Can Natural Fabrics Replace Synthetics in Swimwear & Activewear?
Imagine you are walking into a sportswear store and you can find the same story on every label. POLYSTER, NYLON, SPANDEX. Synthetics have ruled the activewear category for decades and for understandable reasons. It is stretchable, it wicks and dries fast. But it also sheds microplastics with every wash, sits in landfills for centuries and increasingly they face a reckoning.
It's not if brands want to do better. Most say they do. The true question is can the natural fabrics of activewear actually stand up in the gym, water and pressure? The answer, increasingly, is yes.
The Problem with Synthetics
Polyester and nylon are the most popular materials used in sportswear due to their durability. This engineering, however, is expensive and cannot be ignored. Synthetic fabrics are petroleum-based, energy-hungry to make and don't biodegrade. Just one wash of a polyester garment can shed hundreds of thousands of microplastic fibres, which are too small to be removed from the water and eventually find their way into the oceans and marine life, where they are swallowed and ingested by humans.
This is not a side issue for brands that are looking to use sustainable sportswear materials. Harder questions are being asked by retailers, consumers and regulators. Restrictions on microplastics are becoming stricter. Buyers want transparency. The brands that get ahead of this shift now will be the ones positioned to lead.
What Natural Fabrics actually Bring to the Table?
The notion that natural is weak or low is not valid anymore. New generation plant-based fabrics for performance clothes are being developed and some of them are really outstanding.
● Another one of the most sustainable fabrics you can find for activewear is hemp. Hemp requires no pesticides, enhances soil health and makes fibre softer with use while remaining strong. It's penetrable, naturally antimicrobial and now more and more is being added together for stretch purposes.
● Bamboo fabric for sportswear has been used in next-to-skin layers. It is self-regulating, meaning it's cooling when it's hot and insulating when it's cold; its moisture-wicking ability is comparable to many synthetics. Bamboo is another rapidly growing tree that doesn't need much water.
● Banana fabric is made from a natural fibre derived from the stem of the banana tree, an agricultural waste which has a natural shine and is lightweight and strong. It absorbs moisture and is breathable which makes it an interesting option for activewear.
● Aloe Vera Fabric processed from the aloe plant, has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties for the skin. This is a fascinating attribute that doesn't necessarily apply to garments that are meant for every day usage but certainly to recovery and athleisure wear, a category that synthetic fabrics just can't match.
The Swimmer Challenge
The debate between natural v/s synthetic is the most complex when it comes to swimwear. Water resistance, chlorine tolerance and wet stretches are challenging specifications. Plant-based fabrics for swimwear must be able to solve all these and the truth is that, not yet, plant-based fabrics are not replacing chlorine-resistant nylon.
Bio-based finishes are also beginning to gain traction for natural fibres or for those that are woven into close technical constructions, to produce sustainable fabrics for swimwear brands wanting to get away from virgin synthetics. Small amounts of plant-based materials in performance structures (hybrid constructions) are also a realistic step towards fully natural constructions while the natural alternatives develop.
Why is this relevant to activewear brands now? Why is it important for activewear brands at this moment?
The world of sustainable textile innovations in sportswear is evolving quickly and decisions made this day will determine a brand's positioning for years. Brands still relying on virgin polyester in their whole supply chain are risking a disaster.
But the other fabrics used in activewear certainly aren't ideal. But perfect is not necessarily the goal; it is the level of suitability. More and more activewear natural fabrics are demonstrating their suitability, breathable for yoga and studio class, durable for training and comfortable for long wear.
The better question for sourcing teams is not whether 100% synthetics can be eliminated.
When you're a brand or manufacturer looking to use biodegradable materials in sportswear or natural alternatives to polyester, the key to get started is finding suppliers that are already creating at scale.
The range of knitted fabric developed by Ayurkruti also features plant-based, naturally processed fabrics that are suited for contemporary performance use, from Hemp, Bamboo, Banana, Aloe Vera, Orange Knitted fabric, Rose knitted fabric, Corn Knitted fabric etc. constructions. These fabrics have been designed for brands with no intention of compromising on sustainability and quality.
The future of sustainable activewear is natural. The question of whether 100% synthetics can be eliminated is not the most relevant one for sourcing teams.