Washing Guide For Kyodan Activewear

Kyodan is an activewear brand that’s known for their functionality and versatility. Not only do they produce high-quality products, but they’re affordable as well, which is one of the reasons why they’re so popular.

About the Company

Based in Montreal, the brand has been producing activewear since 2006. To date, they’ve shipped more than 10 million units. Aside from their online store, you can find their products are retailers such as Marshall’s, Burlington, and TJMaxx. Various items are also available on Amazon, for those who’d like to take advantage of their two-day shipping.

Their Activewear Collection

Kyodan offers a wide selection of activewear for women, men, and girls. Some of their best-selling products include their tops (seamless bras, long sleeves, t-shirts), leggings, joggers, shorts, and tanks.

Price-wise, you can expect to spend between $30 to $60 per item. They also have frequent sales. Take their hoodies, for example, they’re often discounted to ~$20. Shipping is also free if you order more than $100 (otherwise it’s a standard shipping fee of $10).

Tip: You can save 15% off your first order by subscribing to their online newsletter. Just enter your email at the bottom of their website!

Caring For Your Kyodan Activewear

Their activewear is of pretty great quality for the price. Remember, though, they’ll only last if you take care of them. This means being diligent about doing the laundry. In other words, don’t procrastinate when it comes to washing your tops and bottoms—do it as soon as possible after getting home, especially if you’ve been working out.

You don’t want the sweat to remain on the fabric. Not only will it cause an odor, but it can also cause the fibers to wear out prematurely. And be careful how you’re washing the clothes. Always give the care tag label a read before tossing the items in the wash!

What Fabrics Are Their Activewear Made Of?

Kyodan, like most activewear brands, uses technical aka synthetic fabrics for their clothes. We’ll be going over some of them below:

Nylon

Nylon is a synthetic material that’s often used in activewear and other types of clothing. Advantage-wise, it’s soft, lightweight, elastic, and inexpensive. It’s also durable in that it resists abrasion, moisture, mold, and mildew. Like most engineered fabrics, however, it doesn’t do well with heat (it can shrink or melt if exposed to high temperatures).

Spandex

Spandex is made from long chains of polyurethane, which gives it incredible elasticity. It’s also great for layering. For example, it’s often used in base layers (it’ll hug the body and trap the heat in). On top of that, it’s durable. The only thing is that it must be combined with other fibers in clothing; it can’t be used by itself.

Polyester

Polyester is inexpensive, strong, lightweight, and flexible. It’s also durable and retains its shape well, which makes it an excellent choice for sportswear. Plus, it’s easy to clean and quick-drying. It does have one disadvantage, though—it isn’t very breathable, especially when compared to cotton (ie. it tends to stick to wet skin).

Two Easy Ways to Wash Your Kyodan Leggings

It’s perfectly fine to put your Kyodan leggings in the washing machine. For those who want to be extra careful, consider washing them by hand—that’ll limit the amount of friction that they’re exposed to, which will make them last longer.

Machine Washing Your Kyodan Leggings

Empty the side pockets. Make sure nothing is left inside and turn the pants inside out; that’ll keep the outside from fading. Once you’ve done that, place them in a mesh garment bag. While it’s not mandatory, we highly suggest using one as it’ll keep your pants looking new for longer (it’ll prevent them from rubbing against the rest of your clothes while they’re being washed).

Secure the contents by zipping up the bag and throw it in the washing machine. Add the rest of your clothes and don’t hesitate to use more laundry bags, if necessary. If anything, they’ll lengthen the lifespan of your clothes.

Tip: We recommend washing your leggings with other activewear items such as shorts, tank tops, and hoodies. The only requirement is that they must be of similar colors (ie. don’t mix lights with darks).

Add a scoop of ACTIVE detergent to the drum (or dispenser) and set your washer to a delicate setting. Run a cold-water cycle. Never use hot water—it might be great for sanitizing, but it’ll wear out the fabric prematurely. And don’t use fabric softener. Not only are they bad for your skin, but they can also trap dirt inside your leggings, which will make them harder to clean.

Take the laundry bags out of the machine once the cycle is finished. Remove the leggings and lay them flat to dry on a clean surface (e.g. towel). Alternatively, you can put them up on hanger, clothesline, or drying rack. Avoid leaving them outside; direct sunlight can cause the dyes to fade.

Never tumble dry.

Hand Washing Your Kyodan Leggings 

All you need is a sink or bucket. Fill it three-quarters full with lukewarm water and pour in 1/2 a scoop of ACTIVE detergent. Dissolve the powder by swishing the water several times with your hands; there should be lots of bubbles once it’s mixed.

Prepare your leggings. Double-check that nothing is left in the pockets and turn them inside out—that’ll expose the dirty layer to the detergent. Lower them into the sink/bucket and make sure they’re completely saturated with the solution. Swirl them through the water a few times, if you have to.

Leave the pants in the sink/bucket to soak for 15 to 20 minutes. That’ll allow the soap suds to permeate the fabric.

Rinse the leggings thoroughly with water after soaking. You can do that in the sink/bucket (after refilling with water) or you can hold them directly under the tap. Gently rinse the fabric by kneading it with your hands and continue until the water runs clear and there are no more soap suds.

Press the leggings against the edge of the sink or container to remove the excess water. Place them on a clean towel and press down again to squeeze out more water.

Once you’ve done that, place them on a hanger or laundry rack for air drying. Never put your leggings, or any activewear for that matter, in the dryer.

Two Easy Ways to Wash Your Kyodan Bra Tops

Machine Washing Kyodan Bra Tops

Remove the bra cups before washing. For the best results, hand wash them separately in the sink (wait until they’re completely dry before putting them back in). Once you’ve removed the padding, turn the bra top inside out and place it in a mesh bag; it’ll protect the bra from your other clothes by acting as a physical barrier. Avoid putting your bra directly in the washer (the friction can damage the item).

Make sure the zipper is closed all the way and toss the lingerie bag in the washer. You can wash your bra tops with other delicates such as undergarments or base layers as long as you’re not mixing different colors.

Measure one scoop of ACTIVE detergent from the bag and pour it in. And as always, it’s best to skip the fabric softener altogether. If anything, they’ll do more harm than good to your bra tops.

Tip: You can substitute white vinegar for fabric softener. Add 1/2 to 1 cup during the rinse cycle and it’ll soften and deodorize your clothes!

Set your washing machine to ‘delicate’ or ‘gentle’ and run a cold water cycle. Wait for it to finish running before retrieving your laundry bags. Take out your bra tops and allow them to air dry on a drying rack or clothesline. You can also lay them flat on a clean towel. Never use the dryer—the heat will stretch out and distort the elastic.

Hand Washing Your Kyodan Bra Tops

Prepare a bath for your bra tops. Fill a clean sink or container with cool water and mix in half a scoop of ACTIVE detergent to create a sudsy solution. Swish the water a few times to dissolve the powder, if you have to.

Take the pads out of the bra top and place them in the sink; they should be completely covered by the water. Next, do the same to your bra (after turning it inside out to expose the inner layer).

Swirl the item through the soapy water and let it sit for up to 20 minutes.

Drain the murky water and refill the sink/container with fresh water from the tap. Rinse the bra top (and removable cups) thoroughly, until the water runs clear. You may have to repeat this a few times to get rid of all the detergent.

Once the soap suds are gone, remove the bra top and cups from the sink. Gently press out the water (don’t wring or squeeze) and allow them to air dry on a clean towel. You can also use a rack or a hanger as long as you’re careful not to hang the bra up by its straps (they can stretch out permanently due to the weight of the water).