Fabric Science: Patagonia + Yulex Guayule Neoprene

Word on the beach is that Patagonia makes some of the best wetsuits around. When they launched the new program in 2006 they had one goal in mind, "to build the best possible suits in the least damaging way". They quickly realized that, "the least damaging way" meant completely rethinking the manufacturing process down to the materials, analyzing the origins and environmental impact of each component and finding an alternative to the most essential part of a wetsuit, the neoprene. But could they achieve this without loosing the integrity and performance of the wetsuit? Eco-friendly doesn't mean much to surfers in 50 F water. In 2013, after years of collaboration and development Patagonia and eco-friendly biomaterial firm Yulex debuted the industry's first plant-based, Guayule-neoprene wetsuit: The Patagonia R2 Front-Zip (55-60 F). Earlier this year SIMA, (Surf Industry Manufacturing Association) presented Patagonia with the Environmental Product of the Year for the R2 wetsuit.

Patagonia Yulex R2 Mens Wetsuit above. Also available in R3 Front Zip 48-55F

So what is Guayule? Y-U-LEE is a flowering shrub native to the southwestern US, (Texas) and northern Mexico used for rubber production. It's low-maintenance, low-impact, grows easily in arid/semi-arid areas, and not to mention a renewable resource unlike traditional neoprene; it doesn't need a lot of water or pesticides, and doesn't contain super sensitivity proteins that causes allergies to most rubber. But does it still preform like traditional neoprene? Can a biodegradable plant-based rubber hold up to the wear-and-tear and mother nature? Yes it does. Apparently the only obvious difference is that the Yulex wetsuits smell like eucalyptus and has slightly more stretch. Right now the R2 wetsuit contains 60% Yulex 40% neoprene but the end goal is 100%. It's worth mentioning that Patagonia has been making "green" changes to their wetsuits wayyy before Yulex like recycled polyester, chlorine-free wool as well as looking into alternatives to the harmful adhesives used in the laminating and gluing process.

Guayule plant

Why is this important? Well neoprene has been around since the 30s. It's methods of manufacturing are tried and true but have a significantly negative impact on the environment .... Essentially its rubber, foamy rubber.

There are two types of neoprene used for wetsuits: petroleum-based or limestone-based, (Patagonia uses limestone neoprene). Comparably they have similar, significant environmental impacts; both are non-renewable resources that require heavy extraction from the earth with very involved chemical processes. But the collaboration with Yulex has introduced a third more environmentally-friendly and equally functional option into the market. And by market I mean public market. When it comes to the active sports industry technology and innovation is king. It's a fiercely secretive and competitive world. It's very rare that innovations are made available or even shared. Patagonia has decided to make the bio rubber available to the surf industry to encourage companies to use it. In fact, they are also encouraging consumers to demand it. The hope is that with demand comes volume and with volume comes lower costs and with lower costs comes availability. The R2 is not cheap at $529.00 but fingers crossed that in the not so distant future Yulex neoprene will be a must in wetsuit manufacturing and available to all.

Branducation: Moon Jelly Wetsuits

Pinterest strikes again. In my late-night trolling I came across Moon Jelly, a Japanese wetsuit brand that I am crushing on.

 There are actually more wetsuit brands out there then I would have guessed, (so brace yourselves for more Branducations). Until recently I thought wetsuit options were black or black. As my interest in the sport grows so does my desire to expand my wetsuit collection. It's nice to see big surf brands having more fun with prints and color, especially for we women. I REALLY love Moon Jelly's design aesthetic and color palette; it's a nice balance between classic and fun. I am a conservative, classic girl at heart and tend to shy away from all-over prints but I find the prints to be playful without being too kitschy or junior and the placement is tasteful; a polka dot sleeve here, a fuchsia ankle stripe there. I appreciate the coverage on the women's pieces. After this past birthday I think it's safe to say I'm no longer in my, "younger twenties" but I'd still like to look cute and feminine without offending the sea-life.

Love! Want! Moon Jelly SS 13/14

Sadly Moon Jelly is not available for purchase in the US or anywhere online for that matter. Their wetsuits are only available in Japan. But where there's a will there's a way. If you happen to find yourself road-tripping around Japan's coast stop by one of 24 surf shops that carry the brand. Be ready to make it rain though because the suits aren't cheap. I did a quick Yen-to-Dollar conversion and a full suit runs about $745 - $895. Considering that some of the most technologically innovative and high-quality wetsuits are coming from Japanese brands, I think it's safe to say it's worth the investment.

International Surfing Day - I Covet Thee

Here's my Instagram feed reminding me I'm inside.

