What gymnast wouldn't love to lose himself/herself in his/her performance and forget about anything else? Except for maybe the costume. Sometimes, a gymnast can become so preoccupied with the outfit that he/she might lose the focus in mid-routine. A slipped strap, hem riding up or fabric tightening around the shoulders none of this has to do with skill. And yet it does, since it depends on what the athlete is wearing.
There is a side of gymnastics that cameras do not capture often: the time spent preparing to start. If the outfit doesn't fit the athlete properly, it becomes distracting for him/her, even though he/she might be very well trained. On the contrary, if the costume fits properly, the gymnast hardly notices it. And that is exactly what the athlete needs.
What Is a Leotard?
A leotard is a one-piece outfit that is widely worn in gymnastics, dance and acrobatics. Quite an obvious statement to make, but sometimes a gymnast may find himself/herself wearing a costume that looks nice on the hanger but fits terribly otherwise.
A leotard may look perfect on the shelf but fail to meet the athlete's expectations while being worn. While performing the backbend, straddle jump or any other element of a gymnastics routine, the garment has to move with the body of the wearer. And if it doesn't go well, you know the rest.
You will see plenty of leotards for girls, leotards for women, girls gymnastics leotards and other designer gymnastics leotards. Different designs are offered, but fitting remains the key requirement.
Too tight the garment will pull around the shoulders, hips or waist. Losing the leotard will shift during the performance. Either way, the leotard is supposed to stay put while letting the gymnast move freely.
The leotards of Jersey007 are made of stretch Lycra fabric that is chosen because of its ability to stretch and keep the shape during training and washing. Some of the designs also include rhinestones and other kinds of decorations for competitive performances. The placement and size of those details can accentuate the garment without making the base of it rigid.
Unitards: When You Need Extra Coverage
A unitard is similar to a leotard but reaches the feet instead. The athlete wears it because he/she needs it for his/her particular sport or simply prefers more coverage.
The unitards are usually worn in rhythmic and artistic gymnastics, acrobatics, yoga, aerobics and other performance-related disciplines.
A full-length garment requires fabric to be more elastic since it has to move with the body through the torso and legs without bunching around the knees or pulling at the waist during stretching.
Some of the unitards and leotards with leggings of Jersey007 have elastic waistbands that are designed specifically for gymnastic routines with jumps and handstands.
Rhythmic Gymnastics and Ballet: Where Presentation Matters Too
Not only skills are evaluated in rhythmic gymnastics but music, choreography and overall performance. The costume then becomes a part of the performance as well.
The same concerns rhythmic gymnastics dresses, artistic gymnastics costumes, ballet dresses and tutus for performance wear. Those may include layers of mesh, applique, elaborate prints or other kinds of decorations that are not required in the practice wear of a gymnast.
Jersey007 uses sublimation printing in some performance designs for patterns that run the entire garment instead of being a little graphic on the front.
But a performance costume still has to be functional during the routine itself. It is so easy to get carried away with the look of the design while forgetting that it has to be comfortable and practical during the performance itself.
A good performance costume manages both: it corresponds to the routine aesthetically while allowing the athlete to move without constant thoughts about the outfit.
There Is No Universal Right Style
The beginner of the gymnastics class and the athlete who trains almost every day certainly have different requirements for the gymnastics wear.
It is determined not only by the skill level of the athlete but also by the nature of the training, the purpose of the costume and the personal preferences. A gymnast who buys a practice leotard makes a different choice than a competitor who looks for a competition costume.
That is why gymnastics dresses online in India can vary in styles, colors and materials.
Jersey007 provides sizes starting from 4 to 12 years for children and from XS to XXL for teenagers and adults. The designs can be found in many size ranges so the athletes can use the same style as they grow.
What Makes a Good Gymnastics Wear Anyway?
Under the marketing words there is a list of qualities worth considering.
Fabric that can move with the body of the athlete. Gymnasts do not move in just one direction and the fabric has to be elastic enough. Lycra is a four-way stretch fabric that is used in the majority of gymnastics wear.
Fabric and construction that can survive frequent use. There is a difference between the costume that is going to be worn just once for the recital and the
one that will be worn several times a week for the practice. Stitching, seams and shape retention become much more important in the second case.
A fit that won't fall off. Reliable neckline, correctly constructed shoulders and such details as elastic waistbands can make the difference during the routine with handstands, jumps and so on.
It may be difficult to notice those qualities while shopping, but they do matter once the garment is worn.
Choosing the Gymnastics Wear for Indian Conditions
The training conditions in India can vary. The studio in Mumbai in July and the training hall in Delhi in winter do not create the same clothing requirements.
Lighter and more breathable fabrics can be more suitable for practice sessions. Since the competition costumes will be worn for a shorter period and in different conditions, they can be more elaborate and complicated.
And having the performance wear manufactured in India can help with some practical aspects as well. It becomes easier to deal with sizing and other customization options.
Getting the Fit Right
Size labels don't always provide the entire picture.
In the case of gymnastics wear, such measurements as chest size, torso length, hips and fit around the arm and leg openings are important. The costume may have the right size but still be uncomfortable because of the bad proportion.
Parents usually buy a larger size of the costume in order to be able to use it for a longer time as the child is growing. It may make sense for some kinds of clothes but not for gymnastics wear. If the costume is too loose, it will shift during flips and stretches.
A proper fit feels secure but does not become restrictive.
When Design and Performance Combine
Gymnastics wear can be elegant and look beautiful while providing freedom of movement.
Jersey007 offers leotards with bright colors and elaborate prints and designs. They can be floral patterns, stripes or mythology-inspired ones, along with more simple designs.
The design of the costume can contribute to the performance of the gymnast. Color, print and silhouette are visually important but there is the limitation: the design that takes away the freedom of movement cannot be worth it.
A gymnastics costume should perform before impressing.
What Parents Actually Ask
Parents ask mostly practical questions.
- Will this be durable for three training sessions a week?
- Will this costume stay in place during the routine?
- Is the fabric comfortable enough for practice?
- Does the price justify the quality of the design and construction?
- They tend to matter after the initial excitement of choosing the design fades.
When ordering costumes in bulk, consistency becomes important as well. And the requirements can be provided individually in such cases.
What Athletes Actually Ask
The athletes can notice things on more physical level.
- Does this restrict the shoulders during stretching?
- Does this fabric remain comfortable throughout the routine?
- Do I need to adjust something during the performance?
- They are most likely the best ways to evaluate the gymnastics wear.
If the athlete can perform without the costume catching the attention in mid-routine, the gymnastics wear is doing its job.
The Bottom Line
No matter whether you are looking for a practice leotard, competition unitard, rhythmic gymnastics dress or custom design for your academy, there are a few basic things that have to be taken into account: fit, fabric and ability of the garment to move with the body of the gymnast.
When they are right, the costume shouldn't become the center of attention during the routine. The athlete has to focus on the skill, choreography and performance.
