Nylon-Spandex vs Polyester-Spandex: Choosing Fabric for Custom Yoga Activewear
For custom yoga activewear, the two fabrics that cover most OEM and ODM products are nylon-spandex and polyester-spandex. Nylon-spandex — for example the letter-print long-sleeve top at 78% nylon, 22% spandex — gives a soft, matte hand-feel, while polyester-spandex (the fleece pants and V-neck bra use an 82.5% polyester, 17.5% spandex outer layer) dries faster and holds sublimation prints better. Printing Yoga can create either fabric in your own designs, colors and sizing, so the right choice depends on the experience you want your wearer to have.
How to choose your activewear fabric
Both knits are engineered performance products, not natural fibers, and we manufacture them to the same construction standards. The decision usually comes down to hand-feel versus moisture management and how you plan to print your designs.
If you want the softest touch and a premium matte look for tops and long-sleeve layers, choose nylon-spandex. The 78% nylon, 22% spandex knit is the fabric we offer for that experience, and it takes a clean logo or letter print.
If you run hot, sweat heavily, or need all-over sublimation designs that stay sharp wash after wash, choose polyester-spandex. The 82.5% polyester, 17.5% spandex outer layer paired with a 94% polyester, 6% spandex inner or mesh layer moves moisture quickly and locks printed color into the fiber.
If you specifically need cotton, hemp or bamboo fabric, our current activewear line is not the right fit — these synthetic knits are built for stretch and print durability, and we would rather help you elsewhere than over-promise on natural fibers we do not manufacture.
Nylon-spandex vs polyester-spandex at a glance
This comparison uses the real compositions from three of our products so you can match a fabric to your use case and delivery needs.
| Fabric | Example product | Composition | Best for | Print fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nylon-spandex | Letter-print long-sleeve top | 78% nylon, 22% spandex | Soft matte tops, everyday layers | Logo / letter print |
| Polyester-spandex | Fleece yoga pants | Outer 82.5% polyester, 17.5% spandex; inner 94% polyester, 6% spandex | Sweat-wicking bottoms, hot yoga | All-over sublimation |
| Polyester-spandex mesh | V-neck bra | Outer 82.5% polyester, 17.5% spandex; mesh 94% polyester, 6% spandex | Breathable support pieces | Sublimation with paneling |
You can inspect the actual pieces here: the nylon-spandex letter-print long-sleeve top, the polyester-spandex fleece pants, and the polyester-spandex V-neck bra. Our team can match either base fabric to the quality and sizing in your tech pack.
What this means for your order
As a manufacturing partner we offer both fabrics across a wide size range — the top runs S–XXL, the pants extend to XXXL — and every color you see can be re-specified to your brand palette. Whichever base you pick, we handle the same private-label services from design to delivery so your finished products meet consistent standards. Our production capacity lets us hold that quality across colorways and repeat runs, and we can ensure your prints and trims stay identical from the first sample onward.
How to check fabric compliance before you order
Fabric compliance is simply documented proof that the knit meets the chemical-safety and labeling requirements of the market you sell into, and it is worth checking before the sample stage rather than after. Ask which certification schemes the specific nylon-spandex or polyester-spandex base is registered under, then ask for the certificate document itself — not a claim in an email. A valid certificate names the issuing body, the certificate holder and the exact fabric or article it covers, so you can confirm it matches the base you are actually buying.
If you sell into a market with its own chemical-safety or labeling rules, write those requirements into your enquiry before samples are made, and ask for the current test report against the standard you named — certificates expire, and a report tied to your own production batch is stronger evidence than a generic one.
If you are still comparing the two fabrics, ask for the minimum order quantity and the production lead time on each base separately. They are not automatically the same: a stock colorway and a custom-dyed one sit at different points in the supply chain, and all-over sublimation adds steps that a simple logo print does not. We confirm both in writing on your quote once fabric, colorway and print method are fixed, so you can plan your launch around real dates rather than estimates.
FAQ
What cotton, hemp or bamboo options do you have for custom activewear?
None at the moment. Printing Yoga focuses on nylon-spandex and polyester-spandex performance knits because they deliver the stretch, recovery and print durability that activewear needs. If natural fibers are a hard requirement for your brand, these products are not the right match.
Which fabric is best for power hot yoga a few times a week?
Polyester-spandex. The 82.5% polyester, 17.5% spandex outer layer wicks sweat and dries quickly, and the 94% polyester, 6% spandex mesh keeps high-heat sessions breathable — a better experience than a softer nylon top when you are sweating hard.
Can you match the fabric in my existing tech pack?
Usually yes. Send us your tech pack and target weight, and our manufacturing team will map it to the closest nylon-spandex or polyester-spandex base we make, then confirm the fit on your first sample before the main run.
Do you offer custom colors and sizing on these fabrics?
Yes. The letter-print top ships in three stock colors and sizes S–XXL, and the pants run S–XXXL, but for OEM orders we create your own colorways, prints and graded sizing rather than the stock designs.
What are your minimum order quantity and lead time?
Both depend on the fabric, colorway and print method you choose, so we quote them per project rather than publishing one figure. Send us the base fabric, the colors and the print type, and our team will confirm the minimum order quantity and the production lead time in writing with your quote before you commit.
How do I confirm the fabric meets my market's compliance requirements?
Tell us the standard your market requires and we will confirm what documentation is available for the specific nylon-spandex or polyester-spandex base before sampling. Check that any certificate you receive names the issuing body and covers the exact article you are ordering, and ask for a test report tied to your production batch if your buyers or retailers need that level of supply-chain evidence.
How do I start a custom activewear order?
Pick your base fabric from the comparison above, then contact our team with your designs or tech pack. We will help you confirm fabric, print method and delivery timing so your products move smoothly from sample to production.