Technical textiles put the awesome in activewear
Over the past decade, fabrics for activewear and casual clothing have become more advanced and versatile. Clothes made for activity now offer improved stretchiness, moisture-wicking, breathability, and durability — without sacrificing style.
Active and casual fabrics have also become more sustainable and eco-friendly than ever before. Increasingly, brands have been incorporating recycled materials and innovative production methods into their active offerings.
We're here for it!
Vuori leads the way in innovation
In 2023, we introduced a new activewear brand, Vuori, and it's been attracting attention from customers who want to look and feel great during their most active days.
Based in Encinitas, California, Vuori draws inspiration from the coastal California lifestyle—an integration of fitness, surf, sport and art. Vuori makes products that stand the test of time and inspire vibrant, healthy lives.
Vuori's fame emerged from the popularity of the Performance Jogger.
The brand first became Insta-famous for its buttery soft womens' performance joggers, but it offers a full range of men's and women's activewear. It's all super-soft and built to move.
Since things have changed so much in the fabric world over the past few years, we thought you might want to know a bit about what to look for in a performance fabric, and how to care for it.
What is performance fabric?
Performance fabric is a type of manufactured textile that is designed to be durable, breathable, stretchy and quick drying. Some performance fabrics offer UV protection as well.
Common types of performance fabrics include polyester, nylon, and spandex.
Synthetic fabrics like these are often used in athletic and outdoor apparel, where strength and durability are important. They're also increasingly showing up in casual clothes, where stretchiness is the new normal.
Easy care and long lasting
Resonators love performance fabrics because of they stay looking amazing for a long time. They don't look faded or worn, even after several seasons of frequent wear.
We also love that they dry quickly without going in the dryer, and they're wrinkle-free after hanging to dry, so they require no ironing. That's good for the environment, and it's also great for travel. You can hand wash, hang to dry and wear the next day.
Eco-obsessed? Look for recycled fabrics
If sustainability is a factor for you when shopping for activewear, look for recycled synthetic fabrics when shopping.
For example, Fig makes use of recycled post-consumer plastic bottles to produce some of its fabrics. So it's better for the planet, but it still has all the stretchiness and the wicking qualities you want in a casual dress.
We also love how Fig has been incorporating prints into its collections. It used to be that technical fabrics were only available in solid colours, but the Canadian brand has shown that performance prints are possible.
Check the tag for eco-certified fabrics
Other sustainably minded brands use synthetic fabrics that have been certified as responsibly produced. Viscose, for example, is a synthetic fabric made from wood or wood pulp and the process is not always sustainable. But certain fabric manufacturers have developed sustainable manufacturing processes and earned certification by making their processes transparent.
For example, Carve makes products from Lenzing Ecovero, which is a certified type of eco-viscose. Toad & Co's makes beautiful use of the certified fabric Tencel Lyocell by combining it with organic cotton for extra softness. Both of these brand-name fabrics are manufactured in traceable and responsible ways.
Care tips for performance fabrics
Keep your activewear looking awesome by following these care tips:
- Read and follow the care instructions on the label of the fabric.
- Avoid using fabric softeners, bleach, or harsh detergents.
- Wash the fabric in cold water and on a gentle cycle.
- Tumble dry on low heat or hang to dry.
- Avoid ironing, but if necessary, use a cool iron.
- Immediately treat any stains with a stain remover before washing.
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