Sportswear

& Performance
Textiles
TENNIS APPAREL
Rachel McRae S3381396 Lecturer: Chris Watson

Rachel McRae S3381396

Sportswear & Performance Textiles Tennis Apparel

Table of Contents
TENNIS.

HISTORY
AIM AND STRUCTURE
TENNIS SKILLS

4
4
4

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

PARTICIPATION RATE

MARKET RESEARCH

PARTICIPANTS/TARGET MARKET.

MAJOR MARKET BRANDS.

ADIDAS
NIKE
BABOLAT
PRINCE
HEAD
WILSON

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8
8
9
9
9

KEY ATTRIBUTES AND LAYERS

10

COMFORT

11

SAFETY/PROTECTION

12

DOMINANT FIBRES

13

POLYESTER
SPANDEX/ELASTANE.
COTTON
RAYON

13
13
13
14

RESEARCH

14

FIBRE AND FABRIC TECHNOLOGY

COOLMAX
LYCRA
TENCEL
DRI-FIT
CW-X
DESIGNS AND INNOVATIONS
PINECONE EFFECT
COMPRESSION
HEART RATE MONITORS
MESH FOR BREATHABILITY
EMBELLISHMENTS AND COLOURS
KNITTING TECHNOLOGY AND WHOLE-GARMENTS
APPAREL ASSEMBLY AND LAYERS

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CONCLUSION

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REFERENCES:

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Tennis.
History

Tennis has been around for many, many centuries as its origins date back to the
Stone Age, when humans first used clubs to hit rocks back and forth over walls of
dirt and stone. From here it developed into the variant of handball, which was
played in Greece, Rome and other parts of the ancient world. However, it was the
French who first gave the game its name as well as its modern shape. The word
tennis originates form the French tenez, meaning, take it or play.

Aim and Structure

The aim of tennis is to force the opponent to make an error or to hit a winning
shot so the opponent cannot return the ball, in order to win a point. Four points
are need to win a game, six games are needed to win a set and two or three sets
are needed to win a match depending on the structure of the tournament or
event being played.
The structure of the game begins like this;
A coin or racquet is tossed and the winner of the toss has the right to
choose whether they would like to serve or receive. The other player can
then choose which side of the net they wish to begin on.
The server delivers the ball from behind the baseline and is given two
tries for each service. The aim is to get the ball into the service box.
The receiver then returns the ball and the point is played until one player
makes an error or hits a winning shot.
After each game the receiver then becomes the server and visa versa.
Tennis matches are usually two sets out of three for women, or three sets
out of five for men.

Tennis skills

The two most important skills needed to be successful in tennis are physical and
mental skills. Firstly physical skills are important to have in order to become
successful in tennis. Flexibility, balance, aerobic health and strength are required
to have optimum performance on a tennis court. The next important skills are
mental skills. No matter how fit and strong a player is compared to their
opponent, if the player breaks down during important matches or when things
get close they will lose. Mental weakness can affect players in many ways
including the apparel they may be wearing. If their apparel is too tight, loose,
clingy or hot the players mind will automatically wander to the problem at hand
and distract them from what is really important, the game. Mental tennis skills
will give a player that important edge, even over opponents with superior tennis
skills, and is crucial to the success of a players game.

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Sportswear & Performance Textiles Tennis Apparel

Demographic profile

Participation rate
In 2010, tennis was listed 7th in the Top Ten Activities in Australia, with 1.2
million people participating.
Between 2001 and 2010 participation levels in tennis declined by 24%. Between
2003 and 2007, participation steadily declined but then increased during 2008.
However, they once again declined slightly and now tennis has its second lowest
participation rate since 2001.

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It is interesting to note that more people participated in tennis as a non-
organised sport (736,000) than they did as an organised sport (419,000) based
on participation results from 2010.
In 2005, tennis was one of the most popular international participation sports
with an estimated 83 million global participants (Sport Marketing Surveys
2005). However, there has been a steady decrease of players over the years,
especially in frequent players (people who play 21 or more times a year).
Generating new players for tennis is hard since in America over 70 million
people have tried tennis and approximately 97% have no interest in trying it
again (TIA, 2003). This decrease in numbers is due to the increased competition
from other leisure activities.

Tennis attracts a wide range of audiences and encourages young talent from all
over the world. This was clearly evident in 2011 when the top 10 players on the
womens tour where representing 10 different countries and this showed how
truly global tennis has become (WTA Chair and CEO Stacey Allistar).

