Sportswear

Sportswear (or Active attire) is clothing, including footwear, worn for sport or exercise.

Typical garments include shorts, tracksuits, T-shirts, polo shirts and trainers. Specialised garments include wet suits and salopettes. It also includes some underwear, such as the jockstrap. Sportswear is also often worn as casual fashion clothing.

Functional considerations

the jockstrap, named after the jock (athlete), is designed for easy movement

Functional considerations predominate in the choice or even specific design of sportswear for use in many or specific disciplines.

General considerations

• Clothing worn for some forms of exercise should not create drag or be too bulky (cf. bicycle racers)
• Clothing worn for other forms of exercise should not unduly restrict movement (cf. Karate)
• various physically dangerous sports require protective gear, e.g. for fencing
• Often it is important that it should be easy to launder.
• Standardized sportswear may also have the function of a uniform, especially in team sports and other competitions where the opposing sides must be identifiable, while individuals can be made recognazible by a back number on it

Specific considerations

• In hot weather garments should allow the wearer to stay cool
• In cold weather garments should help to stay warm. In cold climates sportswear should not only provide warmth but also transfer sweat away from the skin. For activities such as skiing and mountain climbing this is achieved by using layered clothing: moisture transferring materials next to the skin, an insulating layer, together with wind and water resistant shell garments.