Today is International Surfing Day and where am I? Well I WAS half-way there. I made it into a bikini this morning! Covered myself in sunscreen. Packed my bag. And yet I'm sitting in my living room, my tacky sunscreened skin making me beach-yearning, I don't know where it all went wrong. The only consolation is that today's surf report is "poor" and "flat" and trust me I spent 20 minutes watching and re-watching Surfline's camera stream to confirm. Alas, tomorrow is another day to surf and enjoy. 

Speaking of surfing... look at this "cool surf thing" sent by my very own Not another Plain Jane, (thanks Bea). Currently I shlep my surf stuff in a duffle or.... I'm going to try a traveling backpack next time. Anyways, the point is that after surfing I stick my wet wetsuit into a plastic bag then back into the same bag along with all my other accoutrements, it can get a little messy and sandy. Well the thoughtful designers at Brooklyn-based Baggu, in collaboration with Pilgrim Surf, and Supply have designed a bag specifically for this; Baggu Wetsuit Bag, ($120.00). My first thought was, "holy cow this bag is huge, you could fit a human in it!" Exactly. Besides the technical details like the fact that the bag is made of tough, water-resistant 18 oz vinyl and has welded seams, you can literally step inside the bag to take off your wetsuit, zip it closed and you're good to go. It's a creative touch. You don't have to worry about your wetsuit dripping through and all over you or your car. You don't have to worry about water getting in either. The external front pocket provides additional storage for the things you want to keep dry like sunscreens, snacks, and seashells. In addition the bag comes with both hand and shoulder straps. I think the idea is great, and apparently so does everyone else because it is sold out everywhere. Do I want one.... duh... but... I do think it is a little oversized. I ride the subway, I have to walk up and down stairs, it's not like I'm just sticking it in the back of car, it gets cumbersome and heavy. Every time I head out to the beach I am envious of the dudes carrying these minimal backpacks while I'm dragging this huge suitcase, (hence the backpack trial). I'd really love if Baggu did a city-version with slightly smaller dimensions or maybe even in a backpack silhouette? Ooo with side straps for my towel, and clips for my booties? Holla' at your girl Baggu!

Baggu Wetsuit Bag

Ole, Ole Ole Ole It's Finally Here!!

I am SO ready. I love, love, loove the World Cup. I totally admit that I am a fair-weather soccer fan, no shame. But I love the excitement, I love the camaraderie.... the chanting, the beer. Bring it Brazil. Woot woot!

**Before going any further I do want to acknowledge that there are many controversies surrounding this Cup. I can't help but be excited around this time every four years, but I think it's also important to respect and be aware of the issues that were created and will be left behind well after the Cup. Did you catch John Oliver's piece about FIFA on Last Week Tonight? Watch it. It is spot on. He does an excellent job of shedding light on FIFA's shadiness fulling admitting his own inexplicable excitement for the games. Don't be THAT guy and take the time to educate yourselve on the not-so-shiny side of this years Cup.**

Ok graceful segue into post content in 3..2..1 FASHION! 

32 teams are currently taking center stage and all eyes are watching not only their skills but kits as well, well at least mine are. What are kits? Not a euphemism I can tell you that much. Kit, also referred to as "strip", is the European term for uniform. I like to be accurate thanks. Boots not cleats, pitch not field, football not soccer.  Although the team kits have already been leaked there were some surprises regarding who was wearing what. Thank you FIFA for changing Rule 2, Section 35 - sounds like I really know my shizz right? Well this rule change states the following; 

"Each team shall inform FIFA of two different and contrasting colors. One predominantly dark and one predominantly light for its official and reserve kit."

This means that teams can no longer mix-and-match their kits, i.e. a light top with dark shorts or vice versa. Now, if you know your football you will definitely notice a wardrobe change out on the pitch... and we are talking ICONIC team kits. England can no longer wear their traditional white top with blue shorts. Instead their official kit is all white. Argentina will also be trading their traditional blue shorts for white ones. Even Germany is saying "auf weidersehen" to their black shorts and "guten tag" to the white shorts. Which kinda sucks because I've always found the black shorts intimidating. That being said, you will still see mixed kits but they won't be contrasting. Brazil, for example, is keeping their traditional official kit of yellow top and green shorts... (but ehm judging by that "penalty" call Brazil can kinda get away with it... I joke, I joke, too soon?). The interpretation was really up to the manufacturers. Since Adidas is an official partner they really followed the rule change closely, hence Argentina and Germany. Why oh why FIFA why? Apparently simpler, more monochromatic kits will help referees make more accurate calls, clarifying tackles etc. Mhm... All this aside though the men of many nations look fierce.  

The brand-team break down is kinda even-ish. Nike is dressing 10 teams including host country Brazil, Adidas 9, Puma 8, with 5 individual manufactures rounding it out: Marathon Sports, Uhlsport, Lotto, Joma, Burrda Sport. I'd like to point out that Puma went super tight with the silhouette, significantly more fitted then most of the other kits. Too tight Uruguay? HA! I'm sorry, I was actually rooting for them... Head over here and here for a complete list of all the away and home kits but here are my top 5.

