more expensive than ordinary ones? A: No, now that the technology is mature, the price difference between environmentally friendly fabrics and ordinary fabrics is mostly 10%-20%, and it is more cost-effective to wear it for a long time.
- Q: Do smart sportswear need to be charged? A: Most of the ones with sensing function need to be charged, and the battery life is generally 5-7 days, and some have self-powered styles such as solar thermal conductive scarves, which are more suitable for outdoors.