This is not a review, but it is an over observation around the possibility of local businesses in the textile industry investing in breathable material for athletes playing gear. This blog is inspired by the differences I noticed in the Proteas vs. Windies players kits. Often, our team, in comparison to their West Indies counterparts for this test tour, looked drenched with their Whites clinging to them over the duration of the tour, the observation drew me to noticing how quickly the West Indies Macron kit performed vs how our Local Lotto kit performed in this tour.
First of all, congratulations to the Proteas men for their win against the West Indies. While watching the Test series between West Indies and South Africa, I couldn’t help but notice the South African team’s kit. Given the humidity and weather conditions, the Proteas’ kit seemed to cling to the players, which couldn’t have been comfortable. From my perspective on the TV screen, the kit didn’t appear light enough to dry quickly during a match, suggesting it might not be as breathable as one would hope.
Lotto, through Bearded Monkey, is the Proteas’ kit partner. Without delving into the textile manufacturing operations of Bearded Monkey, I believe they should invest in breathable technology for their Proteas kit. While browsing their website to learn more about the kit’s material and manufacturing details, the only information I could find was from what seemed like a press release: “The kit has been manufactured using Lotto Sport’s proprietary ‘Dry-tech’ innovation to ensure comfort for long days on the field in any sporting condition.”
This left me wondering what “Lotto Sport’s proprietary ‘Dry-tech’” really means, as it was the only link to the material description I could find. This also drives me to stress the idea of improving on this “Dry-Tech” technology for the foreseeable future and to improve in kit technology overall.
Breathable fabrics are specially designed textiles that allow for efficient air and moisture exchange between the wearer’s body and the surrounding environment. These fabrics are engineered to enhance comfort and performance during physical activities by promoting effective moisture-wicking, ventilation, and temperature regulation. Breathable fabrics are commonly used in sportswear, outdoor apparel, and everyday clothing to ensure comfort in various weather conditions and during physical activities.
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 49,000 patents to analyze innovation intensity in the sports industry, there are over 10 key innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
As someone who closely observes tech trends across all aspects of life, fabric technology is nothing new to me, as it ties into my interest in how technology integrates into everyday life. Breathable fabrics are a key innovation area in sports, significantly contributing to athletic performance.
GlobalData’s analysis also identifies the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, over 60 companies—ranging from technology vendors and established sports companies to emerging start-ups—are engaged in the development and application of breathable fabrics.
Breathable sports fabrics help athletes stay dry, cool, and comfortable, reducing the risk of overheating and discomfort during strenuous workouts or competitive sports. Local manufacturers like Lotto, through Bearded Monkey, need to consider the utility of breathable fabrics in sportswear, including jerseys, shorts, athletic socks, and sport-specific gear, to optimize athletes’ overall experience and performance.
Some examples of moisture-wicking technology include Nike’s Dri-FIT, adidas’ ClimaCool and AEROREADY, Under Armour’s HeatGear, New Balance’s AeroWick, and Puma’s AeroReady.
Personally, I have my favorite sportswear brands, but from my sports PR perspective, I have to applaud Nike as one of the leading patent filers in breathable fabrics. FALKE follows closely behind, with Under Armour coming in third. While there’s diversity in application, the leaders in this field aren’t necessarily the household brands we know. According to GlobalData’s research, Berkshire Hathaway leads the pack, with Koch Industries and Gymshark in second and third positions. In terms of geographic reach, FALKE holds the top position, followed by Berkshire Hathaway and Hanesbrands.
Bringing it back to local manufacturing, the South African textile industry has been struggling for as long as I’ve been writing about fashion in South Africa. My first introduction to the local textile industry was through House Of Monatic’s stronghold on manufacturing and their effective marketing. However, it quickly became apparent that many local manufacturing businesses were on the brink of collapse, largely due to the dominance of Asian manufacturing practices on the global stage. The role of our local government in the decline of the South African textile industry is perhaps my biggest concern, but that’s a topic for another day.
From a personal standpoint, I can not stress enough the importance of breathable wear technologies for athletes. It is also crucial, from a national perspective, to be deeply invested in fostering a winning culture in every possible way. This includes having stakeholders who understand their role in producing high-quality playing and performance kits for our sportsmen and women.
If there is a comment option on here, feel free to leave a comment about the kit improvement technology topic. It is such a wonderful rabbit hole of knowledge, and while this blog is surface level, it doesn’t do full justice to everything I’ve read and will continue to consume around this topic.
Research POV and brief data. Yes, im obsessive about knowing things before I write about them 😉 :
