“Activewear” is a fashion term that has become so popular that it has gained entry into the Collins dictionary, which defines it as “clothing for wear while engaging in sports or recreation.

One of the reasons for the trend’s rise in popularity is that it filled a gap in the marketplace, where clothing that was functional was not particularly stylish. Such clothing is no longer worn exclusively to the gym, but everywhere and anywhere.

According to Business Wire (2020), the activewear sector is set to grow by 11% year on year. To put this into a monetary terms, this works out as an increase of $157billion per year. Small wonder then that ever more players are looking to enter this growing but saturated market.

As such it has become even more critical for companies to stand out with high-quality apparel. Female activewear is a particularly lucrative sector, especially in North America.

One of the most popular items is the sports bra, particularly those offering a front zip. However, things can go drastically wrong if the zip’s quality is poor, potentially causing an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction for the customer – and possible litigation for the brand . Zips don’t have to be risky business though. That’s why we created the Opti S Gym.

One American company became interested in providing consumers with a new sports bra line, featuring a front zip. We collaborated with brand to enhance the product, developing a special puller for them. Opti S Gym is a specialised sportswear zip designed with a unique slider and clip-down puller, keeping the puller secure during any movement.

The slider assembly consists of up of three components, making puller customisation possible. Even when the puller is not clipped, the slider will not slip down due to its auto-lock function. It is far superior to a flat-lock slider, which can slip down easily if the puller is not properly aligned.

Opti S Gym uses S-technology, reducing the risk of zip bursting through its intrinsic higher lateral strength. S-technology also brings unique abrasion resistance because there are no sewing threads utilized to attach the teeth to the zip tape.

Coats is constantly pioneering to meet customer demands. Learn more about Opti S Gym by speaking with one of our team experts.

Find out more about Coats Zips

Coats offer more than just zips for activewear, explore our thread recommendations for delivering comfortable and high performing activewear.