Abstract

Thesportswear textile industry has not only seen in market diversification forfibrous materials but has also contributed towards the elevation of textilescience and technology to a level of approaching that of high tech industrialsectors. The performance requirements of many sports goods often demand widelydifferent properties from their constituent fibres and fabrics, such as barrierto rain, snow, cold, heat and strength. At the same time these textiles mustfulfill the consumer requirements of drape, comfort, fit and ease of movement.Among the contributing factors responsible for successful marketing offunctional sportswear has been made in the fibre and polymer sciences andproduction techniques for obtaining sophisticated fibre, yarns and fabrics. Thefinishing and laminating industries have done pioneering work in the area ofdeveloping these technologies towards the needs of sportswear and sportinggoods sectors resulting in unique products. This paper reviews various worksdone in development of waterproof, breathable and active sportswear textiles.The moisture transport properties and various factors affecting it are alsodiscussed for sportswear fabrics using different fibres. The various blended fibresand fabrics with different fabric structure and the functional finishes usedfor the development of waterproof, breathable and active sportswear textileshave been described along with their constitutional elements and specialcharacteristics.

Keywords:Waterproof, Breathable, Active Sportswear,Moisture Transport Properties, Fabric Structures, Functional Finishes.

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Authors are associatedwith Angel College of Engineering & Technology, Tirupur.