Gym Apparel Manufacturers: Building Better Training Wear

It is equally important for gym apparel manufacturers to learn not just about apparel fashion, but also that gym apparel needs to endure all kinds of movements, repeated training and washing, in addition to being suitable for normal day wear.

For a clothing brand though, selecting the appropriate fabric and fit is only the start. Construction, comfort, durability and uniformity in production all come into play.

Gym Apparel Starts With the Intended Use

No single gymwear item must deliver the same performance attributes.

A light training t-shirt can require breathability and moisture wicking. Training shorts can require greater freedom of movement. Leggings may have may have stretch and recovery. A hoodie will have greater use for warm-ups, travel or casual wear.

Knowing how the garment will be used aids in selecting the appropriate materials and construction.

Choosing the Right Fabric

Clothing can really alter the comfort of gym wear.

During the testing/ development stages the following must be taken into account: power, weight, rigidity/softness, breathability, moisture management, longevity.

For instance, A fabric with good stretch and flexibility could be used for a close-fitting training garment, whereas heavier weight fabric might be more appropriate for sweatshirt and gym hoody.

There is not one type of fabric that fits all product needs.

It will be dictated by the design, the buyer, the activity it is intended for and the price.

Fit Has to Work During Movement

For sportswear to be functional.

A T-shirt that feels comfortable when standing may become tight when exercising. Shorts that look pleasing when presented in a product photograph may behave quite differently when worn during training.

Special pattern development is however even more important.

Shoulder width, sleeve length, body length, waist position, leg opening, ease, all play a part in how the garment would behave in movement.

For fitted products, stretch and recovery also have to be taken into account.

Construction Affects Durability

Gym wear are almost always used on a regular basis.

It is designed to be washed, dried, worn and stitched back together numerous times each week.

…places more of a load on the seams, the stitching, the waistbands, the cuffs, the pockets, or other specific details of construction.

Righting is garment specific, but the end purpose is the same; to keep the product comfortable and functional in normal wear.

Good construction further enables a brand to keep product quality constant with scaled production.

Branding Should Be Designed Into the Product

In gym wear, there is focused heavily on the brand.

A plain T-shirt could have the following possibilities –a chest logo, back print, woven label, printed care label and special packaging. A hoodie or a pair of training shorts may include a number of branding details, for example;

In these, they should taste as good when they merge with the fabric.

All prints need to wash down and stay acceptable. Labels should not be excessive weight for wearer to feel uncomfortable. Embroidery should be compatible with material.

Branding is most effective if it is integrated into product development as opposed to being tacked on once all product design decisions have been finalized.

Sampling Shows What the Design Really Does

A digital design does not tell you everything about a gym garment.

When they receive a physical sample, the brand can then examine the fabric, fit, construction, measures, branding and finishing.

It can also be used during normal movement.

But can also highlight issues that might not be obvious in a drawing.

Perhaps the body length is too long. Perhaps the waistband has not enough recovery. Perhaps the fabric is too warm to exercise in.

Much easier to make these changes before you go into the bulk production.

Bulk Production Requires Consistency

Making just a good sample is quite a different matter from making hundreds and thousands.

In the bulk producing, fabric properties, measurement, color, stitching, printing and finishing must be same as approved by the buyer.

This is where it becomes problematic, especially if a gymwear brand develops multiple products based on the same identity.

Customers will expect the same fit and quality when buying the next product.

A good production process will allow an easy management of repeat orders.

Building a Gymwear Collection

Most other brands do not tend to sell only one type of gym garment.

They could put together a range of T-shirts, tank tops, shorts, leggings, hoodies, sweatshirts, and any other sport training pieces.

The products don‘t have to be exactly the same; they should just seem to give the impression of originating from the same brand.

The key to creating that consistency may be in using coordinated colors, fabrics, branding, labels and design details.

The manufacturer needs to be aware of the whole collection rather than each piece being a completely new project.

What We Do at JiuvelWear

JiuvelWear what we do custom apparel production for clothing brands, specializing in gym and training wear.

According to the project, we can help with fabric purchasing, pattern making, sampling, product modification, custom designed branding and packaging, bulk production and quality control.

Certain brands business have a complete tech pack. Some will have a reference item, sketch or simple product idea.

The development process should be flexible according to the amount of information available and personalization needed.

Gym Apparel Does Not Have to Be Overcomplicated

A good gymwear should be simple and not over complicated.

Clearly the most successful products offer a solution to a well defined problem.

Is appropriate.

The test subjects are, at ease to move around.

They use materials suited for their purpose.

They can sustain normal usage.

And they carry the brand very clearly.

It is a manufacturer‘s obligation to help translate those needs into a working product instead of simply including extra features.

Finding the Right Gym Apparel Manufacturers

When doing comparison between gym apparel manufacturing brands, the visual of the products and factory price are not enough.

Ask yourself if the manufacturer is able to use the fabrics required, produce the correct fit, make adjustments in the sampling stage, do branding, retain quality control for large production runs.

It is also sometimes interesting to consider future orders.

A manufacturer that can go from first samples to bigger production when it is needed is more helpful that a trader that only shops supplier for one shot order,

From Gymwear Concept to Finished Product

The design and manufacturing of the gym apparel is a creative and functional process.

The fabric must be suitable for the activity. The pattern must allow for movement. Construction should be durable for use. Branding and material should work well together.â [The construction must be durable for use.]

However, at JiuvelWear we are doing business with brands that are after having their own gym wear line instead of just resell “specialized” generic gym wear.

If you have a collection, gymwear design, tech pack, reference sample, or a product idea, send us the details. We will be able to help choosing fabrics, sampling, custom branding, and production.