The Americans were the dominant power in tennis at the start of the 1980s, and
at a very distant second was Australia. At this time the US had 59 women players
in the top 100 and a further 42 men in the top 100.

In 1990, America still remained in their excellence but there was a real growth
across Western Europe, including France, Spain and Germany. And for the first
time the Soviet Union was staring to develop tennis players.

In 2000, France and Spain were both producing impressive talent, along with
America. Russia was continuing to rise up in the tennis rankings and China,
Thailand and South Korea were being represented in the game for the first time

By the end of 2010 Russia and Spain were dominating in the tennis, with USA
coming in at a distant third. France, Germany and Italy were still producing
players, as were smaller nations such as the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Serbia
and Belgium. At this time 37 countries were represented in the womens top 100
and 37 countries in the mens ranking. This was more than ever before.

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Sportswear & Performance Textiles Tennis Apparel

Market research

During the period from 2002 to 2007 the percentage of purchases made at
pro/specialty stores have declined slightly whereas the purchases made over the
Internet have increased dramatically. Especially in shoe and racquet purchases.
The largest decline for store brought purchases is apparel with a decrease of
19% by the end of late season 2007. However it was also one the largest inclines
in Internet purchases with an increase of 19%.

The following data is taken from the TIA (Tennis Industry Association) tennis
consumer study that interviews over 2000 tennis players each year.

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Participants/Target market.

From the results of the participation records in 2011, we can see that the
majority of participants play tennis as a leisure/non- organised activity.
However, for this research I will be targeting the other end of the scale, the
competitive, dream-catching, professional participants. These consumers will
want the latest advancements in technology to help them reach their optimum
performance. The ages of these customers will range from 17 to 28 years old as
most tennis players retire by 30 y/o.

Major Market Brands.

Adidas
Adidas is a German based high quality sports apparel brand. They produce
unique tennis apparel, which is worn by many professionals on the circuit.
Adidas also have a specialty range of designer brand Stella McCartney apparel,
which are designed uniquely for women who play tennis. I believe Adidas have
achieved their market share with their ability to research deeply into new
innovative ideas and technologies to help improve their products all the time and
ultimately satisfy the customer. They are able to keep up with the fast-paced
changing trends that are happening around the world and always stay one step
ahead, similar to Nike. They also support sustainability, which is a growing
market in this decade.

Nike
Nike is high quality and well known sports apparel brand. They produce unique
tennis apparel, which is worn by most professional tennis players. Nike is a large
competitor with Adidas and is one of the leaders in technological advancements
in sportswear. Nike have achieved their market in a similar way to Adidas and
customers trust and love the brand all over the world. They also put a lot of
effort into researching revolutionary ways to improve an athletes performance,
such as the Nike FlyKnit shoes, which are designed to feel like a runner is bare
foot whilst running. Nike also supports sustainability, which attracts a large
percentage of the market.

Babolat
Babolat was founded in France in 1875. Babolat invented racquet strings and
they are the oldest company that specialise in racquet sports. They are easily
recognised by their double line logo which is located at the base of the racquet.
I believe Babolat have achieved their market share as they are a high quality,
trusted brand which customers feel satisfied with and their products are
guaranteed to last their lifetime. Consumers are also attracted to Babolat
equipment as it is used by many professionals on the tennis circuit such as Rafael
Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clisters and Jo- Wilfried Tsonga.

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Prince
Prince originated from producing tennis ball machines. They are now an
industry leader in the innovation and manufacturing of racquets and sports
products. They have revolutionized the game of tennis with their racquet
technologies such as Oversize Longbody O3 and Speedport. Prince is a
high quality and well respected tennis brand. I believe they have achieved their
share in the market by constantly producing high quality products that
consumers are satisfied with and since they have been around for so long the
brand name is now established and well known as a brand that produces quality
products. Prince were also the first to design racquets using carbon fibre which
is now used in most racquets globally.

Head
Head is a global manufacturer of tennis equipment including rackets, grips,
strings, balls, bags, accessories and footwear. They are well known for their tour
quality racquet lines including Prestige, Speed, Radical and Extreme. I believe
they have achieved their share in the market as they are one the brands that are
more advanced in their technological developments, such as the use of new
materials in their racquets to make them lighter. Head also get involved outside
of the tennis industry by supporting causes such as RED which is a campaign to
help fight AIDS. This type of marketing helps the brand achieve their market
share. Not to mention Head racquets are used by many professionals on the tour
such as Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova, Tomas Berdych and
Sloane Stephens.

