Traditionally, yoga clothing is made from knit fabric using cotton, bamboo, nylon or polyester, along with lycra (spandex) for stretch and shape retention. There is no right or wrong fabric as long as it enables maximum movement and is comfortable. Fabric is mostly a personal preference.
Natural Fibers: Many people choose organic cotton, bamboo or other natural fibers because the fabric is more comfortable due to its breath-ability and hypoallergenic nature. Natural fiber garments tend to transition out of the yoga studio better than made-made fibers. With the increase in chemical sensitivity, some people feel uncomfortable in, or are allergic to, man-made synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester.
Man-Made Fibers: If you sweat significantly during yoga and are concerned about sweat spots, you may want to choose nylon or polyester with moisture management. The moisture management enables the sweat to be wicked off the skin and escape to the outer surface of the garment for fast evaporation.
Cotton
Cotton has long been the preferred fabric for working out (think back to the thick sweatpants of the ’80s). Cotton is a natural fiber that is soft against the skin (especially organic cotton) and allows maximum breath-ability. The problem is that it feels heavy when it gets wet and shows sweat stains more readily. Also, a good pair of black cotton/lycra yoga pants cannot be dried in the dryer or they loose their color quickly.
Pro: maximum breath-ability, freedom of movement, supremely comfortable, hypo allergenic, good for sensitive skin, fiber exists in nature, garments are multifunctional and can be worn for everyday living.
Con: heavy when wet, dries slowly, colors show perspiration points, color may fade after multiple washes, takes a significant amount of water to produce cotton.
Consideration: wash in warm water and lay flat to dry to maintain the color.
Bamboo
While it is a natural fiber that grows in abundance, the fiber has to be broken down with chemicals to make it into fabric. It is considered man-made. The feel of bamboo is incredible; it is soft against the skin, moves with the body, and enables complete freedom of movement. It is also anti-bacterial, resisting odor.
The above Strength Basic Tank Top is made from a combination of bamboo, organic cotton and lycra. It is beautifully flowy and holds onto its color incredibly well.
Pro: maximum breath-ability, freedom of movement, supremely comfortable, hypo allergenic, anti-bacterial, good for sensitive skin, dries more quickly than cotton, good color retention, garments are multi-functional and can be worn for everyday living.
Con: It is a man-made fiber that involves toxic chemicals to produce; dries slower than nylon or polyester.
Consideration: Find bamboo that is made in a closed-loop system so that the chemicals are recycled.
Hemp
One of the oldest fibers used by humans, hemp is considered to be four times more durable than cotton. It is naturally breathable and hypoallergenic. Hemp requires very little water and no pesticides to grow it. To increase the comfort of this linen-like fabric, it is often combined with cotton and bamboo to create a durable knit, perfect for yoga clothing.
Pro: maximum breath-ability, hypo allergenic, good for sensitive skin, fiber exists in nature, garments are multifunctional and can be worn for everyday living. You can feel good about wearing this fiber because it takes very few resources to produce it.
Con: heavy when wet, dries slowly, colors show perspiration points, color may fade after multiple washes.
Consideration: wash in warm water and lay flat to dry to maintain the color.
Pro: dries quickly, good color retention, lightweight, tends to smooth out the curves.
Con: not naturally breathable or wicking (the functionality has to be added to it), many people are sensitive to it, not as comfortable as natural fibers, looks like workout clothing, often retains odor.
Consideration: Make sure the nylon or polyester fabric has moisture management functionality to it, otherwise, it will not breathe properly
Beckons specializes in yoga clothing made from organic cotton and other natural fibers. We love how cotton and bamboo feels on our skin and how it transitions well from yoga practice to our everyday lives.
Peyton and Sarah are wearing Organic Cotton / Lycra Grace Ruffled Mini Skirts and Hemp / Lycra Grace Hemp Cardigans.
If you are interested in information about why you should buy organic cotton fabric rather than conventional cotton, click here.
Please join us for our next edition: Choosing Your Yoga Top.
