Gymnastics leotards are primarily made from a blend of spandex, nylon and cotton-based fabrics.
Nylon Spandex
Spandex or Lycra (a brand name of Spandex) gives fabric its stretch and recovery properties.
Nylon Spandex is also commonly used in swimsuits.
Nylon spandex blend is generally very stretchy with a typical spandex content of 20%. Smooth and sleek, this fabric is available in non-shiny matte or shiny mystique.
Nylon spandex fabric tends to be popular with printed designs, and is very colorfast and durable.
Leotards made of nylon spandex are relatively inexpensive.
Cotton Spandex
Also known as Cotton Lycra, this fabric is prized for its natural breathability and softness.
Cotton Lycra fibers tend to shrink after washing, so purchasing one size larger than your regular size is always a good idea with this fabric.
Cotton Lycra fabric is ideal for leos with printed designs or sublimated leotards.
Stretch Velvet
Stretch Velvet is a very popular fabric for leotards, and is generally made from a blend of 90% polyester and 10% spandex.
While stretch velvet is not usually as stretchy as some other fabrics, many gymnasts feel the soft plush feel of the material more than compensates for the loss of stretch.
Velvet is also used in conjunction with other fabrics as the solid color bottom of split style leotards.
Velvet is available in both crushed and flat varieties.
Flat velvet has a more uniform look and feel, whereas crushed velvet has a more patterned look to it.
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