Clothing may seem like an easy choice—you open your closet, throw on your most trusted pair of climbing pants, and set off for the gym without a second thought.
But hear me out: more than Gorpcore, we buy technical clothing for its intentional design, including its fiber composition. Why not take full advantage of our daily fits, optimizing them for every (okay, maybe not every…) activity? For all the textile nerds in the room, and those just wanting to send hard boulders without worry of clothing failure, here’s a breakdown of our favorite brands’ favorite fibers—and why we should be paying attention to them.
Nylon
Often listed as synthetic polyamide, nylon is a favorite fiber for athletic brands. I’m sure you already know of nylon’s stretchy nature—you’ll find it in yoga pants, sports bras, and anything else that needs to lay close to the body. What might be a surprise is that nylon is equally known for its strength—so much so, that it replaced silk and became the primary material for stockings during World War II. Not that climbers need to know about stockings, but if 1940s ladies could trust nylon to stay together without rips, you can trust nylon to hold up while you pistol squat, flow, and grapple. It’s even used in most of Petzl’s harnesses—we’re still rocking our Samas and Selenas over here 
Aside from these positives of nylon, it’s important to note that the material is also a sneaky plastic. We know plastic is present in our daily lives, but who knew most fabrics were woven with it? To reduce environmental impact while still enjoying the stretchy stuff, invest in products that utilize recycled materials. On the sewn-in label, manufacturers will frequently list this material as recycled polyamide—meaning your new shirt could be produced from water bottles, old nylon clothing, or any other kind of plastic you can think of. La Sportiva’s Mantra Pant and Rab’s Alpine Down Jacket are two of my favorite pieces that use over 90% recycled materials. Look good and feel good, right?
PROS OF NYLON
Lightweight
Stretchy
Fade-resistant
Affordable price point
Recyclable
CONS OF NYLON
Not breathable
Plastic-based
Not biodegradable
Cotton
While polyester gripped the textile world for nearly twenty years – and cursed us with plasticky, low-quality thrifting – cotton has taken the lead as the most popular fabric in the marketplace. This change in command comes with good reason. Cotton is soft, breathable, and all natural. If the cotton is organic or Oeko Tex certified, you get bonus points for purchasing a pesticide free product.
Often woven with a bit of nylon or elastane to provide stretch, cotton is my go-to, all- around fabric choice. It’s one where I can pull it out of the closet and know it will perform everywhere from the group fitness studio to date night. I’m sure you’re concerned about how one fit can do it all—I’d direct you to Prana’s cotton products and all will be answered. They serve up some of my favorite elevated basics that breathe; you’ll feel confident wearing their Kanab pants and Everyday shirts from Ladies Who Lift to lunch at Rumsy’s. Definitely not speaking from experience here (I am, it was glorious).
PROS OF COTTON
Renewable resource
Superior texture
Breathable
Biodegradable
CONS OF COTTON
No stretch without blending with other fibers
Prone to shrinkage (tip: look for pre-shrunk tees!)
Requires a ton of water to produce
Both of these material choices have times and places—some overlap, while others are good for one instance over another (I’m looking at you, GORE-TEX.) The next time you open your closet, experiment by thinking a bit about the goals of your day. Are you jumping from task to task and need a fabric that can work across varied activities?
Heading into Yoga Lounge and needing something that can move with you from pose to pose? Hot summer day, baking on the volleyball court? Grab the clothing that speaks to your activity best and honor what your body feels good in.
Front members, if your Retail Credits are burning a hole in your pocket, use them on some fresh pieces from our Gear Shop. While clothing should not be the item that keeps you on track with your goals, it can certainly be a fresh way to start your day.
