Thermal Comfort and Performance Evaluation of High-End Versus Popular Dupe Athleticwear Leggings

Activewear clothing consumption has significantly taken hold of the apparel industry, shifting the way consumers dress day to day. During the COVID-19 pandemic, work at home orders and pivoting business agendas prompted consumers to purchase comfortable garments that make them feel active and on-the-move. More time at home has resulted in consumers’ researching and comparing products to find the best overall value of their purchases. This research evaluated the material and comfort performance of higher price versus lower price point leggings (knits). Based on consumer research, four pairs of leggings were selected by first determining the higher price point leggings and their consumer preferred dupes. The laboratory evaluations for each pair of leggings included fabric weight, thickness, pilling resistance, opacity, vertical wicking, and air permeability. A dynamic sweating thermal manikin was utilized to assess the physiological responses (primarily skin temperature and comfort sensation) of each pair of leggings, tested on a 35 zone ANDI thermal manikin in a controlled environmental chamber. Although the Brand A leggings were the most expensive, they could be considered the most valuable as they significantly outperformed all leggings in this study. Brand D dupe leggings may be considered a better value than brand C as they were half the price and had a similar material performance.

Keywords:Athleticwear; Comfort; Performance; Price; Thermal Manikin