Quick-drying fabrics

Intense sports training, physical and/or outdoor jobs in hot weather, trips to tropical countries… in these situations and many more, the body sweats and the sensation of wet fabric can be unpleasant throughout the day.
Fortunately, there are special fabrics that help wick away perspiration and dry quickly, for greater comfort and freshness on a daily basis.

Easy to care for and customise, these fabrics come in a variety of forms: some fibres are naturally breathable, while others have been tested or treated to ensure and enhance their moisture-wicking properties.

Whether you’re travelling, hiking, taking part in a wide range of sports and outdoor activities or working in a professional context, these materials are particularly useful. And with good reason! Clothes and accessories designed to dry quickly are extremely practical: they are generally compact and lightweight, so comfortable and easy to carry. Above all, they dry quickly on the skin or after washing and do not require ironing.

What is a quick-drying fabric? What are the technologies and distinctions that can be used to verify their effectiveness? How do you care for and customise these garments and accessories?

We’ll answer all these questions for you, offering style suggestions that are sure to convince your customers in the world of sports, workwear and many other fields.

Understanding quick-drying

The first thing you need to know is that all quick-drying fabrics contain at least one synthetic material. The fibres of these materials, their weave and the structure of the fabric promote good ventilation and wick away moisture.

What’s more, if you put a few drops of water on the outer surface of these fabrics, they will bead up and stay on the surface rather than being absorbed, as would be the case with a fabric made from 100% natural fibres (cotton, for example).

The main advantage of quick-drying garments and accessories is their ability to repel moisture towards the outside of the garment.

Let’s take the example of a sportsperson: clothing that is wet from perspiration after a few minutes of intense effort will affect their comfort and therefore their performance. But if they’re wearing a garment specially designed to repel the moisture generated by sweating, they’ll be able to stay dry and be more effective.

In short, materials that promote the evaporation of sweat and the circulation of air have undeniable advantages:

• they are lightweight and comfortable to wear
• they keep you dry during exercise
• they retain less odour from perspiration
• they dry within a few hours of washing
• they don’t crease and don’t need ironing

Naturally, more and more items are being designed in increasingly innovative breathable materials: t-shirts, polo shirts, shorts and sports accessories, as well as trousers, beanies, smocks, shirts and even high-visibility jackets!

Which fabrics are best for quick drying?

As mentioned in the introduction, there are several types:

Naturally hydrophobic fabrics

Polyester: its fibres repel water rather than absorbing it. This allows moisture, such as perspiration, to evaporate quickly from the fabric’s surface. The structure of the polyester fibres encourages air to circulate through the fabric. Heat and moisture escape more easily, speeding up the drying process. As an added bonus, polyester items resist wear and tear, as well as keeping their shape wash after wash.

Polyamide: its fibres offer the same hydrophobic properties as polyester. Nylon is lightweight, breathable, elastic and highly resistant. It is also known as “polyamide” and is found in swimwear, but also in some work trousers, down jackets, caps, etc.

Fibre mixes: of course, to create fabrics with ultra-high drying performance, you can mix different fibres.

For example, the famous microfibre towels made from polyamide and polyester. Ultra-lightweight and soft, they dry in no time at all and slip easily into a sports bag or travel backpack. Note that some garments are also made from microfibres. They are also recognisable by their particularly pleasant peach-skin feel.

We could also mention polycotton: this blend creates a soft, comfortable fabric, with polyester fibres that dry more quickly than a 100% cotton fabric.

Patented quick-drying fabrics

To improve the properties of these fabrics, the textile, engineering and chemical industries work together to develop high-performance technologies. Some of them are patented:

This innovative, thermo-regulating fabric is remarkable: its structure absorbs moisture and redirectsit outwards so that it can evaporate. Body temperature is maintained and the garment does not stick to the skin. TOPCOOL® fabric is therefore perfect for sports or outdoor work.

You’ll find TOPCOOL® fabric in this high-visibility t-shirt, for example.

