Fade resistant fabrics for people who sweat ... a lot

[warmsecondrinse]

This is a companion to my dyeing thread.

I've a few 'dressy' black T-shirts made with a cotton blend. The synthetic is not regular polyester. I've noticed that it's much more resistant to fading than my all-cotton shirts and doesn't stick to me when I'm soaked in sweat. The tag is too faded to read.

I work in stuffy, overheated classrooms so it's not too unusual for me to be drenched in with sweat as though I've been out running. Add to that my incredibly oily skin and by the end of the day my cotton shirt is smelly, slimy, and covered with salt stains.

I've spent hours searching on line and have discovered hundreds of pages that address this apparently popular topic. Yet any mention of specific fabrics or fabric blends (generic or brand) is conspicuously absent.

Has anyone found a fabric or fabric blend (generic or brand) that breathes, doesn't turn slimy, and leaves you looking fairly presentable once you've finally cooled off? Even better if the colour doesn't fade when washed per instructions.
Despite all the advertising, 100% cotton has proven to be a poor choice.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[xraytech]

I really like the Under Armour shirts

 

[washer111]

I've been slowing discovering that wearing a white, all-cotton undershirt (whatever "cut" fits the need) helps immensely. 

{Thanks to Tom for suggesting I get a heap of these and wearing them to mitigate sweat-stains in nicer shirts!}

 

The way it works is something of an oxymoron, I suppose - since you'd think wearing it would be counter-intuitive. 

 

However, the shirt should be tight fitting, so as to "sop up" the sweat. You then want to wear something at least a tad breathable, which gives a strong evaporative cooling effect as the shirt is tightly fitting to your body - as opposed to a shirt on top which is just getting hot from the sunlight and not really letting your sweat work as it should. 

 

In the hot climate where I live - undershirts are great when you can get just a little air moving. In still-air situations, nothing helps. 

 

As for "just a shirt" types - AVOID, AT ALL COSTS those full-synthetic shirts that appear to be really breathable. 

Seriously, just don't. 

My experience (as my work provides these darned polo shirts) is that they are cold if you stand in a commercial chiller, and roasting hot in anything above tepid environments. They attract heat from the sun like NOTHING else, and sweat just makes it even worse (and smelly, too). And they don't breathe well unless you blast a fan on you, or position the shirt to 'catch wind.' 

To their credit, they don't fade much from sweat (I really dislike shirts 'rotted' and faded in characteristic patterns from sweat). 

 

[tolivac]

If you are sweating at that workplace-and indoors-Think the employer should provide a way to keep you and the others cool.Fans or ductless AC units.I WOULDN'T work in such a place.Safety here!This appears to be UNSAFE working conditions!Does the place have water or other drinks available for you to drink?Thinks its time to discuss these issues with the employer of that workplace.Sounds really weird that the place isn't cooled.