As people want to stay in shape or stay healthy, more and more people are taking part in physical exercise. This has also led to a surge in demand for sportswear made of breathable fabrics. Sports bras made of such breathable fabrics are most suitable for physical exercise.

In the design of sports bras, support is certainly important, but the most direct feeling of the wearer often comes from the “breathability” of the fabric.

Because during high-intensity exercise, breathable bras can keep the skin dry, reduce the feeling of stuffiness and humidity, and greatly improve the wearing experience.

As a custom underwear factory with more than 20 years of production experience, we will summarize the 8 most suitable breathable fabrics for custom sports bras in this article to help brands create high-quality products that take into account both functionality and comfort.

What is breathable fabric?

Breathable fabric, is a textile material that can keep air flowing.

Wearing a bra made of this fabric can release sweat quickly when sweating during exercise, helping the body keep the skin dry after physical exercise.

Most people think that breathable fabric is equal to “thin”, but this is not the case. It is a technical performance related to yarn structure and weaving process.

Benefits of Breathable Fabrics

The main advantages of breathable fabrics include:

• Improve comfort: During exercise, breathable fabrics can effectively expel sweat and moisture, keeping the skin fresh while maintaining the best condition for exercise.
• Reduce odor: Through rapid perspiration, it can reduce the growth of bacteria caused by the hot and humid environment and avoid the generation of odor.
• Prevent skin irritation: Breathable fabrics can reduce the friction between the skin and the fabric, reducing the risk of allergies and irritation.

Polyester blended fabric

Polyester blends are one of the most commonly used base fabrics in sports bras, and are primarily made of polyester blended with spandex, cotton, nylon, or modal.

Breathable

It has good breathability, especially the polyester blend with mesh design, which can well discharge moisture during exercise and reduce the feeling of stuffiness.

Quick-drying

Polyester has a hydrophobic effect and can quickly discharge sweat, keeping the inside of the bra fresh.

Elasticity

Generally, after adding spandex, the elasticity of the fabric is greatly improved.

Durable

Polyester blend is a wear-resistant, wear-resistant and deformation-resistant fabric that can maintain its original support after multiple washings and stretching.

Nylon Mesh

It is a mesh woven from nylon yarns that has excellent breathability and lightness and is widely used in the production of sports bras.

Breathable

The mesh structure ensures air circulation and enhances breathability.

Quick-drying

Nylon itself has good moisture absorption and perspiration removal, and the mesh design will not retain moisture for a long time, allowing sweat to evaporate faster.

Soft

Nylon fabric is soft and delicate, and it will not feel prickly when it comes into direct contact with the skin. It is very friendly to sensitive skin and improves the wearing experience.

Wrinkle-resistant

It has excellent wrinkle-resistant properties and can quickly recover to its original shape after compression and folding.

Coolmax® technical fabrics (polyester )

It is a high-performance polyester fiber specially made for sportswear and underwear, with excellent breathability, perspiration wicking and quick drying capabilities. It is the first choice for summer sports.

Quick-drying

It can quickly remove sweat from the skin surface, keep it dry and reduce stickiness.

Moisture absorption

The moisture absorption rate is more than twice that of conventional polyester, and the moisture absorption performance is extremely strong.

Breathable

Its fiber surface area is larger, and its air circulation is better, which can quickly evaporate sweat and reduce the feeling of stuffiness.

Durable

It has strong stretch resistance and wear resistance. It will not deform, fade or shrink after multiple washings.

Wrinkle resistance

It has strong wrinkle resistance. After washing, it can be worn directly without ironing.

Modal

Modal is a regenerated cellulose fiber made from European beech pulp. It is soft and skin-friendly, has excellent moisture absorption, and is suitable for making low-intensity sports bras.

Skin-friendly

It is friendly to sensitive skin, mild and non-irritating, and has excellent skin-friendly properties. It can be said to be the “noble among intimate underwear fabrics”.

Soft

Modal fabrics are smooth and soft to the touch and are widely used in some high-end intimate underwear.

Moisture absorption

Modal has excellent moisture absorption capacity, which is 1.5 times that of ordinary cotton, and can quickly absorb sweat. It is suitable for low-intensity but continuous sweating sports such as yoga and Pilates.