Comfort and quick drying: the perfect combo for construction and logistics professionals who work outdoors and need to wash their workwear frequently.

COOLPLUS® fibres also offer exceptional moisture management performance . Perspiration is rapidly evacuated to the surface of the fabric, where it can evaporate. The wearer stays dry, cool and comfortable during sports activities or in hot weather. COOLPLUS® garments are renowned for their lightness, breathability and durability.

This is particularly true of this polo shirt, made from Interlock knit containing 50% COOLPLUS®polyester . Resistant and breathable, it’s the perfect ally for holiday club staff who are always on the move and want to look stylish in front of guests.

Just as breathable and lightweight, COOLMAX® fabrics are perfect for intense exertion.

This advanced technology targets areas of heat and humidity, ensuring optimal temperature and perspiration regulation through efficient air circulation.

This innovation is particularly useful for sports socks, which you want to be soft, light and comfortable. This Estex style wicks away perspiration to optimise performance during trail running sessions.

Fabrics tested for breathability

Finally, some products are subjected to tests to prove their above-average breathability. The reaction of the fibres to the moisture is monitored to confirm that it is pushed towards the outer part of the garment and that the drying time is reduced.

Choosing the right fabric for the right purpose

Now you know the advantages of quick-drying fabrics, as well as the various technologies, tests and certifications that guarantee their performance.

Here are a few references that might interest you and help you make your product selection:

For sports or outdoor events

For beginners or experienced sportsmen and women, but also for those who work outdoors at festivals for example, this 100% polyester crew neck t-shirt from the BIRDSEYE collection by PROACT® is an ideal choice.

Perspiration is wicked away and odours reduced, so you can stay dry and focused on your work or performance.

Bonus: it’s made from recycled polyester and available in 13 colourways.

For lighter, calmer journeys

Lightweight, easy care and the ability to dry in a few hours are essential characteristics for travel clothing.

The 100% polyester tank top fromPROACT’s BIRDSEYE collectionis ideal because it takes up very little space when folded and can be washed many times (by hand or machine). So you can be sure of always having a clean item of clothing to hand.

Staying presentable in front of customers

Quick drying can also mean looking professional! Polo shirts, smocks and shirts mean you can enjoy the benefits of these fabrics without neglecting your appearance. The proof is in this Henbury smock, which is perfect for the hospitality industry. Lightweight, breathable, floaty and non-iron, it even has time to dry between two shifts!

Making work more comfortable even at the height of summer

Those who work in physical, outdoor jobs have high expectations: comfort, the need for rapid rotation of their work clothes, but also resistance and ergonomics.

These U-Power trousers do just that: stretchy, breathable and waterproof, they wick perspiration away from the body, dry overnight and, of course, they’re tough and tear-resistant.

How do I customise and care for quick-dry fabrics?

Synthetic fibres offer a particularly smooth surface, ideal for customisation.

The choice of technique will of course depend on the material, colour and intended use, but also on the quantities to be marked and the budget available.

• Of course, screen printing and flocking work well for simple motifs or logos and help keep the budget down for large quantities.
• On white or very light polyester, opt for sublimation. It can withstand frequent washing and is ideal for marking sportswear, for example.
• Be careful if you want to use embroidery: the fabric needs to be thick enough (at least 180g/m2), which is not the case for ultra-light sports t-shirts, for example. Polycotton sweatshirts, on the other hand, can be embroidered with no trouble.

Finally, we come to the care and maintenance section: following the instructions to the letter is fundamental to preserving the properties of the fabrics, especially those that have undergone a patented treatment.

Of course, you’ll need to refer to the care label on all clothing and accessories, but here are a few useful tips:

• wash cold (by hand or machine at 30°)
• use a normal spin cycle
• avoid dry cleaning and tumble drying
• avoid fabric softeners, bleach and strong detergents

Now you’re ready to put together a selection of products for your customers who are looking for lightness, breathability and comfort.

Explore the different categories on our site (Clothing, Sports, Workwear, etc.) using the material, gender or colour filters.

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