Sports and Performance Clothing: From Fibres to Function

Professional Academy for Creative Enterprise (PACE) onsite courses offer a range of in-person teaching and learning experiences at our University of Leeds campus.

Discover the fundamentals of performance textiles through a dynamic mix of theory and practical demonstrations. This hands-on course explores how functional clothing works, why it matters, and how to choose the right materials. Ideal for professionals working with sportswear or protective apparel, it offers essential insights into fibres, fabric performance, and application-specific design.

What Will You Learn?

• Understand how the human body regulates temperature and the implications for clothing design.
• Identify and evaluate the key functionalities of technical textiles, including moisture management, insulation, and water resistance.
• Explore the structure and working mechanisms of performance garments such as base layers, outerwear, and protective uniforms.
• Learn how to assess the comfort, mobility, and protective qualities of garments for specific environments and user needs.
• Gain insight into industry-standard performance requirements and testing methods for technical apparel.
• Observe demonstrations of key performance tests, including base layer effectiveness and waterproof garment evaluation.
• Develop the ability to select appropriate fibres, yarns, and fabric finishes to meet environmental and activity-specific demands.
• Differentiate between textile materials used in constructing performance clothing and understand their applications across sportswear, gorpcore, and specialist sectors.
  
  Learn more about the course and enrol here.