Breathable

It has excellent breathability, and the pore structure between fibers promotes air circulation and keeps the body dry.

Wrinkle resistance

It has natural wrinkle resistance better than cotton, is not easy to wrinkle after exercise, and is convenient for daily care.

Bamboo Fiber

It is a regenerated cellulose fiber made from bamboo, which has good air permeability, moisture absorption and natural antibacterial properties.

Sustainability

The raw materials come from natural bamboo forests, without the need for pesticides and fertilizers. It is degradable in the natural environment and is the first choice for creating environmentally friendly underwear.

Skin-friendly

The fabric is soft and does not irritate the skin, especially suitable for sensitive skin.

Breathable

The porous fiber structure brings natural breathability. Wearing sports bras made of this fabric in summer feels very comfortable and breathable, and is favored by sportswear manufacturers.

Moisture absorption

It has excellent moisture absorption and can absorb sweat produced after exercise to keep the skin dry.

Antibacterial

It has natural antibacterial and deodorizing effects, because the “bamboo Kun” component naturally contained in bamboo fiber has an antibacterial effect on bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Lyocell

Made from natural plant wood pulp from eucalyptus, bamboo and oak, this type of fabric is skin-friendly, hygroscopic, breathable, and environmentally friendly and biodegradable. It is increasingly used in high-end comfortable sports bras.

Breathable

Liocell fibers have large gaps between them, which ensures air circulation and has good breathability.

Moisture absorption

Its moisture absorption is extremely strong, more than 1.5 times that of ordinary cotton, far superior. It is especially suitable for sports with a lot of sweating.

Skin-friendly

Liocell fabric is soft and smooth, similar to “silk”, does not irritate the skin, and is suitable for long-term wear.

Environmental protection

Liocell is one of the environmentally friendly and sustainable fabrics. Its raw materials are renewable, water consumption is low, and it is degradable.

For sports underwear brands that want to emphasize environmental protection and create sustainable development, Lyocell is one of the best choices.

Merino Wool

Bras made of this material are suitable for use in cold environments.

Skin-friendly

Merino wool fibers are extremely fine and soft, and they are naturally non-irritating when worn next to the skin.

Breathable

The naturally breathable structure allows air to circulate freely, making it very suitable for exercise in cold environments.

Moisture wicking

With good moisture wicking effect, Merino wool can absorb 30% of its own weight in moisture while keeping the body dry.

Antibacterial

The natural keratin structure has antibacterial ability and can inhibit bacterial growth.

Thermostatic

It can naturally regulate body temperature, keep warm but not stuffy, and will not fluctuate between hot and cold even if you sweat.

Tactel® Fabric

This fabric is lighter and softer than ordinary nylon and is widely used in close-fitting clothing such as sportswear, underwear, and swimsuits.

Quick-drying

Very suitable for high-intensity sports bras, because it has extremely strong quick-drying, 2 times faster than ordinary nylon, and can quickly restore dryness after exercise.

Skin-friendly

Tactel® yarn is softer and smoother than ordinary nylon, suitable for close-fitting bras.

Breathable

It has excellent breathability.

Anti-wrinkle

After washing, it does not need to be ironed, and it has good anti-wrinkle ability.

Durable

It will not deform after high-intensity wear, is not easy to pilling, and is not easy to fade in the sun.

Why are cotton clothes not suitable for high-intensity exercise?

Cotton fabric is one of the most widely used materials in the world. However, it is rarely used in sportswear. The main reason is that although cotton fabric is soft and has strong moisture absorption, it does not dry quickly. Sweat will accumulate on the clothes, making you feel damp and uncomfortable during intense exercise or marathon competitions. In addition, cotton material is easy to deform and does not have sufficient support. It is not recommended for the production of high-intensity sports bras.

Conclusion

The wearer’s experience of using sports bras depends not only on the cutting structure, but also on the fabric selection.

Breathable fabrics can keep customers in good condition in different sports environments.

If you are also looking for the most suitable fabric for making sports bras, this article can help you well.

At telige, we can assist you in the early development, design, and production of unique sports bras and fitness wear fashion series for you.