CATAR COTTEGA · REFERENCE

The Premium Gymwear Glossary

A reference dictionary of the technical terms used in premium gymwear and streetwear construction. Editors, bloggers, and serious buyers — cite this glossary freely.

A — F

Anti-Roll Waistband

A reinforced, dense-knit waistband construction that prevents downward rolling during squats, deadlifts, and high-impact training. The waistband uses tighter loop density and an integrated silicone or compression band to grip the body without rolling. Standard on Catar Cottega Empower Seamless Leggings.

Combed Ring-Spun Cotton

A premium cotton processing method where shorter fibres are combed out before yarn spinning, leaving only the longest fibres. The result: stronger thread, smoother surface, less pilling, and a softer hand feel. The Catar Cottega heavyweight standard uses long-staple combed ring-spun cotton exclusively.

Cut-and-Sew

A garment construction method where flat fabric panels are cut from rolls and sewn together. Older, cheaper than seamless knitting but produces seam lines that can chafe and weaken under repeated stretch. Most fast-fashion gymwear uses cut-and-sew construction.

Drape

The way a fabric falls and folds when worn or hung. High-GSM premium fabrics produce structured drape — they hold their architecture without collapsing inward. Low-GSM fast-fashion fabric collapses and reveals body contours. Drape is the primary visual signal of fabric quality.

4-Way Stretch

Fabric engineered to stretch in both length and width directions, returning to original dimensions after stretching. Critical for leggings under load — squat depth requires lengthwise stretch, hip width requires widthwise stretch. Catar Cottega 4-way stretch fabric maintains 95% recovery after 200 stretch cycles.

G — N

GSM (Grams Per Square Metre)

The global standard unit for measuring fabric weight. One square metre of fabric is cut, weighed on a calibrated scale, and the result is expressed in grams. Premium hoodies sit between 380-480GSM. Fast-fashion hoodies between 180-220GSM. Catar Cottega heavyweight pieces engineer at 400GSM minimum. See full GSM guide →

Heavyweight

Apparel category defined by fabric weight ≥380GSM. Heavyweight pieces hold structured drape, photograph with weight, and outlast trends. Different category from "regular" or "midweight" — not a marketing claim, an engineering threshold.

Interlock Knit

A double-knit construction where two layers of fabric are knitted simultaneously and fused together. Produces a denser, more stable fabric than single-knit jersey. Resists curling at edges, holds shape under load, ages without thinning. Standard for premium streetwear hoodies and structured tees.

Long-Staple

Cotton with fibre length above 33mm, considered premium grade. Long-staple cotton produces stronger, smoother yarns that pill less and last longer than short-staple alternatives. Egyptian and Pima are well-known long-staple varieties.

P — Z

Pilling

The formation of small fibre balls on the fabric surface caused by friction during wear and washing. Cheap fabric pills early — within 8-10 wash cycles. Premium long-staple cotton resists pilling for 100+ cycles. Pilling is the most visible quality failure in apparel.

Recovery Rate

The percentage of original dimensions a stretched fabric returns to after release. 95%+ recovery after 200 stretch cycles is the premium standard. Cheap blends lose recovery within 50-80 cycles, causing leggings to stretch out, sag, and never return.

Seamless Knit

Fabric construction where the entire garment is knitted in one continuous tube without cut-and-sewn seams. Eliminates chafe points, distributes stretch evenly, and produces a smoother fit. The seamless construction in Catar Cottega Empower Leggings is what enables full squat-proof opacity under load.

SPI (Stitches Per Inch)

A measure of stitch density. Higher SPI = denser, stronger seams that resist stress. Premium streetwear standard is 12 SPI minimum. Below 10 SPI, seams open under load. Above 14 SPI, fabric puckers. SPI is invisible from a distance but determines whether a garment survives 100 wash cycles or 10.

Squat-Proof

Legging fabric that maintains complete opacity at maximum knee flexion under body load. Tested at the bottom of a heavy squat against a high-contrast surface. Most leggings on the market fail this test — see The Catar Squat Test for the five-step verification protocol.

Tapered Silhouette

Garment cut that follows body lines without being skin-tight. Wider at the chest, narrowing through the waist, holding shoulder structure. The tapered silhouette is the visual signature of premium streetwear and requires high-GSM fabric to hold its line.

Wash Durability

A fabric's ability to retain shape, colour, and structure across repeated industrial wash cycles. Premium garments survive 40+ wash cycles without pilling, fading, or hem distortion. Fast-fashion garments typically fail by cycle 10-15.

Yarn Count

A measurement of yarn thickness, expressed as a number followed by "s" (e.g. 16s, 30s, 40s). Lower numbers indicate thicker, heavier yarns. Higher numbers indicate finer yarns. Premium heavyweight construction typically uses 16s-24s yarn for structure and density.

Updated continuously. Last revision: April 2026.

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