Performance-Ready Yoga Apparel Starts with Smarter Elastic Solutions

Designing yoga clothing that moves with the body and holds up after every stretch, twist and wash takes more than soft fabrics and trendy silhouettes. The real challenge lies in the invisible infrastructure—elastic components that work as hard as your customer does.

After working with yoga brands for decades, we've learned that the difference between good activewear and great activewear often comes down to elastic selection. This article lets you in on what we’ve discovered.
 

Essential Elastic Components for High-Performance Yogawear

Whether you’re developing sleek yoga bras, supportive leggings, or multi-functional sets, the right trim components help elevate both comfort and construction. Here’s where ECI’s elastic solutions come in:

1. Chest bands That Support Without Irritating

The chest band is arguably the most critical component in yoga bra construction—it needs to provide support during inversions while remaining comfortable during extended wear. ECI offers a range of skin-friendly, plush elastic bands with a brushed, soft backing that feels gentle against skin. This is crucial for garments worn directly against the body during sweaty sessions.
We also supply:

• Versatile elastic ribs for enhanced structure and aesthetic flexibility
• Jacquard options for woven-in branding without additional printing
• Silicone coating for added stay-in-place performance

 

2. Waistbands That Move Naturally

One common issue we see with yoga leggings? Waistbands that roll or dig in during poses. Our inner waistband elastics solve this by combining durability with breathability, making them ideal for high-waisted leggings and shorts. We offer knitted and woven options with multi-material blends that balance compression and comfort.
Key features:

• Comfortable stretch recovery and no rolling
• Availability in wide widths and printable formats if used externally for cut and sew
• Options for logo integration via digital or screen printing, or sublimation

3. Pocket Tapes and Finishing Trims That Deliver Subtle Function

Modern yoga wear isn't just about the main garment—it's about the thoughtful details that make practice more convenient. Pocket openings, stash compartments, and interior tech sleeves benefit from structured elastic or non-elastic narrow fabrics that keep the garment lightweight but secure.
Popular choices include:

• Fold-over elastic for clean, streamlined seams
• Binding tape and contrast piping to add polished finishes or color accents
• Non-elastic tape for form stability without stretch

Showcase: Elastic Trims in Action

Below, we’ll highlight real product applications of our trims used in yoga wear. From ribbed chest bands to inner elastic and pocket narrow fabric, each example reflects the performance and design flexibility ECI brings to the table.

33406-20T, 33J71-25T 31569-35

These products feature a skin friendly aesthetic and are created with multi-material blends (polyester/nylon/elastane) that balance compression for support with comfort. These solutions come in solid color and are commonly used for waistband/chest band. The general size is 1-3/8 inch and is ideally designed for use in activewear.

44636-50R-SP

Inner elastic solutions are designed for optimal comfort and resilience. Perfect for various apparel applications, this elastic offers excellent stretchability and a gentle touch, ensuring a perfect fit and sustained performance. Available in multiple sizes and colors, it's the ideal choice for top apparel brands aiming for quality and style in every stitch.

9H079-71P

Upgrade your activewear with ECI's 9H079-71P pocket waistband—a fabric-covered elastic trim engineered for yoga and compression pants that demand secure, bounce-free storage. The low-profile pouch sits flush against the body, stretching just enough to keep smartphones, keys, or energy gels locked in place through every squat, lunge, and run. Manufactured with a soft, moisture-wicking knit on the skin side and reinforced edges for long-term durability, this narrow fabric trim delivers all-day comfort without adding bulk. Available in custom widths, colors, and recycled-yarn blends through ECI's vertically integrated mills, the 9H079-71P helps brands streamline production while giving athletes the hands-free freedom they expect from performance apparel.

Waistband/Chest band
33406-20T	31569-35		33J71-25T
Inner elastic		Pocket Tapes
44636-50R-SP		9H079-71P

Why Global Brands Choose ECI

Beyond the technical specs, brands choose ECI because we understand the unique challenges of yoga apparel manufacturing.

• Global Reach, Local Efficiency: With facilities in Taiwan, Vietnam, and China, we serve apparel makers worldwide with fast lead times and reliable logistics.
• Vertical Production Control: Yarn sourcing, weaving, dyeing, finishing, and packaging are all done in-house, ensuring quality consistency.
• Sustainability-Ready Options: Recycled yarns and certified processes available to meet your eco goals.
• Flexible MOQs: Supporting product launches, capsule runs, and large-scale programs alike.

From ideation to production, our technical and design teams collaborate closely to ensure each elastic tape we deliver meets brand standards—and wears beautifully.

Let’s Create Yogawear That Moves With Confidence

Whether you're launching your first yoga line or refining an existing collection, we're here to help solve the elastic challenges that can make or break activewear performance. Let's talk about what your designs need.
ECI delivers elastic innovation that stretches with your design ambitions—because yoga apparel should feel as good as it looks.

Explore our elastic collection →