Best Styles in Sports Apparel
Sports apparel industry constitutes a major chunk of the sales in sports related equipments. Owing to the emphasis laid on comfort, sports T-shirts and jackets are used as casual wear as well. Recent developments in sports apparel industry witness a conflation of different styles, fashion and functionality.
Points to Remember
Good sports apparel should combine comfort and utility. The requirements of fashion come only second. Different sports have different criteria of selection like minimum friction and wind resistance in cycling. Environmental factors are also to be considered as cooler climates require hoods, arm coverings and sweat wicking but heat preserving garments. The following points should be noted while selecting sports apparel:
- Comfort
- Lightweight
- Functionality
- Fit
- Style
Evolution of Synthetic Fabric
Fabric which can wick away moisture and breathing fabric have brought in a revolution in sports apparel. Another development is apparel made of stretch fabrics, replacing cotton. There is also a combination of cotton and micro polyester. In addition there are fabrics with UV protection and anti microbial functions. Research is on to develop solar energy absorbing and retaining fabrics by the incorporation of zirconium carbide into the fabric. Also there are apparels that glow in the dark which incorporate photoluminescent materials into the fibers. Coolmax, Drilayer, Gelanots , Lycra and Supplex are some of the synthetic fabric varieties developed by leading manufacturers in the field.
Influence of Fashion and Style on Sports Apparel
Men’s and women’s sports apparel has closely followed trends in fashion. There are lot of pinks, and other bright colors adding hues to the jerseys and jackets. Floral designs are another new feature. Trendy pieces like low neck and sleeveless shorts are in vogue these days. In sports like tennis the influence of fashion is more evident with the players themselves being icons of fashion. Silver embroidered and pearl studded frocks and tops add an aesthetic touch to women’s apparel.
Emerging Styles in Sports Apparel
The current trends in sports apparel include the following:
- Light weight clothes using synthetic fabric
- Anti microbial and UV protection clothes
- Removable hoods and arm coverings
- Vogue for casual look
- Camp shirts and mock turtle necks
- Vibrant colors
- Floral designs
- Movable protectors in sports like skiing and skating
- Tapered jackets and tight tops in winter sports
- Cropped pants
- Cotton and silk fiber sweaters
- Shorts and skirts in golf apparel
- Embroidered outfits
- Pockets and openings for iPods and ear phones
- Corset tops with drawstrings and ribbing for support
- Jackets with double zippers to adjust the fit
- Jackets with zippered mesh panels.
Best style in sports apparel retains functionality of the apparel, yet leaves room for the individual tastes of the athlete.