{"id":3544,"date":"2026-10-09T06:29:36","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T22:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myphonepk.com\/blog\/?p=3544"},"modified":"2026-10-09T06:29:36","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T22:29:36","slug":"is-athletic-knitwear-available-in-plus-size-options-4255-051bd8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.myphonepk.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/09\/is-athletic-knitwear-available-in-plus-size-options-4255-051bd8\/","title":{"rendered":"Is athletic knitwear available in plus – size options?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As someone who\u2019s spent the last decade designing and distributing athletic knitwear, I get that the gear you pull on for a run, gym session, or weekend hike doesn\u2019t just have to work\u2014it has to fit. For too long, plus-size shoppers have been left with either ill-fitting pieces that ride up, dig in, or fall apart after a few uses, or a tiny selection of generic \u201cone-size-fits-most\u201d that doesn\u2019t account for different body types. That\u2019s why this question\u2014\u201cIs athletic knitwear available in plus-size options?\u201d\u2014isn\u2019t just a passing curiosity; it\u2019s a core part of why I started my business in the first place. Let\u2019s break this down, not as a generic industry take, but from the perspective of someone who\u2019s sat in design meetings, argued with fabric suppliers, and tested every inch of our plus-size pieces on real athletes. Athletic Knitwear<\/a><\/p>\n

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First, the short answer: Yes, athletic knitwear absolutely is available in plus-size options, but the quality, range, and accessibility of those pieces vary wildly across the industry. A lot of big-name brands talk a big game about size inclusivity, but scratch the surface, and you\u2019ll find that their \u201cplus-size line\u201d is often just a stretched version of their straight-size patterns, made with cheaper fabric, and released in a limited run that sells out in 48 hours. At my company, we\u2019ve built our entire model around avoiding that exact pitfall, so let\u2019s get into what separates a good plus-size athletic knit piece from a frustrating throwaway.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the basics: athletic knitwear is different from casual knitwear. It\u2019s designed to stretch with movement, wick away sweat, and hold its shape when you lift a weight, sprint a mile, or do a yoga flow that twists your body in unexpected ways. For straight-size knitwear, pattern makers have a baseline\u2014they know where the seams should sit, how much stretch is needed across the chest, shoulders, and waist. For plus-size, that baseline doesn\u2019t just \u201cscale up\u201d; it needs to be completely reworked. A common mistake we see from brands is taking a medium-size compression shirt and adding 2 inches to each side, resulting in fabric that\u2019s too loose in the shoulders and too tight across the torso, or seams that dig into the underbust or hips. That\u2019s why all our plus-size pieces go through a separate pattern design phase, with measurements specifically for size 1X to 6X, and we test every pattern on bodies that match those sizes\u2014not just a sample size 1X model who\u2019s never actually run a 5K.<\/p>\n

Fabric is another make-or-break point. Regular athletic knit fabric is usually a blend of polyester, spandex, and sometimes cotton, but for plus-size wearers, the right blend is non-negotiable. Too much stretch, and the fabric bagges out after a few washes; too little, and it restricts movement. We spent six months testing fabric suppliers before landing on our signature 82% polyester, 18% spandex blend for plus-size performance tops and bottoms. It has 4-way stretch that moves with the body, not against it, wicks moisture 30% faster than our old fabric blend, and doesn\u2019t pill or fade after 50 wash cycles\u2014something our customers consistently feedback on. For our knit sports bras, which are a staple for plus-size athletes, we use a thicker, compression-grade knit with seamless underbust bands that don\u2019t dig, and adjustable straps that don\u2019t slide down mid-workout. A lot of generic plus sports bras use thin banding that rolls up after 10 minutes of exercise, but our design team tested 12 different band widths before landing on 2 inches for sizes 1X to 3X, and 2.5 inches for 4X to 6X, so it supports without constricting.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about the common gaps that still exist. Even with all the progress in recent years, there are categories of athletic knitwear that are still severely limited in plus sizes. Longline compression tops, for example, which are popular for running and cross-training, often stop at size 2X, and if you find a 3X or 4X version, it\u2019s usually a basic black with no structural support. Knit sweat sets, which are huge for casual workouts and post-gym lounge wear, often only go up to 2X, and the pants have a too-narrow leg opening that makes walking feel awkward. We noticed that gap two years ago, so we expanded our sweat set line to 6X, and adjusted the leg openings to be 2 inches wider than the standard straight-size fit, which has been a game-changer for customers who want a set that works for both gym days and coffee runs. There\u2019s also a gap in specialized athletic knitwear for specific sports: plus-size thermal knit base layers for winter running, plus-size knit volleyball jerseys, even plus-size knit compression shorts for swimming. Most brands leave these to niche retailers, so we\u2019ve been working on expanding our line to fill those gaps, with a thermal knit base layer that\u2019s lightweight enough for 5K runs in 30-degree weather, but thick enough to stay warm without bulk.<\/p>\n