5. CAMEROON

Manufacturer:  Puma

FIFA Ranking:  56

Key Features:  Puma is known for designing vibrant kits for the African National Teams. This years kits were inspired by cave paintings and each team has elements of that somewhere on the kit. For Cameroon, in addition to the cave painting motif, the words "Lion Indomptables" (The Indomitable Lions, the teams' nickname) is included in the repeated. I love that it is an all-over print. It's bold and festive, and displays a strong sense of pride. I also really like the symmetry of the patches across the chest, especially that the Puma logo is smack dab in the center.

5. CHILE

Manufacturer:  Puma

FIFA Ranking:  14

Key Features:  I am really digging the retro look, a lot. That fitted silhouette, the johnny collar. The more I look at the kits, the more they make me a little nostalgic. Like an homage to the history of the Cup and what it continues to represent *drops mic*. IN FACT, not only is the national flag printed at the outside center back of the kit but the first line of the Chilean national anthem is printed at the inside neck. It's just a nice clean kit.

Official kit on the left, Reserve kit on the right.

3. ARGENTINA

Manufacturer:  Adidas

FIFA Ranking:  5

Key Features:  I've always loved the Argentinean jersey. It's iconic. This years jersey got some minor updates but still looks fresh. For the official kit the most obvious update is the Adidas logo stripes running down the shoulders. It adds a nice contrast. The vertical stripes on the front of the jersey fade into a subtle ombre - very trendy. Notice the lines that cut across and swirl around the body creating a nice flow from front to back, this is supposed to symbolize the rippling Argentinean flag. Details people, details. The reserve kit looks pretty sharp too. The different shades of blue are actually the same blues used on previous World Cup reserve kits. Like the official kit, the engineering of the stripes are meant to create the effect of the kit blowing in the wind. [Can't get enough kits blowing in the wind? Head over to soccerbible for their top 5 most epic Argentinean World Cup kits.]

Official kit on top, Reserve kit on bottom.

2. FRANCE 

Manufacturer:  Nike

FIFA Ranking:  17

Key Features:  These... are.... superb!! I know there isn't anything, "special" about them but for some reason I just really enjoy looking at these kits. The chic embroidered cockerel crest at the chest is a nice throw-back to the original kit from 1958. What stood out the most to me were the collars. The official kit has a hidden placket and collar while the reserve kit has a very trendy always-looks-good-on-a-man henley placket. These don't look like kits, goodness I can't handle the chicness. The denim-colored official kit is described to have a kind of textured finish mimicking denim. This is supposed to reference the origins of said fabric; de Nimes, (from Nimes). And the stripe, the stripes, oh the stripes, just yum. The stripes are meant to represent the very traditionally french "mariniere" stripes. Bravo, tres bien, genial. Aller Les Bleus! [ Need more Bleus in your life? Head over to soccerbible for their top 5 most epic French World Cup kits.]

Official kit on the left, Reserve kit on the right.

    1. JAPAN 

Manufacturer:  Adidas

FIFA Ranking:  46

Key Features:  I like the Japanese kit the mostest because of its elegance and color. These immediately caught my eye when they were leaked and have managed to keep my attention. Like Puma did with the Cameroon kits, Adidas incorporated elements of culture into the design. The concept for the 2014 kits is ENJIN, "act of going into a huddle", reminding the players a supporters that now is the time to unite as one. The brush stroke across the back shoulders is part of the reason I like the kit so much. It's supposed to create a circle when the team comes together for a huddle. Although a little too subtle, I really like the  star burst watermark on the front chest. It spreads out and away from the emblem in 11 separate directions representing the the 11 players breaking ENJIN and assuming their positions on the pitch. Symbolic no? The   official kit has pink accents at the sleeve and the cross-back brush stroke to honor the 2012 Women's Olympic soccer team, ( they had pink trim on their kits). The reserve kit is "electricity yellow", (symbolizing youthful and tech-savvy Japan) and it is POW in your face! It's basically neon! The Cup kit colors look like this; white, white, white, green, different shade of green, blue, blue, shades of blue, red, yellow, gold, boring, snooze, snore....NEON. 

Official kit at left and center, Reserve kit on right.

I Want to Ride My Bike: Rapha and SMS Santini

My older brother is an avid cyclist but my knowledge doesn't extended past the Tour de France... and just the fact that it exists, and that there is a polka dotted jersey, and Lance Armstrong. So every now and then I send him links to miscellaneous cycling-relating...things, mostly chic bike racks. Most recently I sent him a link to Rapha, a British based cycling clothing company and he returned the favor by introducing me to SMS Santini. Who knew cycling clothing brands could be so stylish!

Let's take some time to appreciate the dashing men and women on two wheels.

