Sports shirts & activewear

Worn dry yes, in a sweaty state no. Cottonⁱ soaks up 7 times its own weight, becomes heavy, cools you down and takes several hours to dry. Polyesterⁱ does not absorb moisture into the fibre but transports it to the outside where it evaporates. Anyone playing a volleyball tournament at 30 degrees or completing a 10 km run notices the difference from the first half onwards.

Wicking is the capillary effect: capillary forces pull liquid through fine channels. In sports polyesterⁱ these channels are created by multi-edge fibre profiles or hydrophilic coatings. Sweat is absorbed on the skin side, transported along the fibres to the outside and distributed there over a wide area so that it evaporates quickly. Just Cool Neoteric™, Stedman® ACTIVE-DRY® and Tee Jays CoolDry are branded variants of the same principle.

Sublimation printingⁱ works exclusively on polyesterⁱ fibres. The dye becomes gaseous at around 200 degrees and penetrates directly into the fibre instead of lying on the surface. Result: the print is part of the fabric, cannot chip, cannot flake, cannot be felt and barely fades even after hundreds of washes. For club jerseys with back number, sponsor logo and club crest, sublimation on poly sports shirts is the standard route.

Two routes: sublimation directly into the fabric (the jerseyⁱ has to be white or light because sublimation can only print darker) or flex film in heat transferⁱ - the number is cut from film and ironed on, and also works on coloured shirts. For clubs with jersey sets over 15 players, sublimation is worthwhile; for small teams or late reorders, flex is more flexible.

Three rules: don't wash above 40 degrees, no fabric softener, don't tumble dry. Fabric softener is the worst enemy — it lays a waxy layer around the fibre that blocks wicking. After two or three washes with fabric softener the function is gone, the shirt may feel softer but sweat is no longer transported. For clubhouse washing machines, hang up a notice with the three rules.

Regular athletic (Just Cool JC001, Stedman® S8600). Regular sits straight on the upper body and leaves enough room so that stockier players are not constricted and slimmer players don't feel like they are in a tent. Slim Performance (TriDri® TR011) is only recommended for clubs specialised in competitive sport — triathlon groups, running clubs, fitness communities.

Anywhere the upper body is moved at extreme angles: handball (throwing arm overhead), CrossFit (overhead press, muscle-up), yoga and Pilates, HIIT classes, climbing. Elastaneⁱ content of 5–12% ensures the shirt follows the movement instead of pulling tight. Pure polyesterⁱ shirts are sufficient for running, cycling, volleyball and most team sports.

Yes, and much sooner than reflective shoes or wristbands. The upper body is the area drivers pick up on first. Tee Jays TJ7020N has large-area reflective prints on front and back that light up under headlights at 100–150 metres. For corporate running teams at the New Year's Eve race or clubs with winter training on lit paths, a real safety gain — not just looks.