Women's Activewear Guide: Fabric, Fit and Care

Leggings. A top. A jacket. Activewear looks simple from the outside.

But the real choices happen earlier. In the fibre blend. In the cut. In how it's cared for after.

This guide covers all three.

What activewear fabric is actually made of

Most performance activewear is built from two fibres.

A structural fibre, nylon or polyester, gives strength, shape and moisture-wicking. An elastic fibre, spandex or elastane, adds stretch and recovery.

Recovery means one thing: the fabric snaps back after movement.

Across VEVAwear, the ratio usually falls between 70 and 95% nylon or polyester, with 5 to 25% spandex or elastane. The exact mix depends on how much stretch a piece needs.

Leggings and sports bras need to hold their shape under motion, so they sit toward the higher-elastane end. Capri pants and skirts sit lower.

A few pieces break the pattern. Hoodies and jackets often use cotton blended with polyester instead. Less stretch, more softness at rest.

Check any product page for the exact composition. Every VEVAwear product lists its fabric breakdown and care instructions.

Want the deeper explanation? Read our fabric guide.

Choosing the right piece for what you're doing

Different activities need different things from fabric and cut.

• Leggings. Highest elastane in the range, built to move with you. See leggings.
• Tops and sports bras. Lighter ratios, more freedom of movement. See tops and sports bras.
• Shorts and skirts. Warm-weather pieces, similar blends to leggings, cropped. See shorts and skirts.
• Jackets and hoodies. Most likely to use cotton blends, built for comfort at rest. See jackets.
• Swimwear. Nylon or polyester with extra elastane, for shape retention in water. See swimwear.

For how pieces combine, see Feather, Confident and Active. Three core lines the rest of the range builds around.

Getting the size right

Activewear sits close to the body, so a wrong size shows more than in other clothing.

Too small, it restricts movement. Too big, it loses its support.

Every fitted VEVAwear product has its own size guide, built from real body measurements. Check it before ordering, especially for leggings and sports bras.

Caring for it so it lasts

Heat and harsh detergents wear out elastane and spandex fast. The care routine stays the same across the range.

• Wash cold, with similar colours.
• Skip fabric softener. It coats the fibres and cuts moisture-wicking and stretch over time.
• Air dry, not tumble dry. Heat is the biggest cause of leggings losing shape.
• Store folded, not hung. Hanging stretches waistbands over time.

Want the full explanation? Read our care guide.