Activewear glossary
The fabric, fit and design words used on OVI product pages, in plain English.
- 7/8 length
- Leggings that end just above the ankle rather than at it. They show a little ankle and can suit shorter legs. Shop leggings
- Athleisure
- Activewear designed and worn as everyday clothing, not only for exercise.
- Bike short
- Close-fitting stretch shorts that end around mid-thigh. They are worn alone in warm weather or layered under skirts and dresses. Shop leggings
- Bikini set
- A two-piece swimsuit made of a top and a bottom, usually sold together as a set. Shop swimwear
- Bodysuit
- A close-fitting one-piece garment covering the torso, usually with a snap or brief-style bottom, worn on its own or under other clothes. Shop jumpsuits
- Brushed
- A fabric finish in which the surface is gently sanded to raise the fibers, giving a soft, plush, slightly warmer feel. Shop leggings
- Built-in shorts
- Shorts sewn inside a skirt or dress so you can move freely without extra layers. Check the product page to see whether a style has them. Shop tennis & golf
- Cotton
- A soft natural fiber with a familiar, matte feel. It absorbs moisture and dries more slowly than synthetics, so it is often used for tees, joggers and lounge wear. Shop menswear
- Cover-up
- A light garment, such as a dress, shirt or wrap, worn over swimwear at the beach or pool. Shop swimwear
- Criss-cross back
- A back design where straps cross over each other between the shoulders, often in an X shape. Shop bras & tops
- Crop top
- A top cut short so it ends above the natural waist, often worn with high-rise leggings or skirts. Shop bras & tops
- Cut & sew
- A method where panels are cut from flat fabric and stitched together. It allows pockets, prints, mesh panels and a wide range of shapes. Shop yoga sets
- Fabric line
- The list of fibers in a fabric by share of weight, largest first, adding up to 100%, such as 75% Nylon, 25% Spandex. It is shown on each product page.
- Flare
- A leg that is fitted through the hip and thigh and widens below the knee toward the hem, for a relaxed look. Shop leggings
- Flatlock seam
- A seam where the fabric edges are joined side by side and stitched flat rather than overlapped, so the join lies smooth against the skin. Shop leggings
- Four-way stretch
- Fabric that stretches both across and along its length. It moves with the body in every direction and is typical of leggings and sports bras. Shop leggings
- Full length
- Leggings or pants that reach the ankle, giving the most leg coverage. Shop leggings
- GSM
- Grams per square meter, a measure of fabric weight. A higher GSM generally means a heavier, denser fabric, though knit and fiber also matter.
- Gusset
- An extra fabric panel, often diamond-shaped, sewn into the crotch of leggings or shorts to give more room for movement and reduce seam strain. Shop leggings
- Halter
- A neckline where the straps go around the back of the neck rather than over the shoulders. Shop bras & tops
- High-rise (high-waist)
- A waistband that sits at or above the natural waist. Many people choose it because a taller band is less likely to roll down when bending. Shop leggings
- Joggers
- Relaxed pants with a cuffed ankle and an elastic or drawcord waist, worn for training, warm-ups and everyday wear. Shop menswear
- Jumpsuit
- A one-piece garment that combines a top and shorts or pants. Activewear jumpsuits are made in stretch fabrics for movement. Shop jumpsuits
- Matching set
- Two or more pieces, such as a bra with leggings, shorts or a skirt, made in the same fabric and color so they match exactly. Shop yoga sets
- Mesh panel
- An open, net-like section of fabric used for ventilation or as a design detail. Mesh is intentionally more see-through than the surrounding fabric.
- Moisture wicking
- A general fabric claim that the material moves sweat away from the skin toward the outer surface, where it can evaporate. How well a fabric does this varies, and it is not a feature of every garment.
- Nylon (polyamide)
- A strong, smooth synthetic fiber with a soft hand and gentle drape. Most styles in our range use a nylon-spandex blend. Shop leggings
- One-piece swimsuit
- A swimsuit made as a single garment covering the torso, from simple tank styles to cut-out and backless designs. Shop swimwear
- Opacity
- How much light a fabric blocks, or how see-through it looks. It depends on fabric weight, knit, color, stretch and lighting, so test new pieces in bright light. Shop leggings
- Pilling
- Small balls of fiber that form on a fabric's surface from friction. Washing inside out and away from rough items helps reduce it.
- Polyester
- A durable synthetic fiber that holds its shape and color well and dries relatively fast. It is common in swimwear, training tees and printed fabrics. Shop menswear
- Racerback
- A back design where the straps meet between the shoulder blades in a narrow T or Y shape, leaving the shoulders free. Shop bras & tops
- Recovery
- How well a fabric springs back to its original size after being stretched. Spandex content and gentle care both help a garment keep its recovery. Shop leggings
- Removable pads
- Soft cups that slip into pockets inside a bra or swimsuit and can be taken out for washing or a lighter feel. Many styles have them; check the product description. Shop bras & tops
- Ribbed
- A knit with raised vertical lines that give a textured look and feel. Ribbing appears on leggings, bras, tanks and sets. Shop bras & tops
- Seamless knit
- A garment knitted as a tube on circular knitting machines, close to its final shape, so it has very few seams. Texture and waistbands are knitted in rather than sewn on. Shop yoga sets
- Skort
- A skirt with shorts built in underneath, or shorts with a skirt panel on top. It is a popular choice for tennis and golf. Shop tennis & golf
- Spandex (elastane)
- A highly elastic synthetic fiber blended in small amounts with other fibers to give fabric stretch and recovery. Spandex and elastane are two names for the same fiber. Shop leggings
- Wide-leg
- Pants that are loose and roomy from the hip or thigh down, rather than fitted. Shop leggings
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