Choosing the Right Fabric for Athletic Leggings

Choosing the Right Fabric for Athletic Leggings

Leggings have come into their own in recent years, and with their popularity growing, there are more choices than ever for fabrics to make them from.leggings fabric This collection brings together our fabrics that are suitable for making traditional athletic leggings - they all have great four-way stretch, good compression and can be used with patterns that require Negative Ease (meaning the finished garment is smaller than the body measurements).

In addition to providing the support and durability necessary for activewear, it’s also important that your leggings feel comfortable.leggings fabric The best legging fabric is soft and smooth against your skin, with a second-skin feeling. Look for fabrics with sweat-wicking technology, reflective design details for running at night or during dark workouts and strategic pockets to keep your keys and phone when you’re out and about.

Another consideration is how much abrasion resistance and stretch the leggings fabric have.leggings fabric Some fabrics have a lot of recovery, meaning they return to their original shape quickly after stretching. Others don’t have as much recovery and can be see-through, which may not be desirable for leggings. A good rule of thumb is to choose a fabric with at least 50% lycra to ensure it has enough recovery.

A classic choice for leggings is nylon, which is both elastic and durable, and often combined with spandex for added comfort. Nylon is a sustainable material because it can be made from recycled plastics, and it has a high level of abrasion and moisture resistance. It also does not retain bad odors and is easy to wash.

Nylon can be a bit shiny, which some people prefer to avoid, but it can be offset by mixing it with other materials for a more balanced blend. Spandex in particular provides a good amount of stretch and comfort, and it is highly breathable, which will help with your workouts. It’s also very lightweight and doesn’t wrinkle easily, making it a great option for travel.

Wool is another sustainable leggings fabric that is soft, abrasion-resistant and has excellent moisture control. However, it’s a heavier fabric than most of the alternatives and can be see-through, so a cotton-lycra or polyester-spandex mix is a better choice.

Tags:woven stretch fabric | 4 way stretch fabric | bi stretch fabric