Activewear Manufacturer: What Brands Should Know

An activewear manufacturer will be aware that activewear appears very straightforward until it is made.

It‘s separate from ordinary clothing; it must stretch, move with the body, tolerate sweat, and survive multiple launderings. A few design details in fabric, fit, and construction can be very significant.

At JiuvelWear, we can provide working samples for all clothing brands who want custom activewear. Based on our design, a good sample is the first step, what’s more important is after using it a few times.

Activewear Starts With the Fabric

The choice of fabric is one of the earliest decisions to be made which can affect the performance of the finished production when dealing with activewear.

Something can feel and look nice at initial handover, but that doesn‘t mean that it will perform in activewear applications.

Stretch, recovery, weight, softness, breathability, moisture wicking and durability all play a part.

The combination varies according to the kind of garment.

A very light fabric could be suitable for a running top but more coverage, stretch and recovery may be needed for the leggings. For a training hoodie a different fabric construction would be necessary.

Hence we usually advise selecting the use of the finished garment first before making up your mind on the fabric that looks attractive.

Stretch Is Not Just About How Far Fabric Can Stretch

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A fabric must have some stretch for the wearer of course,when she / he moves, but it must also recover afterwards.

If it stretches freely and does not spring back, the shape of the garment can quite slowly become distorted.

This is clearly evident in areas such as the waistband, knees and elbows where there is a lot of movement.

For brands working on activewear, it may be interesting to challenge the fabric‘s performance after being stretched several times, instead of assessing it based on a new fabric sample only.

One fabric that feels great on day one can change dramatically after successive washings and wears.

Fit Matters More When the Customer Is Moving

Activewear must allow the body to move freely.

It‘s the need for pattern development that makes this so significant.

Unquestionably the fit of a pair of leggings, sports bra, training top or performance shirt is not able to be assessed in the same way as a casual garment.

When designing or making the garment it is important to think about whether the garment will still fit after the wearer bends, stretches, runs, lifts or simply sits down.

Something that fits well while standing can actually feel suffocating when people begin to walk.

That is exactly the reason that all activewear samples should be tested in actual motion whenever possible.

A sample, for our part, a sample is not only what we want to take in photographic.

Reflects the opportunity to identify problems pre production.

Seams Can Affect Comfort and Performance

Another detail that is more important in sportswear, is the seam construction.

Seams that are wrongly placed or sloppy elsewhere may be uncomfortable to wear, particularly during sport.

Depending on the product, they may use secure seam construction, flat felled seams, reinforced areas, or other finishes.

The most appropriate selection is determined by the article and its application.

A lightweight running shirt should be equally simple in construction to compression leggings.

This is an example of why activewear should be developed as a complete product not just taking a regular pattern and modifying the fabric.

Waistbands Need Special Attention

The waistbands are a small part of a garment, but they can have a(large) impact.

If the waistband is too loose, it may not hold during movement.

Gla gbpa such a tight one can be unbearable.

The fabric, elastic, width of waistband, construction and the pattern all influence the outcome.

In the case of the leggings and training bottoms, a greater emphasis should be applied to moving the various bodies through the waistband rather than simply inspecting it in a fitting.

Another point to observe is how the gauge of the waistband bends after washings and expansions.

Moisture and Breathability Depend on the Whole Fabric

Consumers usually prefer activewear that allows for air circulation and wicks away moisture.

However, managing moisture is more complex than selecting a fabric labeled” quick-drying”

Feel of finished product: fiber content, construction of fabric, weight, finishing and styling of garment will have an effect on the feel of finished product on getting worn.

Therefore, brands should therefore be asking for more specific information about fabrics and not assume marketing descriptions would be enough.

If a garment is intended for hard core training, the fabric demands would be considerably different to a pair of lifestyle activewear.

Printing and Decoration Can Be More Difficult on Stretch Fabrics

Logo or graphic placement to activewear is not as straightforward as printing on a plain cotton T-shirt.

Distorting (such as) can influence the visual quality and longevity of some printing processes.

