Balletella

Q: What are the differences between all the fabrics?!

                                             -Julie O.

 

A: Anyone who buys a Yumiko, is faced with making a desicion: nylon, techni, microfiber, or velvet?!

     Over the past year I've received countless emails asking me what is the difference between these four fabrics! Simply speaking, nylon and techni are similar to each other as microfiber and velvet are. Nylon is a very common fabric. When buying a regular leotard from, let's say, Body Wrappers or Capezio, most leotards are made from this fabric (if not Lycra). it is a very shiny, slippery fabric that unfortunately does show any and all sweat marks. These leotards don't hide from sweat! ;)

      I think of techni as nylon's sister fabric. It looks almost the same, but is MUCH more matte. To those that claim Yumikos remind them of swimwear, they most likely have seen them in this type of fabric. I've found that if the wrong colors are chosen in this fabric, it can end up looking like a swim suit or a gymnastics leotard.

     Microfiber is a very... different type of fabric. I've never really found a leotard in this type of fabric before. It is slightly thicker than nylon and techni. Whenever someone asks me to describe it, I always tell them that it is as soft as velvet, but in any way that you feel it. What I simply mean by this, is normally when you go to "pet" or feel velvet, it is super soft one way, and a little rough the other way. Microfiber is that soft, but in any way that you feel it. Also, it doesn't have individual hairs, so to speak, as velvet does. It's one "layer" of material. Microfiber was designed to not show sweat. Unfortunately I can't confirm that claim. I only have one leotard in this fabric; A Cora in black body with frappe trim, zipper, and side stripes and cap sleeves, all in microfiber. In the black area, I have not seen any sweat! But, I really never have seen sweat through any black leotards... In the pink area of the side stripe, I have seen sweat. Though barely notable in such a small scale, I can imagine that it'd be quite noticeable in a leotard that is all frappe. Lastly, during partnering or pas de deux class, my partner has mentioned to me that it is quite difficult to get a good grip on for lifts. All in all, I do still like this fabric simple because it has such an amazing texture.

      Though I assume that most people know what velvet is, I'll take the time to explain it as well. As I've already mentioned, velvet is similar to microfiber not counting its individual fibers and one-sided softness. However, it is a much thicker fabric and not very breathable. honestly, I recommend getting either a trim in velvet, or a duo leotard with one part velvet. When you have a leptard in full velvet, it becomes a little bit more difficult to cool down and breathe.

      Hope this helped anyone who's confused out there! Let me know if you have anymore questions!