Kestrel Sport Switzerland: Yoga and Pilates Studio Programme Field Test Report
Kestrel Sport is a Switzerland-based brand whose yoga and pilates studio programme is one of its most demanding programmes. Kestrel Sport runs its yoga and pilates studio programme across Switzerland and asked us to prove the fabric in the field rather than in a brochure. This report covers a full season of real use with moisture-wicking polyester single jersey.
Kestrel Sport: Moisture-Wicking Polyester Single Jersey in use during mat-based studio sessions and long holds
Evaluation background
The programme covers leggings, crop tops and studio shorts, used for mat-based studio sessions and long holds. The environment is warm, humid studios with sustained low-load stretch and the requirement written into the brief was a soft hand with full coverage through every pose. Fabric was selected on that basis rather than on price alone.
Fabric under evaluation
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Moisture-Wicking Polyester Single Jersey |
| Composition | 88% polyester / 12% spandex |
| Weight | 170 GSM |
| Width | 160 cm |
| Primary function | moves sweat to the outer face so it can evaporate |
| Target | moisture management class 4-5 |
| Test method | AATCC 195 |
| Additional note | one-way transport index above 300 |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX Standard 100 |
Moisture-Wicking Polyester Single Jersey close-up showing the fabric surface
Test scope
Twenty garments were issued to regular participants and tracked for eight weeks. Every item was used for mat-based studio sessions and long holds and laundered under the same domestic conditions, so the only real variable was wear.
Conditions covered
The programme ran through warm, humid studios with sustained low-load stretch. That is the environment the fabric has to survive, and it is harsher than any laboratory chamber we could have built.
Evaluation session with the Kestrel Sport team
What we measured
Garments were inspected every two weeks for surface wear, seam condition, dimensional change and retained hand. Fabric was retested at the end of the period against AATCC 195.
What users reported
Participants logged comfort, drying behaviour and any irritation. The recurring comment was that the moisture-wicking polyester single jersey stayed comfortable at the point where a soft hand with full coverage through every pose would normally be lost.
Test records and inspection notes for the Yoga and Pilates Studio Programme
Scorecard
| Criterion | Result |
|---|---|
| Comfort in use | 4.9 / 5 |
| Drying behaviour | 4.5 / 5 |
| Surface wear | 4.6 / 5 |
| Dimensional stability | 4.3 / 5 |
| Value | 4.7 / 5 |
“Fifty washes later the fabric still performs. That is what convinced our buying team.” — Kestrel Sport Technical Team
Packed bulk rolls before shipment to Switzerland
Verdict and recommendation
Field testing confirmed the laboratory picture. The moisture-wicking polyester single jersey held its moisture management class 4-5 across the whole season and we recommend it for the next programme without change. For Kestrel Sport the practical next steps are to keep the current specification for the repeat, retain the shade standard, and issue AATCC 195 results with every lot so any claim can be supported with data.
