The Performance T is an apparel item that has changed the way we look at t-shirts. Going beyond being just a fashion statement, these performance t-shirts conform to your lifestyle. Whether you are an athlete or only exercise occasionally performance apparel has many great features that make the experience of working out more enjoyable. Here is a glossary of terms pertaining to performance apparel:
- Abrasion Resistance
- The degree by which a fabric is able to withstand loss of appearance through surface wear, rubbing, chafing, and other frictional actions.
- Absorbency
- The ability of a fabric to take in moisture. Absorbency effects many other characteristics such as skin comfort, static build-up, shrinkage, stain removal, water repellency, and wrinkle recovery.
- Anti-Bacterial (Anti-Microbial)
- A fabric that has been chemically treated or a fiber that is created by incorporating the anti-bacterial agent into the fiber formula, making the finished fabric resistant to the growth of micro-organisms.
- Anti-Static
- A fabric that does not allow the build-up of static electricity to occur when the fiber or fabric experiences friction or rubbing.
- Base Layer
- The apparel in contact with your skin. The purpose of the base layer is to keep you warm/cool and dry.
- BodyFreshè
- Fights the odor and stain causing bacterias. Keeps you clean and fresh at all times.
- Breathability
- The movement of water or water vapor from one side of the fabric to the other, caused by capillary action, wicking, chemical, or electrostatic action. Also known as moisture transport.
- Comfort Stretch
- The term given to the freedom of movement experienced in the wearing of a garment that contains spandex, or has stretch engineered into a yarn through mechanical stretch construction.
- Compression Fabric Stretch
- A high tenacity stretch fabric which, when in a close fitting garment, provides muscles with a firm compression fit that lessons vibrations, reduces fatigue, and keeps muscles energized. The fabric is usually made in a knit construction, using a series of gradient fibers with an open knit inner surface to create a moisture transfer environment.
- Durability
- The ability of a fabric to resist wear through continual use.
- Microfibers/Microdeniers
- Ultra-fine manufactured fibers weighing less than 1.0 denier. Fabrics made from these extra-fine fibers provide a superior hand, a gentle drape, and incredible softness. Comparatively, microfibers are two times finer than silk, three times finer than cotton, eight times finer than wool, and one hundred times finer than a human hair. Currently, the four types of microfibers being produced are: acrylic microfibers, nylon microfibers, polyester microfibers and rayon microfibers.
- Moisture Transport
- The movement of water or water vapor from one side of the fabric to the other, caused by capillary action, wicking, chemical, or electrostatic action.
- Performance Fabrics
- Fabrics made for a variety of end-use applications, which provide functional qualities, such as moisture management, UV protection, anti-microbial, thermo-regulation, and wind/water resistance.
- Smart Textiles
- Textiles that can sense and react to changes in the environment, such as changes from mechanical, thermal, chemical, magnetic and other sources.
- Thermoregulation
- The ability to maintain a constant temperature independent of changing environmental conditions.
- UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor)
- The UPF rating indicates how effective a fabric is at blocking out solar ultraviolet radiation from reaching the skin. UPF ratings range from 15 to 50 with higher ratings indicating more effective blocking and therefore better protection for the wearer of a garment.
- Wickability
- The ability of a fiber or fabric to disperse moisture and allow it to pass through to the surface of the fabric, so that evaporation can take place.
- Wrinkle Recovery
- Similar to resiliency. It is the ability of a fabric to bounce back after it has been twisted, wrinkled, or distorted in any way.
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