Wilson

Wilson is considered a world leader in the development and manufacture of

tennis equipment. They have been in the industry for almost a century and are a
true American icon in the sport. Wilson distributes to over 100 countries in the
world and is the official ball brand of the US OPEN tennis tournament. I believe
they have achieved their share in the market as they are an established brand
name that has been around for a long time, producing products to a high
standard. Consumers trust the Wilson brand and their image is emphasised
when consumers see Wilson products being used by Roger Federer, The William
Sisters, Juan Martin Del Potro and Milos Raonic.

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Sportswear & Performance Textiles Tennis Apparel

Key attributes and Layers

Tennis consists of many actions and movements that influence the attribute
required for a successful apparel assembly. Players of the games are always
moving whether its doing short sharp sprints across the court or simply the ease
of movement in their limbs while laying a shot. Either way, the elements needed
for their apparel is very important. Durability is an important characteristic as
garment needs to be strong enough to endure falls throughout a match and
continue to perform at its highest standard. Flexibility is also and important
criterion as tennis involves the use of the whole body and to have optimum
performance the players needs to be able to move freely without out any
restrictions. This includes the movement of the torso, shoulders and arms when
hitting groundstrokes, the movement of the whole body when serving and the
movement of the whole body when accomplishing short, sharp sprints around
the court. Flexibility also means that the garment should have excellent stretch
and recovery properties which is important when there is so much movement in
the sport. Tennis apparel needs to have limited drag in order to enhance a
players performance as this increases their speed around the court and allows
them to cover more of the court in less time. Breathability plays an important
role in tennis apparel as players are constantly moving and sweating. Without
any breathability or wicking properties in the apparel the players become very
uncomfortable during the game, decreasing their performance levels and usually
putting the player at risk of heat stress. Comfort is an important attribute in all
sports as the competitor needs to feel comfortable in their apparel in order to
perform their best.

The layers that are being used in tennis apparel for
women include a dress, under layer of shorts and a
warm up jacket. The requirements for the dress is
that is it to be aesthetically pleasing, while also
giving the player ease of movement. It needs to be
durable and must have wicking properties and the
ability to breathe. Once again, it is important that
the dress is flexible and has the ability to stretch and
recover, creating freedom of movement for the
player. Comfort is also very significant.

The under layer of shorts is a vital layer which
allows the player to hold an extra ball while serving.
This means that they need to be practically tight in
order for the ball to sty firm in the shorts. Dress and short layers of a tennis
Compression technology can also be included in dress.

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these shorts to increase blood flow and allow the player to achieve maximum
performance. In a similar aspect to the dress, these shorts also need to be
comfortable, durable and flexible, as well as being tight enough so that the hems
do not bind up. Most importantly, the under layer of shorts need to flexible
enough to allow ease of movement while also having excellent stretch and
recovery properties.

The outer layer of this ensemble is a warm up/cool down jacket, which is to be
worn only while the player is warming up for the match not during the match.
This jacket will need to be lightweight so that it feels like the player is barely
wearing it. It is essential that the jacket has thermal regulation properties so that
the players body temperature is controlled resulting in comfort and optimum
performance. After a match when the player is all sweaty, putting on this jacket
will help the player cool down safely without the risk of hypothermia or just
getting cold to quickly. This jacket will also need to be comfortable and
aesthetically appealing.

Comfort

Comfort is an important factor in sportswear as it impacts performance, well-
being and efficiency. In relation to performance sportswear I believe comfort is a
mental state where a person has physical ease and freedom from pain or
constraint. Comfort is important in tennis because if I player does not feel
comfortable their confidence levels will drop and ultimately their performance
levels will also decrease. A player who is uncomfortable will most likely lose a
match because their mind is not completely focused on the game. An unfocused
player equals a guaranteed loss of the match.

The four major aspects of comfort are:

Thermophysiological/ thermoregulatory this refers to, the optimum
body temperature of the player in order to produce their best
performance. Insensible and sensible perspiration, heat and moisture
transport through the assembly are also vital. Key notions: thermal
insulation, breathability and moisture management. This aspect is
significant in improving a players performance in tennis as it ensures
comfort and optimum body temperature for high performance results.

