Advances in technology have had a profound influence on many industries. Among the most recent to leverage these advances are sports clothing manufacturers. Companies often adopt these new developments to introduce improved manufacturing methods that will increase their output or reduce costs. However, in some instances, the goal is quality improvement, producing goods that will last longer, require less maintenance, have desirable new features, or are more user-friendly.
While the origin of recreational games dates from the dawn of history, it was the Ancient Greeks who, with their four-yearly olympiad, were probably first responsible for popularising competitive sports. At that time, the exclusively male competitors performed nude so their loose-fitting garments would not hamper their movements. That era would have been a lean time for the sportswear industry.
Since those classic events, athletes have striven to improve their performance. Most people will recall the many scandals surrounding the illegal use of performance-enhancing drugs and the once-sporting heroes who were stripped of their trophies and careers. Fewer, perhaps, will be aware of another entirely legal technology for improving performance that has gained popularity among bodybuilders and weightlifters: electro-muscular stimulation (EMS), a faster means to gain muscle mass and increase strength than conventional exercise.
More recently, sports apparel manufacturers have taken a hint from those Ancient Greeks. However, rather than promoting nudity, they are applying advanced technology to produce sports clothing that helps athletes perform better.
How Sports Clothing Manufacturers Can Optimise an Athlete’s Performance
One probably needs to look no further than the world of competitive cycling to see how sports clothing can influence performance. From the early days of this sport, cycling enthusiasts have been aware of the extent to which friction caused by the surrounding air can slow their progress. They soon discovered that the simple act of shaving their legs, a practice also commonly adopted by competitive swimmers, can result in a small but significant reduction of wind resistance.
However, one of the most game-changing improvements to the aerodynamics of cycling came when sports clothing manufacturers enabled riders to abandon their loose-fitting shorts and T-shirts in exchange for smooth, body-hugging, seamless, elasticated spandex and streamlined protective headgear. The brand name “Lycra” has also become a household name with runners. Indeed, much of the effort by today’s sports clothing manufacturers is focused primarily on developing innovative new fabrics and materials from which to produce their sportswear.
That said, performance clothing, often termed high-performance apparel (HPA), offers athletes far more than an effective means to reduce drag. It can be invaluable even in sporting activities where aerodynamics are irrelevant. The following are examples of the many other benefits to athletes resulting from the technical advances that have led to the development of the intelligent fabrics now used to manufacture high-performance sports apparel:
- Moisture Management: Intense physical activity invariably induces sweating, which can cause chaffing and discomfort, leading to distraction and potentially hindering performance. To counter this, sports clothing manufacturers have developed new fabrics with wicking properties that draw moisture away from the skin, ensuring wearers remain dry and comfortable throughout their events.
- Temperature Control: Becoming too hot or too cold can quickly cause an athlete’s performance to deteriorate, especially if not suitably dressed. Fortunately, engineers have developed a solution using thermoregulation fabrics made from phase-change materials (PCM). These hi-tech fabrics contain microcapsules that can absorb or release heat as required, eliminating temperature extremes that could otherwise impede an athlete’s performance.
- Improved air Circulation: Durable, porous fabrics combine some of the benefits of those described above.
- Enhanced Freedom of Movement: A fabric’s flexibility can either improve or impair an athlete’s performance. Elasticated materials, particularly in the areas around the joints, can help to optimise an athlete’s freedom of movement.
- Protection: Incorporating materials to improve support in strategic areas of performance clothing helps to minimise stress on those muscles in constant use, reducing fatigue and the risk of sports injuries due to overexertion.
Sports Clothing Manufacturers Can Benefit Other Industries Too
What could be a more appropriate place for a hi-tech company to attach its name and logo than on the hi-tech branded sportswear worn by a high-performance soccer or rugby? Quality, durability, and innovation are the cornerstones of XCO Group, a leading designer and producer of sports apparel. Ask the Valke, Griquas, or Netball South Africa. Hi-tech performance clothing could also put your team on the map, so why not contact us to learn more about our high-performance team clothing?
