Theme Story - Fashion Meets Athletics Innovative Functional Materials Leads New Era of Sportswear

Authors

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The 2024 Paris Olympics came to a close, and it has been dubbed "the most fashionable Olympics" ever with team kits of Mongolia, France and other countries creating quite a buzz online.The eye-catching element of sports attire comes into play for visually attractive events such as gymnastics and synchronised swimming, but fashion has to meet function in the designing of these uniforms, so as to enhance and not impede the athletes’ performances.
Take cycling as an example, a sport familiar to Hong Kong. The design of a competition uniform involves complex scientific calculations, emphasising functionality and safety. The materials used must be highly elastic, breathable and sweat absorbent to increase the athletes' comfort. Designers also apply fluid dynamics principles to create streamlined designs and minimise protrusions, reducing friction between the athlete and the outfit to improve aerodynamic efficiency. These outfits undergo rigorous testing prior to competitions to ensure they can protect athletes and enhance performance under diverse conditions.

First Page

24

Last Page

29

Recommended Citation

(2024) "Theme Story - Fashion Meets Athletics Innovative Functional Materials Leads New Era of Sportswear," SIGNED: The Magazine of The Hong Kong Design Institute: , 24-29.
Available at: https://repository.vtc.edu.hk/ive-de-signed/vol31/iss31/8