Sensorial this refers to, provoking a reaction of various neural
sensations when the skin and clothing are in contact, mechanical
sensations when textile has direct contact with skin. Sensations include

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softness; scratchy; stiffness; cling to wetted skin surface. This aspect

contributes to the players comfort and how the fabric of the garment
reacts with the skin. It is important that the tennis apparel feels soft
against the skin and doesnt cling to the body when it sweats.

Ergonomic this refers fit and how the clothing tailors to the body. It
also includes freedom of movement and negative ease positive ease. This
is significant in improving a players performance in tennis as the
garments need to fit perfectly without them being too tight and clingy nor
too baggy. It also needs to fit in a way that allows freedom of movement
for the whole body.

Psychological this refers to fashion, design; colour and personal

preferences. The players overall perception. It is important for a tennis
garment to be aesthetically pleasing as tennis is surprisingly recognised
for its fashion and apparel. The players also need to look good to boost
their confidence while at the same time please the crowd and media and
stand out.

Safety/Protection


The key safety and protection issues in tennis include the potential to fall over
whilst playing. When a player is running at fast speeds and constantly changing
direction it is easy to fall over or even slip or lose balance. This is why it is
important that the apparel used is durable and has excellent abrasion resistance
so it can continue to perform as soon as the player gets back up. Because tennis
is a Summer sport a common safety issues is heat stress/heat stroke. This occurs
when the players body temperature rises and is unable to cool itself down. This
is why it is important for tennis apparel to be breathable and have excellent
wicking properties so that the body temperature can be regulated. However, the
most common safety and protection issues are knee, back and shoulder injuries.
These injuries can lead to the player having to stop competing for months, years
and sometimes forever. Unfortunately sometimes there is no way of preventing
injuries.

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Dominant Fibres

Polyester

Currently in the tennis apparel industry one of the most dominant fibres is
polyester. Polyester is durable, flexible and holds its shape so it is able to
withstand the rapid movements of a player on the tennis court. It also doesnt
wrinkle which is a major benefit when players want to change during a match,
they can just grab another item of clothing from their bag and put it on without
any need for ironing. Polyester is anti- bacterial and has some wicking properties
which is helpful for the transportation of sweat. The evaporation of sweat is a
key criterion needed for tennis apparel. Good stretch and lightweight are some
more properties of polyester, and these enable limited drag and perfect fitting in
tennis apparel. I believe polyester is an important fibre to have for performance
in tennis as it contains many of the properties needed in tennis apparel such as
wicking, durability and flexibility.

Spandex/Elastane.

Spandex/Elastane are great for compression so they would be an important
addition to the tight shorts that are layered under a tennis dress. They are also
very durable and tear resistant which is again important to withstand the rapid
movements and falls of the players. Spandex/Elastane have excellent flexibility,
stretch and recovery which is important to help the player move freely whilst
moving around the court as well as performing shots.

Cotton

Cotton is used in some tennis apparel because of its soft and comfortable
properties. This is important in tennis as it is important to feel as comfortable as
possible during a match in order for the player to play at their best level. Cotton
is also very absorbent so in tennis apparel it contributes to the absorption of
sweat, which again leaves the player feeling comfortable. As well as its excellent
moisture control, cotton is durable and protects against heat. This is important in
tennis as it is a summer sport and most matches are played in hot conditions

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Rayon

Rayon is another common fibre used in tennis apparel as it is moisture
absorbent (more so than cotton), breathable and very comfortable to wear. A
breathable fabric is important in tennis apparel as it keeps the player cool
whilst playing and leaves them feeling comfortable and able to perform. Rayon
can also be dyed in vivid colours which is important when designing tennis
apparel as aesthetics are very important in the industry. An important property
of rayon is that it does not build up static electricity, which means the fabric will
not cling to the body of the player. A garment that clings to a body restricts
movement.

