Latest Material and Technological Developments for Activewear

Joanne Yip

• Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9780128194928
• eBook ISBN: 9780128227671
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Materials Science
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Latest Material and Technological Developments for Activewear provides comprehensive coverage of academic research and industrial advances in this fast-moving field. As society becomes more health conscious, athleisure and sportswear have arrived as key fashion items in the global apparel market. In this book, designers and material scientists will find information on fibers and textiles, new processes, emerging technologies, and new applications that have helped to deliver this new wave of products. In addition to these technical details, the book covers consumer behavior, along with product design and manufacturing.- Provides the detailed technical information needed to choose the correct material for demanding activewear products- Identifies and analyzes emerging global trends in the activewear industry- Covers the latest best practices that help designers create functional, comfortable and fashionable activewear- Meets the requirements and standards of the apparel and fashion industry- Explores emerging applications of wearable electronics and smart activewear

1

Introduction to activewear

Joanne Yip^a

Andrew Frank Lando^b,c
a Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
^b Founder of ACE Style Institute of Intimate Apparel, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
^c De Montfort University, United Kingdom

Abstract

Activewear is gaining in popularity and also the only category in apparel that has been experiencing a surge of popularity in recent years. Therefore, it is worthwhile to examine this type of apparel more closely. First, activewear is defined and then the main categories and different types of activewear are discussed. Then, an overview of activewear in the different markets and the major players in the world is provided. Finally, some of the key factors that influence the purchase intentions of activewear are also reviewed and summarized.

Keywords

activewear

types of activewear

market overview

purchase intentions

1.1. Introduction to activewear

The cynosure of the athletic market was previously focused on men predominantly and marketed function over fashion. In recent years, however, there has been a growing awareness of the benefits of health and wellness, so both men and women are incorporating more fitness into their life. In particular, activewear for women has increased in popularity, and their market share is becoming larger in response to the drive toward a healthy and balanced lifestyle. This means that consumers might seek activewear that would allow a seamless transfer from office to gym and then back again, which has led to the growth of athleisure apparel and the casualization of womenswear. Here, the focus will be primarily on women and activewear. Fashion designers have subsequently collaborated with activewear brands to produce athleisure and intimate apparel to cater to these female consumers. Substantial emphasis has been placed on function and performance in addition to fashion and design in the development of these products. The popularity of athleisure and intimate apparel has also influenced the high-end market, which focuses on superior craftsmanship, new types of fabrics and innovative technologies to meet the needs of consumers who are less price resistant and open to purchasing functional yet aesthetically pleasing products that are an expression of their active lifestyle.

Aside from its increased popularity, activewear is also the only category in apparel that has been experiencing a surge of popularity in recent years. To avoid confusion, activewear will be defined before moving forward. This is followed by a discussion on the main categories and different types of activewear. Then, an overview of activewear in the different markets and the major players in the world is provided. Finally, some of the key factors that influence the purchase intentions of activewear are also reviewed and summarized.

1.2. Definition of activewear

In a search of the existing literature, a broad definition of activewear can be found, which is “some link to being active in the design purpose of the garments” (O’Sullivan, Hanlon, Spaaij, & Westerbeek, 2017). Activewear has been therefore broadly defined as clothing designed to transition from leisure to casual daytime or evening wear. According to Oxford Dictionary, activewear is a noun and defined as “casual, comfortable clothing suitable for sport or exercise” (Simpson, 2017). Nowadays, activewear is designed for specific sporting activities, which can take place outdoors, indoors, in the water, etc., such as rigorous sports, competitive events, physical training sessions, water sports, skiing, and gymnastics. Some of the more popular types of activewear include leggings, tracksuits, golf and tennis shirts, bike shorts, and unitards. These different kinds of apparel are considered to be activewear because they are specifically designed to deliver a pre-defined performance or function to their users, over and above their normal functions (Gupta, 2011).

Another definition of activewear is apparel made for participating in physical activities or sports (Wikipedia, 2019), although it is increasingly worn in daily life for activities such as shopping, going to work, and having a coffee with friends, due to the fusion of fashion and fitness (Fromm, 2016). Activewear is also increasingly becoming a part of streetwear and office wear (Cohen, 2014). It is now considered to be casual and lifestyle wear. Horton, Ferrero-Regis, and Payne (Horton, Ferrero-Regis, & Payne, 2016) described activewear as a form of contemporary fashionable dress that signifies a healthy body and a leisured lifestyle devoted to the improvement of the self. That is, activewear worn casually to work or play implies the casualization of dress and the idolization of a healthy and physically fit body as a fashion aesthetic.

Activewear caters to men, women and children based on market demand. This market is so diversified that it continues to expand and new brands emerge one after another in quick succession.

Activewear is also categorized based on its demanded function, which can be summarized as three different levels of impact performance:

• • Light impact: refers to activewear for gentle exercise programs, such as yoga and walking, which has the largest market share in sports attire;
• • Moderate impact: refers to apparel for more aggressive activities, such as cycling, power walking, jogging, dancing, tennis, resistance training and weight lifting; and
• • High impact: refers to garments for very active and aggressive activities, such as soccer, boxing, kick boxing, lacrosse, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, endurance sports, and cross training.

Nowadays athletes are trained to be competent by focusing on a variety of different exercises, which is known as cross-training. Cross-training gives athletes the ability to adapt to many different types of fitness environments and work different parts of their body. This comprehensive approach to training involves increasing all functional abilities such as stabilization, strength and power. CrossFit is one of the most recent trends in fitness, which is a fitness program created by Greg Glassman in 2000. This fitness regimen is practiced by members in over 13,000 affiliated gyms, and approximately half are located in the US (Glassman, 2002). CrossFit is a core strength and conditioning program. It is not a specialized fitness program but a deliberate attempt to optimize physical competence in each of the 10 fitness domains of cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy (Glassman, 2002). CrossFit was developed to enhance competency in all physical tasks. The regimen provides a broad spectrum of activities that create a solid base of knowledge on different sports performances and in choosing the right kind of activewear for the sporting activity. High performance activewear that is found in the high-end market mainly focus on their technically advanced features. Not only do they provide performance and comfort, but also accommodate the lifestyle of their customers.

1.3. Types of activewear

Activewear can be grouped into different sport-specific product categories. Fig. 1.1 shows sketched examples of activewear. It shows some basic ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Contents
• Copyright
• Contributors
• 1: Introduction to activewear
• 2: Activewear designs and innovations
• 3: Textile fibers and fabrics
• 4: Narrow fabric elastics and accessories for activewear
• 5: Evaluation of perceived comfort and functional performance of activewear
• 6: Compression technology
• 7: 3D printing technologies: current applications, future trends, and challenges
• 8: Activewear design for competition: case study for Hong Kong rowing team
• 9: Yoga bra design for elderly women
• 10: An innovative tank top equipped with biofeedback system for adolescents with early scoliosis
• Index