What is a Performance Shirt and How is it Different?

Performance shirts are a trend that has been growing in popularity as more and more people discover the advantages and aesthetics of this type of men's fashion. There are many benefits to performance shirts, and they have a lot of different uses as well. 

When you're first getting started on your journey of outfitting yourself with the best shirt options available, it's important that you know what separates a regular dress shirt from one made specifically with performance in mind. The following guide will help you find the best shirt for your needs.

Let's start out by defining what a performance shirt is. 

Performance Shirts: What Are They?

Performance shirts are made from different types of materials than traditional dress shirts, and they have many more benefits as well. For example, they wick sweat away so that it evaporates quickly off the fabric instead of soaking into it or sticking around on your skin. 

What are Performance Shirts Made Of? 

The material that makes up performance shirts varies, depending on the manufacturer and how they intend their product to work. Some common materials include: 

  • Nylon: this type of fabric has great wicking properties, so it can help to keep you cool and dry.
  • Polyester: this type of fabric is also great at wicking away moisture from the body. In addition to that benefit, it's a strong material and can hold its shape well after being washed so that it won't wrinkle as easily.
  • Rayon: similar to polyester, except that it's even more lightweight and breathable than that fabric. 
  • Spandex: this type of material is stretchy, so it moves with your body and won't restrict movement. It also wicks moisture away from the skin to keep you cool during wear.
  • Cotton: one of the oldest fabrics around, cotton is great for absorbing moisture since it has small pores in its material to soak up sweat without feeling sticky or uncomfortable. 
  • Synthetic blends: Because fabric blends are often made with multiple fabrics to create different effects, there's a wide variety of materials used to make performance shirts. Take W.R.K's non-iron performance dress shirts, for example, which are cut from an 86% Polyester, 14% Spandex synthetic blend. 

These are just a few of the most common materials used in performance shirts—others can work even better for specific situations or uses than these listed here.

How do Performance Shirts Work? 

Most performance shirt technology works by using a lightweight fabric like polyester. The fibers are woven throughout the shirt to push sweat away from the body and move it through the clothing so that it evaporates, resulting in only dry air touching your skin rather than a wet, sticky shirt. 

Where do You Wear Performance Shirts? 

You can wear a performance shirt pretty much anywhere you'd normally wear another type of shirt as long as it's appropriate for the setting and weather conditions. 

However, since these kinds of shirts are typically designed to be worn in hotter temperatures or when working up a sweat during physical activity, they're great for sports and other outdoor activities like hiking or playing golf. 

You can also wear them while working out since you'll sweat less and feel more comfortable in the lightweight fabric that wicks away moisture from your skin. Of course, this means fewer germs on your clothing too!

With performance dress shirts, you wear them to work or to a business meeting. They're versatile enough that you can wear them in any setting, but they also can wick sweat away from your body better than most other fabrics out there. 

What's The Difference Between A Performance Shirt And Other Shirts?

As mentioned, performance shirts are made with different materials and technology to wick away sweat and moisture. In addition, they may have anti-microbial properties to make them more resistant to odor, making these types of shirts great for warmer weather or activities that are likely to cause you to build up a lot of perspiration throughout the day.

Performance shirts are often made to be wrinkle-resistant too. For example, the synthetic blend used to make W.R.K's Gingham Men's Performance Dress Shirt gives it anti-wrinkling properties while still keeping things lightweight and comfortable. 

Put Our Performance Shirts to W.R.K for You! 

Be sure to check out the performance shirt options in our menswear collection at W.R.K. Our shirts' 86 % polyester and 14% percent spandex construction provides comfort, fast-drying, zero pilling, and anti-wrinkle and anti-microbial properties. We have a variety of styles, colors, and types to suit every need, and we're sure you'll find the perfect one for you and your lifestyle! 

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