Rapha is a pretty all-inclusive brand, seriously, they provide everything from clothing to gear to skincare products. They organize road races and even offer book and brochures on cycling. It might even be safe to call it a "lifestyle" brand. Rapha started back in July 2004 which means this July will mark their 10 year anniversary - congrats! They started out with a simple selection of cycling jerseys, jackets, and caps. They have since expanded and are currently the official clothing sponsor for Team Sky Pro Cycling, the first British team to win the 2012 Tour de France. There is a lot to be said about Rapha, they are very involved in the cycling world and sponsor many cycling clubs and teams. If you have an interest in cycling check them out. Although they are based in the UK they have crossed the pond to the US and also host road races across the world.

Their Spring/Summer 2014 is out now and it's worth checking out. I like their color palette, the mens' club jersey colors are inspired by famous Italian road races which I thought was clever, and overall the designs are clean but stylish.

Rapha Spring/Summer 2014 collection

The composition of each garment isn't overly complicated. They use performance fabric one would expect to find and offer a range of fabric weights to accommodate all seasons, like +50 sun-block treated fabric, great for those awkward cycling tan lines. Or Sportswool, a nifty fabric that has all the moisture control benefits of wool with the wicking features of polyester, (you gettin' your own post Sportswool). There were a few things I found interesting like the "O" shaped zipper pull they use on their back rear pockets which makes reaching behind and grabbing the zipper easier, and gives you more control when opening and closing it - smart. And what in the world is a chamois... well in addition to being a goat-antelope species, a chamois is the piece of foam that is sewn into the riding shorts, it is placed at the crotch and protects the rider when in the seated position. A chamois has four-way stretch to move with the body and different levels and density of padding for protection. It also looks like Roger from American Dad.

Chamois, Roger is not impressed

NEXT

SMS Santini is an interesting contrast to Rapha. It's almost like you can see the difference between the brands as "young and old" - not the most elegant way to put it but what I mean to say is; Rapha is young and very globally driven, producing films, creating a very interactive multi-media cycling community. Santini is deeply rooted in heritage and very technical, focusing on improving their product with cutting edge fabric innovation and design. Santini started specializing in performance cycling clothing back in 1965 and have been involved in the cycling community since then. They are a small and dedicated team who work and manufacture exclusively in Italy, they are almost a vertical company, still kinda rare to find today. Roughly said a vertical company is one that produces the fabric, creates the designs and patterns, and manufacture everything in-house. Now I say "almost" because their fabric comes from an outside source, although credit to them that it is Italian fabric. There is a huge advantage to designing and producing everything in-house, it gives you excellent quality control. They even refer to themselves as "purists" because of their dedication to staying in Italy.

I found their website very easy to navigate and super informative. They provide an excellent breakdown of all the different materials they use. They even list their innovative achievements throughout the years which is worth the read. Most recently they designed the first eco-friendly jersey made of recycled polyester, (2010) and developed the first "strategic" cut jersey especially designed for the "tuck" position, I assume that is what you call the position the riders take, (2012). Also check out their extensive chamois technology... HA since we know what that is now.

Overall I'm really impressed with this brand. And I like the designs of the products, clean, European, purposeful. It has a lot of the characteristics that excite me about performance active wear. Specialty in one area, innovative fabric and design, and strong sense of team-work. This was a cool little discovery.

Boot me up Scotty Part 1: Adidas Samba Primeknit

Currently, this blog is more drafts then posts. My "wish upon a star" would be telepathy so that I may write these posts with my mind. Maybe I should rename it "Yesterdays News". Bahahaha...*sigh*

I wrote this post WEEKSSSS ago and since then there have been many exciting bootie updates! Hence "Part 1".

Did you all read it in the voice??

I was trolling Hypebeast a few weeks ago when this happened: "Adidas unveils the world's first knitted football boot"

And then THIS happened: "As Adidas unveils its Samba primeknit, Nike teases its own knitted Magista"

(⊙ω⊙)

I. WANT. THESE. Which ones? Both, all.

Confession: 1. I do not own the Nike Fly knits so I have no idea what a fully knitted sneakers feels like. 2. My current turf cleats are kind of a bummer and I'm a little over due for an upgrade, not to mention I haven't worn real cleats in years. Which means that I am no expert when it comes to football boots.

I really like how the Adidas shoe looks, clean and minimal. I like the multi-color yarn which gives the boot an overall "earthy" tone and the blue laces offer a nice contrast. Plus I find the colored studs give it a little playful feel. I was going to say cute, but I don't think that's what Adidas is going for. But I still said it.

http://www.soccercleats101.com/2014/02/27/adidas-samba-primeknit-worlds-first-knitted-soccer-boot/

The idea behind the Samba Primeknit is to create a "second-skin" boot without compromising performance; offering everything you've come to expect from a leather boot but with a new level of flexibility. I think it's off to a pretty good start considering the boot only weighs 5.8 oz, (your traditional leather football boot comes in a variety of weights ranging from 5.1 oz to 11.7 oz). Actually, that being said, the Samba Primeknit isn't even Adidas' lightest weight, their F50 adiZero Prime is at 5.1 oz. But anywhoo.

