
What are the Ideal Fabrics for Girls’ Sport Shorts
Whether interested in basketball, volleyball, gymnastics or some other sports activity, your little girl deserves to have the right sportswear. And while the top can be made of different materials and either close-fitted or looser, the bottom part plays a more important role in how comfortable your girl will be. Once the weather gets warmer, long sports bottoms are no longer an option. Instead, you should choose girl sport shorts that offer good fit while giving her the needed flexibility and ease of movement. Besides this, the material also determines whether certain shorts are comfy or not. Thus, choosing fabrics that are comfortable and sport-appropriate is paramount.
Lycra
Lycra is a highly elastic and synthetic type of material which is usually combined with another fabric. The reason why manufacturers use this fabric is its ability to stretch. To be more precise, this fabric can stretch four to seven times its original length, but when released, it returns to its normal state and length without a problem. Another reason why so many manufacturers use it for sports clothing is its resistance to sweat and sunlight. The most common lycra blend for sports shorts is with nylon fabric.

Nylon
Although synthetic, this material for girl sport shorts is extremely soft, comfortable, mildew resistant and breathable. It has the ability to dry extremely fast while wicking away sweat from the skin to the fabric’s surface. Once at the surface, the sweat will evaporate quickly. In fact, this fabric can withstand even the sweatiest of the workouts which is the reason for its increased popularity. Just like the aforementioned material, this one also has a good level of stretchiness which is ideal for children (as they move a lot). Although there is a chance for you to find 100% nylon sport shorts for girls, blends with Lycra and spandex are the most common versions available on the market. These shorts can be both close fitted and looser.
Spandex
Spandex is another synthetic material the purpose of which is to add stretch in sports clothing in general. Since this material can expand to almost 600% its size, it can undoubtedly provide your little one with unrestricted range of motion. Except for being stretchy and comfortable, spandex is also a breathable type of material that dries quickly (it has moisture-wicking properties). You can opt for girl shorts that are either made of 100% spandex or ones that are a blend of spandex and nylon.

Polyester
Polyester is a synthetic plastic-like material which is durable, lightweight and non-absorbent. These properties make polyester appropriate for sports clothing. In fact, polyester is used in the world of fashion by some world-known brands mainly because of its comfiness and breathability. However, polyester has one huge drawback. This material can foster bacteria growth which can be the cause for the unpleasant odour. When compared to nylon and spandex, polyester doesn’t dry that fast which is another reason for the unpleasant smell.
Polypropylene
Just like polyester, polypropylene is also made of plastic. When compared to polyester, polypropylene is 100% water-resistant, leaving your skin dry. How come? Well, polypropylene forces moisture to pass through its surface where it evaporates in no time. However, spandex, nylon and lycra are still the best options for girls shorts.

Cotton
Without a doubt, cotton is one of the oldest types of fabrics which used literally for everything. This is because cotton is extremely soft, pleasant to wear and natural type of fabric that doesn’t allow for bacteria growth. This makes it odourless and a way better option than polyester and polypropylene fabrics. Additionally, cotton is hypo-allergenic which makes it ideal for kids with sensitive skin. However, except for its pure form, you can also invest in a cotton blend (cotton and spandex for instance) as that way the shorts will be more stretchy, allowing your kid to move with ease.
Bamboo
Although rare, bamboo is another natural fabric used for sports clothing. This fabric is lightweight, comfortable, softer than cotton, breathable and moisture-wicking. It repels odour and can regulate the body temperature, just like cotton. In order to create more durable and flexible workout clothes, manufacturers usually make a blend of bamboo, cotton, wool and spandex.
Bamboo and cotton are the two least used types of materials for activewear since they are not stretchy. In other words, it is almost impossible to find kids sport bottoms which are made only from these materials. Since kids love to move and stretch a lot, they will need shorts that are made of extremely stretchy and flexible material – one that will not restrict them to jump, run or stretch.
