When it comes to clothing, and active apparel, in particular, you get exactly what you pay for as quality costs extra. Some people won’t mind this. As a rule, they wear “fast fashion”, choosing cheap clothing featuring the latest trends. Still, others want to rock a more durable and quality design. Here are some benefits of investing in quality active apparel.
Understanding Fast Fashion
These types of garments only last a few washes, but that’s because they aren’t intended to last any longer. Fast fashion clothing manufacturers predict this style of clothing will fall out of favor or the wearer will simply desire something new and different by the time each piece wears out. Quantity is limited, and so is quality. That said, wearing fast fashion only works for some people, as others prefer more higher-quality clothing.
Material Properties
Today, many consumers demand better fabrics in the clothes they wear. They don’t want fast fashion; they want quality materials that perform as well as they look. “If you think about what your skin is doing and then think of fabric, it will be able to do the same,” says Sabine Seymour, founder of Supa.
“You tan, you sweat, your pores open up, your skin changes depending on the humidity … So imagine your hairs standing up and that changing the shape of the garment, or tanning and your apparel changing color. If you perspire, what if a garment responds to that?” Indeed, some of today’s more modern materials are stretchy and compression-based, as well as offer moisture-wicking and cooling capabilities.
Garment Construction
Then there are garments that are treated in such a way to magnify and enhance the performance fabrics used in their construction. They are laminated or coated to become waterproof or windproof without losing their breathability. Seams are sealed and finishes are added to improve aerodynamics as well as thermal capabilities. In some cases, these smart fabrics can do more than make you more comfortable no matter the weather conditions that day; they can even adapt to changes in humidity.
Choosing the Right Company
Every apparel company is different in how they treat fabrics and construct garments. Some have a reputation for quality that makes the price tag guarantee that the brand will deliver the performance capabilities it set out to promise.
Columbia meets that mark. The company goes above and beyond in creating clothing and apparel for consumers to always ensure people stay happy, healthy and safe while adventuring. The company makes insulating garments as well as ones capable of reflecting heat back to the wearer.
Columbia also makes garments that offer waterproof protection and moisture-wicking. The brand features cooling technologies, so you get a burst of next-to-skin cooling that helps you feel more comfortable while you move, whatever your activity. Finally, Columbia garments are also rain and stain repellent, so you can always look your best no matter what you’re doing.
Designed to Withstand the Toughest Conditions
Buying garments made with performance materials and treated for additional protections will cost more than fast fashion, but that’s because those clothing items do more than feed your fashion fix. They are designed to perform under the toughest conditions and last for years, not weeks. When you need a garment to keep you warm, protect you from rain, or shield you from the wind, you’ll find the best value by choosing a company that takes your adventuring needs seriously.