Each Primeknit is made from a single piece of yarn creating a single upper boot - I had to look that up because I had no idea what a single upper was. The lovely people over at soccer.com do a great job of breaking down the parts of a boot and also offer a nice little glossary of the different types of boots. Basically an "upper" is the top part of the boot, everything above the insole, one piece, no seams. Today most football boots are single uppers. Traditionally, boots used to have an underlay and an overlay. So in essence, the Primeknit is just one single pattern piece above the insole. Yes?

In order to retain the performance of the shoe, well more so to actually make the shoe wearable on the pitch, it is specifically engineered and knitted together to give support and stretch where needed. This is achieved through the tension of the weave; the tighter the weave the more support, the looser the weave the more flexibility. For further performance reassurance, they tested the boot between the months of September and December to ensure that the yarn would hold up through the harshness of cold weather and rain, (apparently those are the harshest months). As a result, the yarn is covered in a "high-precision" coating making the boot water-resistant. Do I detect a hint of lining inside the boot??? If so, does it still count as fully-knitted?? I need to put my paws on them...

There is mixed anticipation over the release of both shoes. I LOVE reading through the comments on Hypebeast. A. Most importantly they are HIGHlarious and B. It's a good way to get a sense of what people are thinking. The general consensus is thus: will the engineered tension and reinforced knit actually protect your little piggies from the big bad studs? Anyone who plays will tell you that even the toughest kangaroo leather won't do much to protect you. How well will the the yarn hold up to the rain and mud and overall soggy pitch? Again, even regular leather boots gets soggy and heavy BUT we are talking about a covered leather shoe vs a knitted one with considerably more points of entry. And will it stretch out? I personally think that regarding this concern the Samba Primeknit is in favor. It's a synthetic yarn with stretch and recovery built in, something leather will never have. I think if anything it'll mold to the wearers foot like a...well, "second-skin".

Weel lucky for us the boot debuts tomorrow March 17th but PSYCH, because it is super limited edition, Adidas only made 150 pairs and apparently they will not be traveling across the pond to dear 'ol 'Murica... so yea, aanndd they are already sold out...sooo. This little bootie is not cheap. It costs a cool $350 compared to other boots, (although some can cost up to $250.00).

**UPDATE**, (the only upside to procrastination). Turns out the Samba Primeknit made its debut today. Lucky Luis Suarez of Liverpool had the honor of wearing them during their match to Manchester United and he even scored a goal! Should we keep an eye out for the Primeknit at this years World Cup?

UA and Sochi

Over the weekend a friend, and fellow blogger 52makes.com , sent me a lovely little text asking me if I'd heard about the issues with the Under Armour speed skating suits in this heres Olympics. I'm still getting the hang of collecting information, trying to figure out what to read, trying to stay current, especially since I haven't been ehrm following the Winter Olympics... I appreciated the tip. Thanks Joe!

Here is a little back story: Under Armour has been sponsoring the US speed skating team since 2011 and has since worked on improving the suits' design and performance. Most recently they dressed the team at the US World Cup circuit where team America performed very well. In anticipation for the 2014 Olympics UA teamed up with defense contractor and F-16 developer Lockheed Martin Corp. to create "the world's fastest suit". Yes F-16, as in fighter jets F-16. Just wait because this gets more intense. After two years of top secret research, 300 hours of wind-tunnel testing on fiber glass mannequins, 225 different suit models, (testing the most optimal fabric placement/design variations) out comes... t h e  M a c h  3 9, (queue the fog machine, release the eagle... wave the flag).

First I want to talk about the suit itself because the idea behind it is pretty cool and should be appreciated. Then we can get to the drama bomb of this whole situation.

Picture source: http://galleries.apps.chicagotribune.com/chi-hightech-speedskating-suits-20140116/

