How to use this library
Every figure on this page is a typical reference range. The actual composition, weight, finish and test results for your program are confirmed on the fabric sheet the partner mill issues before sampling. Use the ranges to narrow a shortlist, then request sheets and swatches for the two or three fabrics that fit your product.
All fabric families at a glance
| Fabric family | Typical composition | Typical weight | Best uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nylon / spandex interlock | 75-80% nylon, 20-25% spandex | 230-280 GSM | Performance and squat-tested leggings, bras, sets |
| Brushed nylon / spandex | About 76-78% nylon, 22-24% spandex | 220-280 GSM | Soft-touch leggings, slow flow, everyday wear |
| Polyester / spandex | Polyester majority plus spandex | 230-280 GSM | Printed styles, gym crossover, value lines |
| Winter-weight brushed | Nylon or polyester plus spandex | 260-320 GSM | Cold studios, outdoor practice |
| Seamless knit | Set by yarn and knit program | Confirmed per program | Ribbed sets, seamless leggings and bras |
| Organic cotton / spandex | Confirmed per fabric sheet | Confirmed per fabric sheet | Restorative, meditation, loose tops |
| Modal and bamboo-derived viscose | Confirmed per fabric sheet | Confirmed per fabric sheet | Soft tees, loose pants, sleep-to-studio |
| Linen | Confirmed per fabric sheet | Confirmed per fabric sheet | Loose meditation wear, cover-ups |
Nylon / spandex interlock
This is the standard yoga wear fabric for performance leggings. A typical blend is 75-80% nylon and 20-25% spandex at 230-280 GSM, which is where most premium leggings sit. Interlock is a double knit with the same face on both sides, so it is stable, does not curl at cut edges and is opaque for its weight.
Opacity depends on color as much as weight. Dark colors may pass a deep squat at 230-240 GSM; white and pastels often need 280-300 GSM. Approve opacity on the lightest color in your range. See the GSM guide.
Brushed nylon / spandex
Brushing, also called peaching, raises fibers on the face to create the soft, buttery hand many studio customers ask for. Example sheets show blends such as 76/24 at 230 GSM and 78/22 at 250 GSM; the family typically sits at 220-280 GSM. Brushing can add 5-15 GSM, so ask for both base and finished weight when comparing options, and test pilling on the finished fabric. See brushed vs unbrushed fabric.
Polyester / spandex
Polyester and spandex blends at 230-280 GSM are common for gym and fitness leggings. They cost less than nylon, hold color well and are the usual base for sublimation printing. The hand is slightly crisper and less soft than nylon. For printed lines, check opacity on the lightest printed ground. Compare in nylon vs polyester.
Winter-weight brushed
For cold studios and outdoor practice, brushed nylon or polyester with spandex at 260-320 GSM adds warmth. The trade-off is less breathability in heated rooms, so it suits a seasonal capsule rather than a core style.
Spandex share: stretch and hold
Spandex share shapes the feel of every fabric family above. Around 15% spandex reads as comfortable stretch; 25% and above feels highly compressive. A heavy fabric with only 8-10% spandex looks substantial on paper but feels stiff in a forward fold. See spandex percentage.
Seamless knit
Seamless garments are knitted directly on circular machines from dyed yarn, so there is no fabric roll and no fabric sheet in the usual sense. The equivalent is a yarn and knit specification: yarn types, rib or compression zones and finished dimensions. Feel and opacity are approved on the sample. See seamless yoga wear.
Natural and cellulosic fibers
Organic cotton / spandex
Organic cotton with a little spandex suits restorative classes, meditation and loose tops where breathability and a natural hand matter more than compression. Composition and weight are confirmed per fabric sheet. If you want to say "organic" on the label, the GOTS rules on organic content apply; see testing and compliance.
Modal and bamboo-derived viscose
Modal and bamboo-derived viscose give a soft, cool drape for tees and loose pants. Bamboo fiber in apparel is usually viscose, and US guidance requires it to be labeled as rayon or viscose made from bamboo, not simply "bamboo".
Linen
Linen works for loose meditation wear and cover-ups. It has little stretch and creases easily, so it does not suit fitted pieces.
Tolerances and tests on the fabric sheet
A GSM tolerance of about plus or minus 5% of nominal is typical, measured to ISO 3801 or ASTM D3776. A complete sheet also lists colorfastness, pilling and stretch and recovery results where requested.
The sheet matters most at reorder time. A fabric that was approved by feel alone can drift between dye lots or between mills, and the second production run then feels different from the first. With weight, composition, finish and test results written down, the mill can match the original, and the incoming fabric check at the partner factory has something concrete to measure against. Keep the approved sheet with the sealed sample for every style that uses it.
How to request fabric sheets and swatches
- Shortlist - pick two or three families from the ledger based on practice, colors and price position.
- Tell us the job - opacity needs, compression level, softness, print or solid, lightest color.
- Request sheets - partner mills issue fabric sheets with composition, base and finished GSM, structure and finish.
- Request swatches - physical swatches let you check hand, stretch and opacity before sampling.
- Approve the sheet - the approved sheet becomes the reference for sampling, bulk and reorders.
Ready to shortlist? Send a brief with your styles and colors, or read the legging fabric guide first.