Active Wear and Casual Wear Key Terms

Active wear and casual wear key terms to help you stock your shelves

Becoming increasingly popular in the workplace, casual wear and active wear encompass many things. While casual wear is great for the workplace, weekends and running errands, active wear is more geared toward athletic activities, such as hiking or a workout. Either way, you can’t go wrong by learning some basic active wear and casual wear key terms to better stock your shelves and make you a knowledgeable source of information for your customers.

 

Spandex

Many articles of clothing that are considered active wear and casual wear are made with spandex. Perhaps, the ultimate in comfort, spandex is a synthetic material that has the ability to stretch up to 500 percent of its original size without ripping, and it can be stretched repeatedly and continue to form its original shape. Spandex is also more durable than rubber and is a soft and smooth fabric.
Try: The Apparel Search Company defines spandex and explains how it is used in clothing. 

Denim

One of the first things that most people think of when they are told the dress code is casual, is denim or blue jeans. Denim is a long-wearing, snag- and tear-resistant material that is made with cotton-like fabric using a twill weave. Denim is popular in many offices for casual or dress-down days.
Try: Check out the entry for denin in the glossary of  Lotus Organics.

Cotton

Found in both active wear and casual wear, cotton may be the most popular fabric in the world. Cotton is used to make shirts, sweaters, pants, sportswear and more. Cotton comes from fields of cotton plants and is spun, weaved and dyed to make cotton fabric for clothes. Gaining popularity is organic cotton, which is grown organically and made into fabrics with no artificial chemicals or dyes.
Try: Explore how cotton is made and used in casual and active wear, along with the ways it can be made organically at Earth Easy.

T-Shirt

Next to denim, possibly the next that comes to mind when thinking about casual and active wear is the T-shirt. T-shirts are made of lightweight, cotton materials that make them roomy, flexible and the epitome of comfort. T-shirts were popularized in the '60s as people began to use T-shirts not just for comfort but for self-expression.
Try: The Top T-Shirts Countdown Chart gives a glimpse of T-shirts throughout American history and an explanation of why T-shirts are worn today.

Moisture wicking

For your active customers, be sure to stock active wear that is made from a moisture-wicking material. Moisture wicking is material that moves moisture away from your body through the fabric. This means if a person sweats when working out, the perspiration does not sit on the skin. Moisture wicking is also described as moisture control.
Try: Wickers offers an explanation of moisture wicking, along with many choices of active wear.

Mesh

Mesh is a specific type of moisture-wicking material that works to keep the body cool. Mesh, in clothing, is typically made up of very small breathable holes, or closed-hole mesh. Mesh is used in active wear and casual wear such as golf shirts and gym shorts.
Try: Visit Russell Brands to view its closed-hole mesh golf shirts.

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