 *Note, the Mach 39 was designed for the long track only. When I was doing research I kept coming across a similar suit, especially on the women, that didn't have the dimpled poly, the stretch cross-body zipper, or the back mesh - those are for the short track.*
There are a few key textiles and design features that were supposed to make this suit superior to what's out there right now. The first feature I noticed was the dimpled polyurethane panels at the hood, the forearms, and the lower legs which are supposed to "cut" through and divert the air flow around the body instead of pushing through it. Then you have the "slippery" silver fabric at the inner thighs and armpits which reduces friction. What is this slippery fabric you ask? Slippery fabric. I've been trying to find that out myself, I can only assume it is a coated spandex?? The zipper was also specifically developed for this suit. It is a special stretch zipper that moves with the wearer's natural movement. They have placed it across the wearer's body instead of right down the middle. This is supposed to add comfort to the suit and by keeping the zipper away from the neck it's also supposed to make sure the zipper stays closed. And then the vent... UA designed the suit with a mesh panel at the back, between the shoulder blades for a cooling effect, to allow heat to escape so the wearer doesn't get too hot. THIS is the feature that is making everyone throw some side eye. Apparently the back mesh panel was causing drag in the suits and costing the athletes' precious seconds in their race times - especially since the two Gold Medal favorites failed to place in their first races. Not to mention that some of the women speed skaters had the UA technical team remove that same back panel after their initial races, (UA sent a team over to Sochi in case of emergency alterations). It's been a few days since this has happened and in the meantime the team has been allowed to wear their alternate suits which they wore at the World Cup, also made by UA, fun-stuff not included. Apparently the team was 50-50 about switching the suits; some wanted to continue wearing the Mach 39 and the other half wanted to switch. But since the Olympic rules state that a team must all wear the same uniforms, they decided with the old suits....out with the new, in with the old eh? I have to say, they are pretty lucky that the U.S. Olympic Committee, (USOC) approved the switch, 'cause that would have really sucked.

Alternate US Speed Skating suits, also by Under Armour

 Mmm-kay, this what I think about all of thissssss. Well first, the initial speculation that the suit was costing medals doesn't really apply anymore. Since the switch was approved the US Speed Skating team still has yet to medal - there are still a few races left though. I'm just going to say it... isn't it entirely possible that the US is just being out-skated?
There are a few things that bother me though. From what I've read, UA only recently gave the suits to the team back in January. In fact, it sounds like the athletes didn't get to test out the suits prior to arriving in Sochi. Thankfully though, UA sent a technical team there to take care of any unforeseen alterations - I hope you pay your oracle well UA. I'm also curious about the testing process. It was stated that they put fiber glass mannequins under vigorous 300 hour wind tunnel testing, but the mannequins were stationary? Would it have made a difference had the mannequins actually simulated a speed skaters motions? Would they have been able to see the issue with the back mesh panel? I don't even know if that would be possible but I'm just gonna put it out there.

I don't think UA deserves all the blame and so far everyone agrees. I don't think people are that, uh, silly, to not consider everything that goes into winning an event: suits, training, conditions, competition. In one of the articles I read they pointed out that in an effort to stand out and really make space for themselves in the active performance industry, between Nike and Adidas, UA strives to challenge what we think of "performance wear". I think teaming up with Lockheed is a perfect example; taking the concept of defense, machinery, engineering and incorporating it, funneling it down to something simple like clothing. The brand image speaks to making your body preform as the best machine it can be. I get it. UA is new, Nike and Adidas are very, very seasoned. I can appreciate UAs efforts to establish themselves but with that comes risk. Do I think this is going to hurt them. Absolutely not. If anything this will, and already has, generated more awareness about the brand. They gonna be just fine. 

Music I'm Running To: February Edition

I listen to music while I run. It helps distract my mind from focusing on how tired I am, instead I day dream about how bad-ass I *think* I look like....huffing and puffing up that hill.

Here is a list of some of the recent songs I've added to my running play list. Pull it up selector!

1. FITZPLEASURE by Alt-J, (side note, I absolutely LOVE this band. I lurve it).

2. CHANGE YOUR LIFE by Iggy Azalea

3. REVOLUTION by Diplo (feat. Faustix & Imanos and Kai)

4. RIOT RHYTHM by Sleigh Bells

5. TIK TIK BOOM by Britney Spears

Enjoy!!!

Weekend Update: CW-X PreformX Tights

After my post on Nike's recovery hypertight it kinda got me thinking about compression and recovery and the validity of what's out there in the market right now. Now that I know a little more about what actually happens to my muscles after a work out, (edema... lactic acid build up) I have a different curiosity for what those products are trying to achieve. I hesitate to call this a "trend" in performance wear because it isn't. The idea and science behind compression-wear has been around and those who focus on it do it well. Perhaps it's more fitting to say that the market is expanding into more categories...ish...socks, calf sleeves, sport bras? (mmm That feels like kind of a stretch) but I can say that more and more brands are tag-lining their products as "compression" which I feel is watering down the actual meaning of it.