Research
Fibre and Fabric Technology
COOLMAX
COOLMAX is a popular fabric used by Adidas in their sportswear. It is a
performance fabric which has excellent moisture management properties. This
moisture management system transports perspiration away from the body
through the fabric where it can evaporate leaving the wearer feeling cool, dry
and comfortable. COOLMAX fabrics are made from specially engineered
polyester fibres.
The properties that make COOLMAX perfect for tennis apparel are:
Breathability
Soft
Lightweight
Easy-care
Durable
As a tennis player is constantly moving and perspiring, these properties combine
to make a suitable fabric because it allows ease of movement, comfort and
moisture transport.
COOLMAX has the ability to regulate the bodys temperature which is a key
factor to keeping the player comfortable and performing at their best. Heat
stroke and heat stress is common in tennis as it is a summer sport, so the
thermal regulation properties of COOLMAX assist in reducing the effect of heat.
Its durability can also protect the players skin when they fall by reducing impact
and tearing.
Lycra
Lycra is commonly used in sportswear to improve the athletes performance. It
has excellent recover properties which is used for compression wear. Lycra is
used in tennis apparel for under garments such as shorts and tights that are to
worn under dresses or skirts. It is also blended with other fibres to improve
stretch and recovery properties in all tennis apparel from shirts to shorts to

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dresses. These stretch and recovery properties provide ergonomic comfort for
the athlete allowing a perfect fit. It can also be used for compression wear which
can help protect muscles from injury, specifically in the elbow area where a
tennis player is most likely to obtain a tennis elbow injury.

Tencel
Tencel is a cellulosic fibre which is made using which uses a closed loop
production process and is an alternative to Rayon. It is made with wood pulp
form sustainable tree farms. Tencel is environmentally friendly and has many
advantages including:
Sustainable completely biodegradable and is economical in its use of
energy and natural resources making it safe for the environment.
Colour rich- fibres have excellent dye affinity properties which means
bright and bold colours can be achieved
Moisture absorbent has natural breathability and also has 50% more
moisture absorbent than cotton.
Anti- bacterial- has natural anti- bacterial properties.
Handle naturally has a soft handle, which is lightweight, breathable and
comfortable. It also has excellent drape.
Durable it is resistant to wrinkling and can withstand a beating when
both wet and dry.
Tencel is not commonly used in tennis apparel but has excellent performance
properties that could enhance a players performance. Sustainability is a growing
trend in apparel so incorporating Tencel into tennis apparel will target this
growing market group. Tencel can also provide ultimate comfort for tennis
apparel as it is soft against the skin, antibacterial and excellent moisture
absorbency.

Dri-FIT
Dri -FIT fabrics are used by Nike in their tennis apparel. It is a high performance
fabric made from polyester and Spandex and has similar properties to
COOLMAX. The main function of Dri-FIT is to wick moisture away from the
athletes body leaving them dry and comfortable. It is lightweight, breathable and
durable and also has a four way stretch which is critical for ease of movement
in an athlete. Again this is perfect for tennis apparel as it allows freedom of
movement, moisture management and breathability.

CW-X
CW-X is a Japanese branded fabric that is used in tights and compression wear.
These tights are designed to enhance an athletes performance while also
assisting in the recovery of muscles after an intense workout. CW-X tights bring
hips, knees and ankles into proper alignment which reduces the pressure and
strains on the legs. They also provide suspension on the quadriceps and
hamstrings which reduces the workload when running and means muscles dont
need to work as hard and legs feel fresher. Studies have shown that wearing CW-
X tights results in 26% less energy expenditure than running in regular tights
and 36% less than running in shorts.

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Designs and innovations

Pinecone effect
Moisture management is vital in sportswear, practically in active sports such as
tennis. For many years designers have been imitating mechanisms from the
natural environment to improve and create innovative fabrics and garments. The
pinecone effect is an example of this. The concept goes like this; while
pinecones are growing on trees they remain closed but after they drop form the
trees they open up to release their seeds. The inside of the scale expands more
than the outside as the cone dries and this causes the scale to bend outwards.
This idea has now been incorporated into clothing by cutting tiny flaps on the
garment, so when the athlete gets hot and sweaty the flaps open automatically
and bend backwards to allow air to pass through. As the athlete cools down the
flaps close again. Nike have used this innovation in some of their tennis apparel
with Maria Sharapova wearing it at the US Open in 2006 and Roger Federer
wearing it later at Wimbledon. (pictured below)















Compression
Compression technologies are used in a lot of sportswear and worn by athletes
to prevent chaffing and rashes as well as post-exercise to increase muscle
recovery time and ease stiffness. The main purpose of compression wear is to
keep muscles warm and prevent muscle strain and fatigue. It also wicks moisture
away from the body to prevent rashes and chaffing. Compression wear is also
know to enhance the performance of an athlete as it increases blood flow and
reduces fatigue. This type of technology would be useful in tennis apparel
especially for the shorts that are needed under a tennis dress or skirt. The
compression in the athletes quads and hamstrings will reduce fatigue and allow
the athlete to perform better for longer. Compression could also be incorporated
into the elbows of a long sleeve warm up top. This would keep the elbows warm
and secure to prevent a tennis elbow injury. This injury extremely common in
tennis player and occurs when too much strain is put onto the muscles and
tendons in the elbow causing them to swell and eventually over time
microscopic tears can occur in the tissue. To help reduce tension and strain

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tennis players with this injury wear a tight strap and bandage to reduce
movement of the muscles.

