Considerations for Designing Sportswear for Low-Income Tropical Countries

Abstract

Heat illnesses are critical for endurance athletes living in tropical and developing countries. However, the requirements of these athletes have not been considered in existing sportswear. Therefore, this study aims to assess the perceptions of endurance athletes living in a developing and tropical country regarding cooling sportswear. Four focus groups were conducted with 20 Sri Lankan endurance cycling athletes. Participants desired cooling sportswear to dissipate heat effectively in a tropical climate and to support personalized cooling while blocking heat discomfort from external sunlight. They preferred uniformity and team representation in the cooling sportswear design, expressing their emotional expectations related to the culture. Furthermore, participants recommended utilizing local resources for producing high-performance cycling wear to cost-effectively fulfil their requirements. The climatic, cultural and economic factors identified in this study shed light onto sportswear design for athletes living in tropical and developing countries.