I just started running again after a few months hiatus... yes I know its cold and yes I did have to walk through icy snow to actually GET to the park, much to the amusement of some sanitation workers, but I'm feeling it right now so I'm going to go for it. I also play soccer most Sundays and that adds up to a lot of running pour le gambes. It doesn't help that I am terrible at stretching properly. Come Monday my muscles are super tight and achy. So I said, you know what... imma treat myself. I didn't want to break the bank and I'm also not planning on training for a marathon anytime soon so I wanted something reasonable but still legit. I did a little research, mostly price driven, stumbled upon CW-X's Preform-X Tights, did a little reading, live the aesthetic, $74.95, SOLD. I bought my tights at Paragon, my favorite sports mecca, but they are widely available online and you can shop around for a more competitive price. I'm impatient and I want it now. When I spoke with the girl at Paragon she kept stressing that the compression tape actually helps to align your body while you run and keep it that way so that your muscles preform how they should, ideally giving you a more powerful and balanced stride while simultaneously reducing muscle fatigue for a faster recovery.

Very simply put, CW-X, (Conditioning Performance Wear) is part of the Wacoal Cooperation. Wacoal Corp., based in Japan, has been one of the leading and most reputable intimate apparel brands in the market for almost 40 years, creating designs based on a throughout understanding of the human body and access to an impressive library of textiles. In 1991 they decided to break into the performance apparel industry using the same dedication and introduced CW-X to the Japanese market. The research team in Kyoto spent many years studying, analyzing, and understanding what happens to muscles and joints during injuries. They then decided to introduce it to the US market and created the Wacoal Sport Science Cooperation based right here in NYC, (yey!). SO, CW-X is a brand under the Wacoal Corp. subsidiary Wacoal Sports Science Cooperation. Yes? Yes. CW-X boasts to be the world's "first truly anatomically-engineered high performance sports apparel" with 50 patents worldwide and serving a wide-range of activities, from running to skiing. Sounds pretty legit to me.
The science behind CW-X is based on kinesiology a.k.a the science of human movement. Remember the kinesio tape that was all over the 2012 Summer Olympics? Well CW-X developed their now patented CW-X Support Web Technology based around kinesiology-taping. So the placement of the compression tape is specifically placed to be most effective on specific muscle groups, problematic joints, and overall provides a supportive exo-skeletal to make sure your body preforms at its best.

So I took them out for a spin last weekend, semi skeptical, semi excited. They have met my expectations and I haven't stopped talking about them since - ask my friends.  Yes, I felt a difference in the overall alignment of my stride. Yes, my muscles felt different. Yes, my muscles recovered and felt fresher faster, (I also wore them for 1 hour after my run). I ran more evenly and even longer...like almost 1/2 a mile longer. I am very curious to see how I continue to preform the more I wear them. Fit-wise, I liked that they are high-waisted. Mine went all the way up to my natural waist and they stayed put without my having to tie the drawstring too tight. I bought a size medium. I usually wear a small in running tights but since these are compression tights I assumed to go up a size and boy was I lucky... not only did I NOT try them on, but I also didn't consult the very handy size chart, (height + weight) they provide with their hangtag. Please review the size chart they provide to make sure you buy the correct size. I happen to fit right in the grey area between a small and a medium but I'm happy I went with the medium. 
Dare I ask, why would you wear anything else? I like to people-watch while I run. I like to see what and how people are wearing and all I kept thinking was "these are helping my body preform better not only during my immediate movement but hypothetically also protect the longevity of my muscles - why isn't everyone wearing these?" At this moment I kinda don't want to wear anything else. This weekend I picked up the thermal version of the tights, the Insulator Perfx Tight but I decided not to run due to the weather because I have my limits, but I can't wait! I should mention that post-run, when I was heading home I did get a little chilly so I would advise not to wear them in 30F weather - get the thermal ones. But what I really have my eyes on is their Revolution Tights. Although they don't list them under "recovery" on their site that is what I would wear them for since the compression construction is lighter and covers more area, and they have starts all over them. It's on my xmas list Santa.

Behold the beauty of this graphic.

Keep it Tight

I've been working on two posts recently and they are taking a little longer then I thought so in the meantime I figured I'd do a little quickie post:

From left to right: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Soccer), Jon Jones (Martial Arts), Lebron James (Basketball), Colin Kaepernick (Football), Matt Kempt (Baseball)

Nike has recently started to create buzz over their Combat Recovery HyperTight, one of their first "post-game" products. After dominating the "in-game" performance market they are starting to focus on keeping athletes fresh and ready for the next game.

Essentially the HyperTight is a post-game / post-workout compression tight worn in between down-time or travel that helps reduce the swelling that occurs in the legs allowing for a speedy muscle recovery. I first read about it on Hypebeast  then poked around Nike's website where they provided a wonderfully thorough explanation of the tights, and in true Nike fashion, they be some fancy tights. 

Designed in Nike's Sport Research Lab, (which I'd like to camp in for a week or so or forever) and in collaboration with Manchester United, the Seattle Seahawks, and other pro-athletes, they have developed the tights around this "graduated compression system" where the compression is tightest at the ankle and reduces as it moves up the leg. Now, I'm very easily impressed by a well-made video and Nike gets me every time, so I can't tell if this a genius game-changer or a basic no-brainer but howevers.... watch it.