Heart rate monitors
Heart rate monitors are now being used in sportswear in order to track the
athletes heart rate, breathing rate and other activities while competing. The
information and be sent straight to a tablet or smartphone for the results to be
analysed. It works by using silver yarn based sensors that are knitted or woven
into the structure of the garment across the chest and the expansion and
compression of the athletes chest is measured as well as electrical measures
associated with their heart rate. This information could be useful in tennis as it
would let the player know what aspects of their game fatigues them the most,
what kind of activity helps them win or what levels of performance they play
their best/worst at? This information could then be analysed after a match and
worked on in practice. Adidas have made a sports bra that has a heart rate
monitor built into the support strap under the breasts. This is a subtle and
comfortable way to include the monitor and would be suitable for the sports bra
needed in a tennis dress.

Figure 2: Adidas miCoach Seamless

Sports Bra with built in heart monitor

Mesh for breathability
A lot of tennis apparel have sections in the garments where a mesh is used. This
is added for aesthetic appearance but also to increase the breathable
properties of the garment. The mesh is usually made for 100% polyester and is
placed in areas where the players perspire the most such as underarms, back,
under breasts and obliques.

Embellishments and colours
Embellishments are common on tennis dresses to improve their aesthetics.
However, these embellishments need to be kept to a minimum so that they do
not become uncomfortable or distract the player. Embellishments could include
small beads or diamantes, tubing of patterns, mesh, cut outs and frills.
Colours change from season to season but the trend in the last couple of years
involves bright and bold colours that make the player stand out. Bright blues,
pinks, purples, yellows and reds are some of the colours being used as well as
contrasting shades of grey.

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Knitting technology and Whole-garments

Knitted, seamless, whole-garments are now being used commonly in sportswear.
This technology means that the garment is one piece of clothing with no seams,
resulting in less irritation for the athlete. Nike is a leading brand in this type of
technology with seamless apparel as well as seamless shoes. (Nike Flyknits)
Seamless knitted technology would be a big addition to tennis apparel since the
material is so close to the skin, no seams would reduce any irritation against the
athletes skin. And ultimately improve comfort and fit.

Apparel assembly and layers

In relation to tennis dresses, the ensemble usually consists of two layers with a
third layer as a jumper or a warm up top. The first layer being a sports bra and
tight shorts, which remain close to the skin, and the second layer is the dress. It
is important that the correct materials are chosen for all the layers so that they
work well together and produce optimum performance.

Conclusion

I have found that the best materials to use for this apparel assembly are Tencel,
Lycra and CW-X (which is a blend of COOLMAX and Lycra). A blend of Tencel and
Lycra will be used for the bra, dress and warm up top. Different layers will use
different percentages of Tencel and Lycra, for example, the bra will have a higher
percentage of Lycra than the dress as it needs less drape and more support and
fit. The warm up top will have a high percentage of Lycra at the elbows to allow
for protection form tennis elbow. I chose Tencel as my main fabric because it
has excellent moisture absorbent properties and when combined with Lycra it
will enable wicking. Tencel is also very comfortable, durable, anti-bacterial and
has the ability to be dyed in bold colours, which is needed for my apparel. CW-X
will be used to produce the shorts layer. I chose this material because it is
moisture wicking and the compression reduces strain on an athletes legs
helping them achieve their best performance. In relation to designs and
innovations, I would include the pinecone effect in my design. This would involve
putting flaps in a creative matter to help regulate the players body temperature,
preventing them from overheating. I would like to incorporate smart textiles into
my garment in some way so I have chosen to place a subtle heart rate monitor
into the sports bra. This enables the player to track their heart rate, breathing
and other activity. All garments will be knitted with an extremely fine gauge. The
dress, shorts and warm up top will also be knitted seamlessly to reduce irritation
and discomfort of the garment.
In conclusion, the apparel assembly I will design will improve the comfort,
design, technology and performance of the current tennis apparel.

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