Clothing For the Avid Bodybuilder

Comfortable body building apparel is very important. Cotton is the best material for items of body building apparel because there is a lot of sweating associated with body building and moisture created from sweating requires a good material to absorb it. The right body building apparel should make you feel great even during the most strenuous exercises.

T-shirts, tank tops, fleece shirts, workout pants and various other articles are important to the body builder. By far, the favorite item of body building apparel is the tank top. Many sportswear manufacturers have declared it the top selling piece of clothing. It comes in a variety of colors and at very low prices, not more than a few bucks, is affordable to all.

The tank top is most athletes' first choice for their favorite piece of apparel since it gives a nice view of the buffed up muscles and it makes one aware of the progress they have made in the gym. Tank tops really make one feel great particularly if the results of intensive workouts are obvious. One thing to remember, you shouldn't get too tight a top tank as it will keep your skin wet all the time when you get sweaty.

Pants and shorts are equally important body building apparel. You not only have to be stylish but first and foremost you should be comfortable when working out. Baggy pants are in high demand because a relaxed fit is what most athletes look for. There is also the choice of large and narrow ankle cuffs for increased ease of movement and the choice of colors and sizes is incredible.

Last but not least, we should also mention the special weight lift shoes that meet the requirements and rigors of extreme sports,since strength sports usually need special footwear that assures adherence and extra protection. Check out the internet for large choices and prices for body building apparel. You won't regret it.

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Clothing for Change

Imagine browsing the stores looking for fun new fashions, checking the fit, feeling the softness, checking the tag to find “Made with 100% cotton, grown with 1/3 pound of pesticides, colored with reactive dyes fixed with heavy metals and produced by children in unsanitary, low-wage sweatshop conditions.” Labeling standards don’t yet require that information, and nobody is offering it up voluntarily, but the reality is that the latest trendy top you are looking at just might fit the bill.

For health and social reasons, many consumers today have made the switch to cotton from petroleum-based synthetic fibers such as polyester, but the fabric of our lives is not necessarily a choice without consequences. Globally, 25% of insecticide use is attributable to cotton production. In addition, conventional growing of cotton makes heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers. These insecticides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers then seep into our soil and waterways. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has deemed seven of the top 15 pesticides used on U.S. cotton crops to be potential or known human carcinogens.

Much of the apparel in the US is made in sweatshops where workers labor in unsafe, unsanitary conditions, are paid wages so low they must struggle to provide for their families, and children are exploited.

Fortunately, there are alternatives. Today’s fashion market has a wealth of environmentally and socially responsible options, such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, soy, and organic wool.

Certified organic cotton is grown with consideration for the natural biodiversity, without the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers. The advantages go beyond the health and environmental benefits though. Organic cotton fibers tend to be longer-staple, producing stronger softer yarns, and, thus longer-lasting softer garments.

Let's not stop with organic cotton. Hemp is another natural fiber beginning to blossom in the eco-fashion industry. Hemp is most often grown without herbicides, fungicides or pesticides. With fibers longer, stronger and more absorbent than cotton, hemp produces strong yarns and garments that last. Naturally resistant to bacteria and UV light, hemp is a great choice for socks, shoes, and apparel.

And how will it look in your closet? The days of loose hemp anti-styles are no longer. Today’s hemp wear has its place in cutting edge design, knits that hug the body, linen-quality dresses that flatter the figure, and sturdy canvas shoes.

So don't be discouraged that 100% cotton isn't such a 100% natural choice. Today we have many options in eco-friendly and socially responsible apparel without compromising fashion. Fashion is about finding your own style. Shouldn’t your style be in line with your values?

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