The design of the tight is pretty straight forward, it is just a tight after-all, but I like that Nike added the stirrup at the foot to make sure the tight stays where it's supposed to and that the compression grid stays at the intended muscles. It's made of Nike's Dri-Fit fabric so you can count on the tights being comfortable and cooling.

The purpose of the tight is to help with edema, a common post-physical occurrence that happens when fluids accumulate in the system, usually at the hands and legs, mostly at the ankles. Or in layman terms, swelling. The tights help to reduce the swelling by constricting the lower leg where the fluid would usually build up thus allowing for a faster muscle recovery turnaround. I kind of imagine that it takes that fluid and kinda re-distributes it along the leg so it doesn't just collect at ones ankles, (yes, that sounds medical enough for me). What Nike has done is develop this graduated compression grid, or "power grid", which is printed onto the tights - it's that rubbery-looking stuff. The power grid design is wide and more frequent at the ankle then gets thinner and less frequent as it moves up the leg. I have to admit that I'm a little curious about how a printed grid can affect the fabric's tension enough to compress muscle - I would have assumed that the grid would have to be knitted with the fabric. But that is why Nike is Nike, they just do it.  

Many of you might not care about this next part, but this is my blog and my educational adventure and you might learn a little-something-something, so deal with it...
More technically put; the compression at the ankle starts at 15-25 mmHg, (the higher the mmHg, the tighter the fit), then reduces by about 60-80% at the calf and then an additional 30-50% reduction at the thigh. WHAT is mmHg you ask? Well it is a super fancy compression measurement known as "milimeter of mercury", (get it because Hg is mercury, science bitch!). And HOW do they measure that pressure? By an even uber-er fancy thing called the Salzmann Testing Apparatus - I kinda giggled over "apparatus", not machine, apparatus, get your facts straight. The Salzmann apparatus measures pressure created on the leg via sensors which are placed between the wearers leg and the tights. You kinda have to admit this is cool - did you know how they measured compression pressure? No? And now you have a fun party fact. (See below for impressive pictures of the said apparatus).

Where and when can you buy these? Well you'll have to wait until February 3 when they become available online at Nike.com and globally at select retail stores. *Glowing yellow not included*

Branducation: Lucas Hugh

I love Pinterest. Looovvee Pinterest. I love it for so many reasons but for the sake of relevance... I love it because it has helped me discover brands I wouldn't necessarily have come across. I did a lot of heavy pinning this weekend, behold my treasures...

Lucas Hugh, a women's luxury athletic brand based out of London is creating athletic wear for the woman who does not want to compromise on performance or style. Director Anjhe Mules started the brand in July 2010 with a background in swimwear, (which is very evident - some of my favorite pieces are her swim pieces).  Their philosophy strongly emphasizes the idea behind "art and science", marrying sports technology with sophisticated, high-fashion attitude. Often they also collaborate with artists and photographers, bringing a more runway look to each piece. Their A/W 2013 collection was inspired by the Rover Curiosity Mission; sci-fi silhouettes and ulta-modern. However there were a lot of pieces I would wear - and I tend to on the conservative/function scale of active fashion. I always get a little hesitant when I hear luxury+sci-fi silhouettes+performance wear all in the same sentence. LH does a very nice job of it! I see the inspiration but I also respect the functionality of each piece. Well done you. And for an extra fancy trivia fact: you can see Lucas Hugh in action, literally, in the most previous Hunger Games: Catching Fire movie.

LH has all the makings of a luxury performance brand. I always take the "about" descriptions with a grain of salt but so far so good LH. Producing in one of Europe's most technologically advanced factories gives them a huge advantage AND, (which I think is pretty cool) it also happens to be the research laboratory for Olympic swimwear development. Their fabrics are treated as one would expect from a performance activewear band; breathable, UV-protected, antimicrobial, moisture wicking. They mostly work with a tight-weave polyamide-lycra mix which gives each piece a mild compression fit which in turn assists with blood flow and muscle strain, okay makes sense... but apparently, "seamsealed technology" is a common feature in their design/construction. I say "apparently" because when I think of seamsealed I think of extreme weather and extreme performance garments - think winter wetsuits that need to protect the wearer from -30 degree water or snowboarding jackets, but workout leggings? I actually think its great and it makes sense. Seamsealed technology not only protects the wearer but the fabric as well and increases the longevity of the garment. For a luxury performance wear clothing line that lets me know that the clothing they are producing is supposed to last and has purpose - it's an investment. It also helps against chafing which is something I did not know but I can totally appreciate.

I have to give them credit, they are really stepping up and delivery on what their brand is about.
This was definitely a pleasant little discovery and I honestly look forward to seeing their continued success and evolution.
I encourage you to check them out! : http://www.lucashugh.com/