Typically exercise and Summer clothing is made from cotton/lycra blends, nylon or polyester. Unfortunately, although designed for these activities, the fabrics often trap heat and moisture inside the clothing making you sweat and overheat and they begin to smell quickly. These fibres are called hydrophobic fibres and typically only absorb about 4% of their own weight in water before feeling wet
Cotton, although lightweight and breathable, can only absorb around 7% of its weight before feeling wet. However, it has been recognised the cotton is better than polyester at keeping you stink free
Natural Fibre clothing made from merino wool or bamboo are brilliant for Summer and activewear because they are wicking fabrics (also known as hydrophilic fibres) As well as wicking sweat away from the body, these natural fibres are also highly breathable which means you're less likely to sweat in the first place
Wicking fabric works by drawing moisture away from the skin and releasing it to the atmosphere. This means that your clothing will be kept dry, odour resistant and lightweight. Named 'Wicking' after the way a candle draws wax up to the wick to the flame, this work by drawing moisture from the body, through to the outside of the fabric where it is evaporated
Merino Wool can absorb around 25-35% of its own weight before feeling wet and easily draws sweat away from the body, and bamboo can absorb 3x its own weight! New ranges combined from both merino wool and eucalyptus fibres are being labelled the best Summer clothing as they wick sweat away from the body 3x faster than merino, are lightweight and breathable
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