XThe global athletic apparel, accessories and footwear market was valued at nearly USD168 billion in 2019 and accounted for over 35% of the international sports market. More recently, the global sportswear market value was USD 160.61 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period, from USD 198.94 billion in 2022 to USD 269.61 billion in 2028 (Insights, 2022).
The underlying factors of the sportswear market increment include an increase in the number of people participating in sports, particularly working out, walking, and running, which are accessible to people of all ages. Sportswear has different functional requirements depending on the nature of the sport, climatic conditions, and amount of physical activity. Nevertheless, all sportswear should have basic functions such as comfort, protection, stretchability, lightweight, and dimensional stability (Govindan, 2018).
Depending on the type of sport the athlete has chosen, these functions will determine the sportswear’s sweat absorption, drying rate, cooling rate, abrasion resistance and ultraviolet (UV) resistance (Manshahia et al., 2014; Stojanović et al., 2019). The type of sports can be broadly categorized as dynamic or static exercise, depending on how intense the training is required for sports competition and the potential for bodily injury from collisions with objects, projectiles, or the ground (Levine, Baggish, Kovacs, Link, Maron, & Mitchell, 2015).
Functional Needs of Yoga Sportswear for Recreational Athletes
Most physical activities include dynamic and static components, but dynamic exercises such as running, jumping, boxing, soccer or tennis involve intense activity during a short time. Meanwhile, static exercises like bowling, golf, curling or yoga are less intense and require less physical activity (Baman, Gupta, & Day, 2010; Levine et al., 2015).
Understanding the type of sports will help determine the functional requirements of sportswear in enhancing athlete performance. Despite yoga’s growing popularity and potential health benefits, there is a lack of studies on the requirements of yoga sportswear. More research on yoga sportswear needs to be conducted regarding the design criteria, functional attributions, and comfort properties. So far, the discussion on sportswear is mostly about professional athlete attire. However, there is another category of athlete, which is the recreational athlete. A recreational athlete is a person who engages in physical activity but does not train for competition with the same intensity and focus as a competitive athlete.
Elevating Yoga Sportswear Design: Merging Style, Functionality, and Comfort
In general, there are no specific designs made for yoga sportswear. Nevertheless, there are numerous clothing options for yoga practices, including sportswear, activewear, and the basic t-shirt, since there are many types of yoga that an individual can practice (Park, 2016). With many transitions over the years, yoga has evolved to have more than 10 variations. Some famous yoga poses today are Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Kundalini, Iyengar and Bikram.
The differences between these yoga styles are movement, posture, and breathing which differ according to the mode of practice and conditions, as tabulated in Table 1. While the method of yoga practice varies from beginner to expert, the room condition also significantly impacts the sports attire. For instance, Bikram yoga is practiced in a hot environment, which requires fabric with excellent absorption and evaporation to maintain standard and dry conditions between the skin and clothing (Lee, Jin, & Lee, 2020). Thus, clothing that allows for good evaporation during exercise in a hot and humid environment will be advantageous for comfort.
Choosing the appropriate sports attire for yoga could be a challenge. As claimed by Levine et al. (2015), yoga falls under static exercise since the practices are less intense and require less physical activity. In contrast, Raj (2021) has reported that yoga incorporates static and dynamic poses, where the exercise requires an intense static stretch. Moreover, yoga movements vary depending on the type of yoga practice, which can be active or passive.
Currently, numerous yoga wear providers with different focus approaches are on the market today. Professional yoga brands produce products solely for yoga practitioners, sportswear brands focus on the latest design inventions, while casual wear brands produce trendy casual clothing for everyday wear. Since yoga is considered a recreational sport, these focuses are too broad, and it is up to the wearer to choose their attire, but not all sports attire suits the practice.
Apparel Elements Most ready-to-wear (RTW) yoga clothing on the market is tightly fitted with varying construction, style, and size. The study investigated the current trend in yoga apparel design, where there has been significant development in sports bras, tank tops and yoga leggings.
Over the years, sports bras have emerged with various designs, colors, style options, and adjustable and convertible straps. Zhang, Wang and Han stated that common commercial sports bra styles are most suitable for younger and middle-aged practitioners since they vary in size and strap support. Some age-friendly sports bra design criteria include an adjustable and strong elastic strap with good recovery, a higher neckline, breathable fabric, and, most importantly, adequate padding, Etc.
