Technology is cool. We love gadgets and technological advances that make life easier and more convenient. However, when it comes to fabric for clothing, tech advancements are often more like artificial fillers then artificial intelligence. This can be obvious when it comes to dress clothing, but often overlooked when it comes to casual clothing and workout gear. There are probably a few things you should keep in mind when making causal or routine clothing purchases.
A helpful way to assess value is by looking at the tags for fabric composition. Natural fibers are almost always more expensive then their man made counter parts. Synthetic fibers are generally manufactured to simulate the performance of natural ones, and while there have been great advancements from what was first on the market, they still do not adequately compare. The primary motivation behind this technology is the lowering of costs both for companies and consumers, however there are many hidden costs to keep in mind.
Comfort is often measured by stretch-ability and we fall for marketing gimmicks such as “stays-cool” or “clima-cool” tags. If the fabric is polyester, (or another synthetic) molecules are just tweaked or grooves created on spots throughout a shirt to attempt to simulate what cotton does naturally. If stretch and ease of movement are priorities for your workouts, then try synthetic/natural blends when it comes to your workout gear. Our pores open up and absorb more during workouts, the last thing you want is 100% synthetic fibers that do not breathe and are treated with any of the 8,000 known chemicals used in the manufacture of clothing today.