The Kit Intervention: Why Your Club’s Cheap Polyester is Killing Performance

Sustainable teamwear Australia

Too many local clubs still rely on cheap polyester kits. They may save money upfront, but they often work against the player. Heavy, non-breathable fabric traps heat and moisture, which increases perceived exertion and discomfort through long sessions. If your squad wears low-grade polyester, the issue is not only style. It can also limit comfort, recovery, and output.

The science of the sponge effect

Cheap virgin polyester behaves more like plastic than performance fabric. It lacks the capillary action needed to move sweat away from skin. As sweat builds, these fibres trap heat and moisture, creating a warm, damp layer that sits against the body and causes fatigue and irritation faster than it should.

The elite alternative: Nike Move to Zero and Adidas Primegreen

By working with Nike and Adidas, Empulse offers kits with recycled content and strong on-field function. Nike Move to Zero uses recycled polyester diverted from landfill and is designed to support airflow and sweat evaporation. Adidas Primegreen brings together high-performance materials that remove virgin plastic from the equation. For clubs comparing Nike and Adidas teamwear, fabric performance is central: sustainable teamwear is a performance conversation, not only an environmental one.

The Empulse philosophy

Choosing a kit should not be a race to the bottom on price. Durability, breathability, and comfort all matter over a long season. Empulse operates a made-to-order model, which helps reduce overproduction and unnecessary textile waste. When clubs choose custom teamwear from Empulse, they choose fabrics like Sorona and GRS-certified recycled polyester, both built for stretch, durability, and repeated washing. Producing rPET uses up to 59% less energy than virgin polyester and reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 32%. That means clubs reduce impact while choosing fabric suited to training and competition.

Performance pairing: socks matter too

Kit quality extends to socks. Most jerseys hold odour after washing when the fabric dries too slowly. Matching performance jerseys with Empulse Grip Socks Pro or the El Toro Grip Sock for combined grip and compression gives players a performance setup from shoulder to cleat. For the full comparison, read Grip Socks vs Compression Socks: What Your Team Needs.

Lead the culture, not follow it

Modern athletes are increasingly aware of what they wear and what it represents. Switching to better fabrics improves comfort, appearance, and durability. It also reflects the values of the team. The heavy, itchy kits of the past are harder to justify when better options already exist. Explore the full Nike range and Adidas range at Empulse, or visit the Custom Teamwear page to start building your club's kit.