Optimizing Garment Fit for Yoga Sportswear
Garment fit is essential in providing freedom of movement and comfort during intense workouts. According to a study on the mobility and comfort of yoga apparel, some practitioners preferred tight-fitting garments because loose silhouettes were not considered appropriate for yoga exercise due to unintended exposure when practicing poses. Furthermore, loose-fit garments can prevent sweat evaporation due to increased thermal insulation. Consequently, tighter-fitting garments are preferable during yoga to keep the body warm because there is less of an air gap that prevents heat transmission. The amount of sweat generated depends on the type of yoga being practiced. To control the body’s core temperature, sweat absorption and fast-drying clothing are highly needed since sweat generation reaches 2.5L/h during an intense workout such as in fast-paced yoga, where 80% of energy is converted into heat.
Thus, garment fit is a function that significantly impacts yoga wear. Stretchability Another critical function is stretchability, which requires yoga clothing to be flexible and stretchy enough to meet the stretching needs of the human body during exercise. For instance, close-fitting tops for women, with good stretch and strong elastic recovery should be considered because they may become baggy after repeated use due to fabric growth after extension during intense body stretch.
Minimizing Fabric Pilling and Fuzzing for Lasting Quality in Sportswear
The appearance of each specimen after abrasion was evaluated compared to an ASTM photographic standard. Ratings one through five were as follows:
1. very severe pilling
2. severe pilling
3. moderate pilling
4. slight pilling, and no pilling
When comparing Wash 5 and Wash 20, the average pilling resistance of each brand decreased. The rating of the Brand B leggings degraded the least; however, when comparing the ratings for each brand, the difference in the mean rating was not statistically significant (p-value=0.274) after Wash 5. However, after twenty laundering cycles, the difference was found to be statistically significant (p-value=0.000). A pairwise comparison determined that all brands were significantly different from one another after twenty laundering cycles. The Brand B leggings had the least amount of pilling with an average rating of 4.9. The Brand A leggings had a lower average rating of 4.2, and Brand C had the lowest pilling rating of 4.0 after twenty laundering cycles.
Ensuring Dimensional Stability: Key to Long-Lasting Sportswear Fit and Form
According to ASTM D4156-14, the dimensions of leggings should change no more than 3% after home laundering. All legging samples met this specification in both the length and width directions. Almost all changes were below 2%, excluding Brand A’s average width change after Wash 20. Oneway ANOVA determined no difference in the garment’s length measurements after Wash 5 (p-value=0.849) and after Wash 20 (p-value=0.753). The width measurement changes also revealed no significant differences after five (p-value=0.411) and twenty (p-value=0.263) wash cycles.
However, Park mentioned that the lack of flexibility in current compression garments makes them challenging to put on and take off. Consequently, there are partition design models for compression and seamless garments to keep the stretching forces consistent across the body when moving and reduce the difference in the clothing pressure. Thus, stretchability in yoga wear plays an important role in adapting to different body movements Protection.
For effective protection during wear, yoga wear should allow a full range of movement without failure in garments. According to Vazzana (2021), full-body coverage within yoga wear can protect against unwanted exposure and make one feel confident and secure. On the other hand, it may cause overheating or restricted fluid movement; hence, there is a need for balance in design.
The protector is especially helpful in yoga positions that put pressure on joints, for example, the knees. According to Park, 2016, further protection can be accorded by embedding lightweight, removable cushioning pads in those areas of the protector for added consolation without reducing flexibility. The chest is also a vital area to provide support, especially for female practitioners. For example, Jhanji refers to investigations that allude to how sports bra molded cups and compression designs contribute to reducing the breasts’ flow and prevent breast discomfort during exercises. Protective functions, adapted to the yogis’ particular needs, serve as the final clue in creating functional and comfortable yoga wear.
Conclusion
In conclusion, garment fit, stretchability and protection are essential attributes for yoga besides other basic sportswear functions. Garment fit is important in providing freedom of movement and promoting heat transmission during sweating. Furthermore, good garment stretchability is essential for providing good stretch to the wearer while stretching without restricting movements. Finally, good garment protection is crucial in protecting the wearer against any elements that cause discomfort. In this case, more protection is suggested on the knees of yoga practitioners where direct pressure occurs.
Designing high-quality sportswear for yoga requires more than just making it stylish. It needs a reflective, thought-provoking mix of practical, functional components that marry the sacred art of movement and answer the needs of the body. Garment fit, stretchability, and safety are minimum attributes that enable practitioners to feel a sense of freedom while being fully present on the mat.
As the market continues to grow, it is beyond any doubt that yoga sportswear will keep innovating to offer the perfect blend of performance and comfort for both the leisure and professional practitioner. Embracing these design principles only meets the physical demands of yoga but respectfully acknowledges its purpose as a practice for mental clarity, self-expression, and well-being-assuring all who engage in this transformational activity an experience truly holistic.