One thing that\u2019s super important to us as a supplier is sizing transparency. A lot of brands label their plus-size lines with vague terms like \u201cplus\u201d or \u201cextended sizes,\u201d which don\u2019t tell you anything about the actual measurements. We don\u2019t do that. Every product page on our site has full, detailed measurements for each size, including chest circumference, waist circumference, inseam length, and underbust band size for sports bras. That\u2019s because we\u2019ve heard too many horror stories from customers who ordered a 2X because the brand said it fit up to 200 pounds, but it was too tight across the chest and too long in the torso. For our knit tops, we even offer torso length adjustments for sizes 4X and up, because we know that people with larger body types often have different torso proportions\u2014what fits someone with a shorter torso might not work for someone with a longer one, and vice versa.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about why this matters beyond just comfort. Access to well-fitting plus-size athletic knitwear is directly tied to activity levels, especially for people who\u2019ve been excluded from fitness spaces for years. If you can\u2019t find gear that fits right, you\u2019re less likely to lace up your shoes, go to the gym, or join a yoga class. We\u2019ve had customers tell us that our sports bras were the first ones that didn\u2019t give them back pain after a workout, or that our running tops didn\u2019t ride up when they did lunges, which led them to start running their first 5K. That\u2019s why we don\u2019t see plus-size athletic knitwear as a \u201cside line\u201d or a \u201cmarketing afterthought\u201d\u2014it\u2019s core to our mission.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not just about the product; it\u2019s about the business model. For a long time, suppliers were hesitant to invest in plus-size lines because they assumed demand was lower, or that producing smaller runs would be less profitable. That myth is outdated. Recent data from the National Retail Federation shows that plus-size apparel sales are growing twice as fast as straight-size sales, hitting $24 billion in the U.S. alone in 2023. But there\u2019s a catch: customers aren\u2019t just buying more plus-size clothes\u2014they\u2019re buying better plus-size clothes. A 2022 survey by the Council of Fashion Designers of America found that 78% of plus-size shoppers would pay 10-20% more for well-fitting, high-quality athletic wear, compared to a generic stretched version. That\u2019s why we don\u2019t cut corners on fabric, pattern design, or testing for our plus-size pieces\u2014we price them fairly, because we know they\u2019re worth the investment.<\/p>\n

That said, there\u2019s still work to be done. Just last month, a customer reached out to us saying she\u2019d been looking for plus-size knit compression shorts for triathlons, and couldn\u2019t find a pair that didn\u2019t chafe or ride up. We\u2019re in the process of developing that exact product, and it\u2019ll be available early next year. We\u2019ve also started working with adaptive athletic organizations to design plus-size knitwear for people with mobility issues, which is another gap most brands ignore. Seamless designs that don\u2019t irritate sensitive skin, adjustable hems for people with prosthetics, and high-waisted shorts that stay in place during wheelchair workouts\u2014these are the pieces that need to be part of the conversation.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a gym owner, fitness coach, or retailer looking to stock athletic knitwear that actually works for plus-size customers, let\u2019s be clear: you don\u2019t have to settle for generic stretched straight-size pieces. We\u2019ve spent years refining our plus-size lines, from our moisture-wicking performance tops to our supportive knit sports bras, and every piece is designed with real athletes in mind. We offer bulk ordering, custom printing for team gear, and flexible minimum orders, so whether you\u2019re a small cross-fit gym with 10 members or a large retail chain looking to expand your plus-size section, we can work with you. We also offer free sample kits for bulk buyers, so you can test the fit, fabric, and durability before placing a large order.<\/p>\n

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At the end of the day, the question \u201cIs athletic knitwear available in plus-size options?\u201d should have a simple, clear answer: yes, and it\u2019s only getting better. But it\u2019s up to both suppliers and retailers to prioritize quality over quick size scaling, and to center the needs of plus-size athletes, not just marketing trends. We\u2019ve built our business on that principle, and we\u2019re proud to partner with organizations that feel the same way. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about our plus-size athletic knitwear line, discussing bulk ordering, or sampling our products, reach out to our team to start the conversation. We\u2019re here to help you find the right gear that fits your customers, your team, and your brand.<\/p>\n

Casual Knit Pants<\/a> References<\/p>\n