It must be compatible with the fabric…the method of decoration must work for us rather than against the fabric.

A wide array of options are possible depending on the pattern and materials, the manufacturer may suggest screen printing, heat transfer, sublimation, embroidery or another type of printing.

What is actually required is to test the completed decoration on the fabric.

A print can be excellent before washing and vary enormously after.

Washing Tests Matter

Activewear tends to be wash often.

This implies that durability needs to be taken into account prior to production and not once the customers have started complaining.

Depending on the product, brands may want to evaluate:

Colorfastness
Shrinkage
Stretch recovery
Pilling
Seam strength
Print durability
The appearance of fabric after washing and dryings4.2.fabric view3.3.mean7.11.2.fibers4.2.fabric2.1.Facts You have washed the fabric, and you want to do a visual examination of your fabric with the naked eye, and with a microscope. You need to consider the following.

They certainly need not be allowed to descend into a laboratory nightmare for every article.

However, the more the garment is to be worn and laundered, the more crucial it is to understand how it wears.

Samples Should Be Tested More Than Once

One sample is good.

Repeated testing is preferable.

In the case of activewear, we suggest examining the item both prior and subsequent to use.

Wear it.

Stretch it.

Wash it.

Use it again.

Observe the seams, waistband, fabric strength, colouring, printing process, and silhouette.

This type of testing is capable of expose faults that would never have been apparent from a photograph of the product.

It also provides the manufacturer with more detailed information to work from.

Bulk Production Is Where Consistency Becomes Important

Having obtained one good sample does not necessarily mean you have a good production system.

We may see process variation in bulk manufacturing where fabric lots may change, colors may shift, measurement may drift and finishing may become inconsistent if the control of process has not be taken into account.

This is especially true for activewear as it can be worn very close to the body and any differences in spread or fit might be felt.

Brands that do repeat orders need to hold clear specifications for the approval sample, fabric, measurements, colors, labels, construction details.

The better that these details are written down, the more consistent the second run of the product will be.

Choosing an Activewear Manufacturer

The bottom line if searching for a maker of activewear is just to look at what‘s on offer in the factory showroom.

We believe a better approach would be to examine the way in which the manufacturer undertakes production development.

How about helping with the fabric choosing?

Can they work from your measurements and specifications?

If after sampling are thereany modifications possible?

How well do they cotton on to stretch fabrics?

Indeed they can accommodate your decoration & branding needs?

Will they still be consistent when the order grows?

These are the questions you should be asking if you want to better understand what a manufacturer is capable of rather than simply seeing what they have on offer.

Activewear Development Usually Takes More Than One Sample

Some brands simply demand the first sample to be made as if it were production.

That can happen, but it is not something we would like to rely upon.

What is typical.50 A first sample normally identifies the things that require alteration or modification:

Perhaps it is the waistband width that is the problem.

Perhaps this Fabric needs more recovery.

Perhaps the sleeve opening is too high.

Perhaps the print should be repositioned.

Sometime maybe the garments are heavier than they should be.

These modifications are called the development of product.

More specifically at JiuvelWear, we rather see sampling as a working process between the brand and the manufacturer. The purpose is not to have easily the first sample, but to get closer as much as possible to the real desired specifications.

Activewear Is About Performance, Not Just Appearance

A smart activewear product should do more than just photograph well.

It has to be the correct fit.

It has to flow with the person.

It should feel at ease.

It should be able to retain its shape.

Suitable for frequent washing.

Or else it must be kept consistent when the brand is switched from samples to bulk quantity.

That‘s why selecting the right activewear producer is so crucial.

For a new brand, it could start with a limited sample range and a very limited production, when the product develops, the connection with the brand and the manufactured is getting stronger.

What do we partner with? JiuvelWear partner with brands who want to make custom clothing, not just pull off a finished product off the shelf. For activewear brands, this means skinning through fabric choices, fitting, construction, branding, sampling, and production specifics before the runoff batch.

The more the details are finalized prior to mass production, the less surprises you will have once the products are in your hands.