At Pine Crest Fabrics, we analyzed the best-selling fabrics of 2025 for each activewear market – yoga, golf, swimwear, tennis, and more, and prepared a ready-to-go guide with recommended materials.
Swimwear
For swimwear, our customers favored matte tricots with chlorine resistance and UV protection, as well as printed fabrics and print bases. To add style and dimension, many paired their base fabric with mesh. The top swimwear styles were:
- Tahitian Floral: A vibrant floral print inspired by Hawaiian nature, popular for swimwear and kidswear. Printed on a lightweight nylon-spandex blend with high UV protection, abrasion resistance, and four-way stretch. Holds color and shape for a long time. Available in U.S. stock.
- Kira Matte Tricot and Kira Recycled Matte Tricot: A high-chlorine-resistant, UV-protective swimwear fabric made with Creora® HighClo™ spandex yarn, which helps garments hold their shape after exposure to saltwater and chlorine. Available in U.S. stock.
- Flux Matte Tricot: A durable (200 GSM) matte tricot fabric for swimwear with four-way stretch and UV resistance, most commonly used as a print base, and is great for digital printing.
- Stretch Mesh: A soft-touch, lightweight, breathable fabric with four-way stretch, most often used as an addition to a base fabric to create a standout look for a swimsuit or cover-up. Available in U.S. stock.
- Stretch Lining: A breathable, lightweight (140 GSM) lining with four-way stretch, available in U.S. stock in classic colors (black and white) and nude tones.
Explore our 2026-2027 swimwear color trend report to choose fabric colors.
Golf & Tennis
As Golf and Tennis have become increasingly popular among non-professional players, we have seen growth in activewear and fashion brands offering fabrics for these categories. Last year, our buyers chose a lightweight jersey, the Traverse Single Peached Jersey, for Golf wear (T-shirts, pants), and jacquard Knits for Tennis.
Over the last few years, our fabric collections for this type of sportswear have grown. Explore the full catalog of recommended fabrics for golf and tennis.
Yoga
Last year, yoga-wear designers preferred premium performance materials with moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, and UV-resistant properties.
- Shira Motion: A durable shiny tricot (220 GSM) with four-way stretch, moisture-wicking, and UV resistance. Available in 48 colors by single roll.
- Helix Wicking Interlock: A soft interlock made from a recycled nylon and spandex blend, loved for its great coverage and smooth, dry hand. Features excellent compression, UV protection, and moisture-wicking. Available for custom production.
- Zen: A durable, OEKO-TEX® certified fabric made from an ATY nylon-spandex blend. Quick-drying with four-way stretch, and loved for its cotton-like feel at an affordable price. Available in the U.S. stock in classic black and two deep red colors.
Activewear
Last year, our activewear customers favored soft interlocks, textured knits, and custom-made innovative materials (including styles with 37.5® thermoregulation technology), with a strong focus on comfort and elevated performance. Here are the top choices:
- Curve: A soft-touch interlock with moisture-wicking, four-way stretch for shape retention, and good opacity. Commonly used for performance shorts and tops, outerwear, leggings, and other activewear. Available for custom production and great for printing.
- Ottoman Rib: A textured fabric with moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, UV resistance, and comfortable compression. Commonly used for loungewear and other activewear garments. Available for custom production and great for printing.
- Merit: A moisture-wicking interlock with superior abrasion resistance and opaque stretch. Features water-repellent and antimicrobial finishes.
- Variegated Rib: A stretch raised rib fabric, made from a recycled nylon, polyester, and spandex blend, offering durability (300 GSM), four-way stretch, and UV-protection.
- Endurance Repreve® Recycled Polyester: One of our top-selling styles, loved for its superior comfort, durability, moisture-wicking, high UV protection, and sustainability. Ideal for printing and stocked in the U.S.
Gymnastics & Dance
Foils, holographic effects, and stretch velvet took center stage in gymnastics and dance collections last year. Designers prioritized two things: standout visual impact and reliable performance (stretch, shape retention, and opacity). Top gymnastics and dance styles in 2025 included:
- Emerge: Our newest material, now one of the designers’ favorites for kids’ performance costumes.
- Kaleidoscope: A foil print base with four-way stretch, featuring a shattered-glass foil that creates a holographic sparkle in motion. Six solid colors will be available in U.S. stock in 2026.
- Jewels Foil: Very popular as a print base, and available in 9 colors in our U.S. stock.
- Stretch Velvet: An affordable premium material for activewear, dancewear, and fashion. Soft, durable, and four-way stretch.
- StarGlow: A premium stretch fabric with a unique foil-and-glitter effect that becomes fully illuminated under a spotlight.
- Sparkly Jewels: A fabric loved for its vibrant holographic finish, commonly used for costumes, gymnastics, and dancewear.
- Starlet Holo: Another holographic foil fabric chosen for its dynamic rainbow effect and performance properties – four-way stretch, UV resistance, and great coverage.
Global Fabric Supplier for Apparel Brands
At Pine Crest Fabrics, we have sourced the premium fabrics for activewear, swimwear, and fashion brands since 1978. Wherever your garment production is located – in the U.S., Asia, or South America –we’ll help you source the right materials and arrange fabric printing near your facility to streamline logistics and reduce costs.
We work with over 20 knitting mills worldwide and supply large and fast-growing activewear and swimwear brands in the U.S. and Europe that value high-quality materials and are committed to sustainability. Contact us to learn more about our fabrics and printing services, and schedule a consultation with fabric experts who have 20+ years of industry experience.
