NikeSKIMS: Performance Sportswear or just… Plastic?
NikeSKIMS Vintage Seamless collection fiber content reviewed
NikeSKIMS dropped their first co-branded collection last September. Kim Kardashian and the Gredes have done it again: 7 collections, 58 silhouettes, and 10,000 ways to combine looks. It is not a collaboration according to the press release, it is a new label.
Star athletes Serena Williams, Jordan Chiles, Sha’Carri Richardson, and, of course, Kim Kardashian are wearing the newly founded brand. They are giving us sleek silhouettes, sexy shapes, and a smart color palette. In Skims fashion, it is a marketing home run.
You know me by now, I am a bit obsessed with fibers and what clothes are made of, so I had to find out what is really in those garments, behind the celebrity endorsements, smart branding, and sleek imagery. I looked into their Vintage Seamlesscollection.
What the website says:
Moisture-wicking performance: Breathable technology that keeps you cool while you move
Low compression: Light smoothing support perfect for the studio
Worn-in finish: Ultra-soft, cotton-like feel with a vintage look
What the label says:
89% Polyamide
11% Elastane
Let’s break down the fibers behind the Vintage Seamless collection, starting with polyamide.
Polyamide is a synthetic polymer, in short it is plastic derived from petroleum. It is in the family of nylon, known for its durability. Think of parachute materials during World War II, it is that strong.
Besides being durable, one of the main benefits of polyamide is its elasticity, it has the ability to shape into a very thin layer.
NikeSKIMS claims the fabric features “breathable technology”. Polyamide alone has low breathability, so either this is marketing speak or they developed a special blend to improve airflow. I’m skeptical.
It does moderatelywick sweat because of its structure but it does not naturally absorbs sweat.
It is not soft, the NikeSKIMS team mostly likely used a chemical treatment to improve softness. But, blended with other fabrics it can feel smooth and silky. So let’s talk about this blend.
Next: Elastane
Elastane is a general term for Lycra, also known as Spandex (a wordplay on “expands”). It is another synthetic fabric derived from petroleum. It was initially developed in the 1950s as a replacement for rubber. It is known for its extreme elasticity hence why it is so popular in sportswear goods. It will sculpt you!
It is lightweight, so blending it with polyamide makes a garment more comfortable to wear.
It has some breathability, but it is limited, which doesn’t significantly improve the overall breathability of the garment.
It is very soft. However, it only makes up 11% of the garment.
It does not tolerate high temperature, so it makes sense that the label recommends to wash it on a delicate cycle as the elastane might lose some of its properties.
Why not use natural fabrics?
The main draw of the Vintage Seamless line is elasticity and softness. For skin-hugging sportswear, synthetic fibers are inevitable, no natural fiber can replicate the stretch of elastane and polyamide.
So what about some cotton for softness, you might ask! While soft, cotton also traps heat, moisture, and odors when you sweat, making it unsuitable for this type of sportswear. Some recycled synthetics could improve softness and truly fulfill the promise of the Vintage Seamless line better but it would be at a higher cost.
There any alternatives to petroleum-based synthetic fibers then?
Yes. Tencel (Lyocell) could be a good alternative to polyamide, enhancing moisture-wicking properties. Tencel is made from wood pulp cellulose, it is semi-synthetic (man-made), and has superior moisture absorption and wicking (about 50% more than cotton). It is super soft, resists odor, and helps keep you cool in heat. Blended with elastane, it could perform similarly to the polyamide-elastane combo. The main drawback: it is very expensive to produce hence why NikeSKIMS probably opted for the cheaper alternative.
Le Fashion Banquet verdict 🍽️
🟠 Moisture-wicking: Somewhat moisture wicking but not breathable.
🟢 Low compression: Yes. Elastane and polyamide provide shaping support.
🟠 Ultra-soft,cotton-like feel: Yes, achievable with chemical treatments. Polyamide and elastane themselves are not soft fibers, they are plastic. Treatments may also wear off over time, and the chemicals used often pollute waterways.
Overall, the Vintage Seamless collection should perform well in shaping and initial softness, but the true performance benefits may not fully match the marketing claims. I am giving the Vintage Seamless collection a 2.5/5 score.
I haven’t purchased any NikeSKIMS pieces yet, so my assessment is purely based on the fiber content. If you have tried them, I’d love to hear: how do they feel? How’s the durability?