Over sportswear years have developed by leaps and bounds and with new innovations and trends introduced permanently, the team clothing in southern Africa will continue to evolve. The new lightweight fabrics with enhancements added allow athletes to perform at their optimum, no hassles.

It's pretty incredible to think that tennis players in the 1920s is expected to play top flight matches in long skirts and pants, or that golfers most important moment could manage a birdie or two decisions a unit in the narrow, form-fitting jackets!

Wool to synthetic

Simply compare two large clear of the pool to see how sportswear has been developed. The world champion 1920, Johnny Weissmuller, won 5 Olympic gold medals and 1 bronze in a cumbersome, full bathing suit made of thick wool, water absorbent, while the legend Current, Michael Phelps, claimed 14 gold medals wearing a spandex suit rationalize.

In fact it was the introduction of synthetic materials that changed the face of sportswear and if we look at the vast majority of sports clothes on today, is spandex possibly had the greatest impact.

Spandex

Also known as spandex, lycra is classified as an elastomeric fiber, or simply a fiber or material that is able to expand over 500% without breaking. The additional wonder of this super-race technical fiber is its ability to recover its original size when not in use.

Spandex, an anagram of extending, first took the world by surprise, as the preferred garb of superheroes like Superman and Batman but soon was adopted by our current heroes and heroines: the athletes of the modern world. Swimmers, gymnasts and figure skaters wear spandex to great effect – even our cricketers to wear a lycra in the field.

Benefits spandex

Aside from his ability to stretch and recover to its original shape and form, spandex

• very comfortable
• light and flexible
• resistant to body oils or perspiration
• Abrasion resistant
• and free of static pile

Microfiber Miracle

Another miracle is mircrofibre material, a synthetic material made from fiber with a denier (unit of measurement of the linear mass density of fibers) of 1 or less. Usually made of polyester, nylon or both, and is a very popular alternative to cotton.

This "material of the nineties" is really quite remarkable and wickability, or the ability to spread to moisture so it can pass easily through the fabric surface, is one of its greatest assets. Other key benefits include microfiber garments

• keeping athletes cool and dry, reducing skin irritations
• excellent heat retention qualities when wet
• holding 7 times its own weight in moisture

Cool, profitable percale

A final material that continues to attract fans is cotton, a natural material derived from cotton, which is often unprocessed. Also known as muslin or mutton, cotton is cheap and easily available. It is soft, breathable, durable and absorbent, and if we to make our carbon footprint in mind, it is clear that the ideal tissue to be chosen by sportsmen and women friendly.

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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Best Lightweight Fabrics for Sports Clothes

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