How to wash a competition leotard
GK Elite Sportswear (GK) offers fabrics that are produced to meet our exclusive stretch and quality standards. GK takes tremendous pride in having the best fabrics in the industry. As the leader in performance apparel, it's important for PRO SPORTSWEAR to advise you of the tendencies of certain fabrics, as well as practices to avoid.
Fabrics can be grouped into two categories
Long Wearing Durable Fabrics: Nylon/Spandex, Velvet, DryTech, Brushed Tricot, TechMesh, Campus Stretchtek and Campus Performance Mesh.
DryTech may shrink when heat is applied.
Sequinz cannot be applied to Velvet or Mesh.
Special Care Fragile Fabrics: Hologram, Mesh, and Nylon/spandex with Foil (Mystique)
Note that certain high fashion fabrics are more susceptible to wear and fading than other traditional long wearing, durable fabrics. Hologram and Nylon/Spandex with Foil (Mystique) fabrics will dull slightly in jewelled areas due to heat application.
Pilling may occur on HoloTek and Subfuse Sublimated fabrics when it comes in contact with any rough surfaces, examples: mats, grips, Velcro, floor mats, etc. The back/bottom area of the garment tends to pill easier than other areas. Unfortunately, this is any issue we cannot avoid due to the nature of the fabric. GK and PRO SPORTSWEAR will not be responsible for replacing or repairing any garment if pilling occurs.
Fragile Fabrics need extra special care
Repeated wear and washing may cause the fabrics to fade or lose foil.
Alcohol in all aerosol products, such as hairspray, affect these fabrics. Please cover garment before applying. Perfumes and body lotions can also affect fragile fabrics.
Deodorants and perspiration may cause these fabrics to colour bleed, fade or lose foil, especially when the two colours meet under the arms. We recommend the use of pure crystal deodorant, which does not contain Aluminium Chlorohydrate.
Mesh could potentially be damaged due to the rigors of certain routines, where person to person contact can add stress to the fabric. You are free to order this fabric but do so with great discretion because GK and PRO SPORTSWEAR will not guarantee the life span of this fabric. If you choose to use mesh in a design, you will be asked to sign a waiver. The waiver states that GK and PRO SPORTSWEAR. will not be responsible for replacing or repairing your garment(s).
Colour transference or colour bleed occurs when a white or light colour fabric is combined with a bright or dark colour fabric. This is a common industry problem and can become obvious under certain conditions, especially when a light colour garment is worn under a dark colour warm-up or short and/or when damp garments are left in gym bags. It is impossible for GK and PRO SPORTSWEAR to guarantee that our fabrics will not bleed, even by following proper washing instructions, due to the individual nature of each athlete's wear/washing procedure. The following is a list of fabrics that may be at greater risk for colour bleed, when combined with white or light colour fabrics: Berry Mystique, Black Mystique, Navy Mystique, Red Mystique, Rich Red Velvet and Merlot Mystique. You are free to order any fabric and colour combination, but please do so with great discretion. If you choose to combine light and dark colours, PRO SPORTSWEAR will not be responsible for replacing your garment(s) if colour bleed occurs.
Fabric softeners negatively affect the adhesives used in our garments, causing the foil on our fabrics to discolour and the embellishments to fall off.
Important Washing Instructions for all fabrics
Garment(s) must be washed separately. Turn garments inside out. Use a mild liquid detergent, gently hand wash in a large volume of cold water. Rinse immediately.
DO NOT allow garment to soak. Pat dry with a clean towel and use a thick plastic hanger to air dry.
DO NOT use fabric softeners. Fabric softeners negatively affect the adhesives used in our garments, causing the foil on our fabrics to discolour and the embellishments to fall off.
DO NOT dry clean. Dry cleaning uses harsh chemicals that can damage the fabric and embellishments used in our garments.
DO NOT iron. The heat from an iron can melt and/or discolour the delicate fabrics in our garments. Excessive heat can also weaken the adhesives used to attach the embellishments to the garment and cause them to fall off.
PRO SPORTSWEAR will not guarantee any garment that is not washed and dried as directed. If you choose to combine sensitive fabrics and colours, it is at your own risk. PRO SPORTSWEAR may refuse returns on special orders in those combinations.
Please Note
Attaching competitor numbers to the garment voids any warranty on the item. Any alterations or personalisation will also void any warranties.