While bright colors are very 'spring', high-vis cycling apparel - with its
audacious neon hue - isn't exactly a style statement.
With more professionals biking to work - for either eco or fitness reasons - clothing that is durable, flexible and safe is an increasing necessity in the Western world.
While there are plenty of Lyrca-based cycling gear brands on offer, most small-mileage commuters don't need a professional outfit per se; more a pair of jeans with added stretch for pedalling or a coat with built in reflectors for safe riding at night.
This week, Uniqlo released a selvedge denim version of their Miracle Air jean. The Tokyo-based retailer said they teamed up with renowned Japanese denim mill, Kaihara and fabric innovators, Toray to make the new jean.
Dubbed "the ultimate commuter-friendly jeans", the pants boast the latest in jean technology, design and craftsmanship. Miracle stretch denim is 20% lighter and has 15% more stretch compared to typical denim – perfect for those who cycle to work or day-to-day without wanting to don cycling spandex.
The new selvedge range is made from core yarn fibers, which contribute to lightness in weight and provide stretch due to the air which is able to pass through and around the fibers.
America's Levi's also released its new Levi's Commuter collection for Autumn/Winter 2015. Launching in 2011, the Levi’s Commuter line has expanded its product range in the last four years, featuring fashion items for men and women, as well as shoes and backpacks.
This latest release boasts Levi’s Commuter 541 athletic fit jean, a waxed cotton work jacket, a wool hoodie, 511 slim trousers, a roll-top backpack, and a 3M sneaker.
Both comfort and practicality are in the materials: the fibers are more durable, stretchy and boast water and dirt-repellant treatments so movement is enhanced. And, for safety reasons, 3M reflective cuffs have been built in for night time rides.
The core design philosophy behind Commuter has remained the same since its inception, explains Levi’s Designer Sally Leon.
"Form follows function," Leon explains. "We work on Commuter in a different way from a fashion collection. Instead of starting from ethereal inspiration, we begin with fabric innovation concepts. A lot of R&D time goes into the fabrics for the line. Nothing is off the shelf — every fabric is designed from scratch and rigorously tested."
Leon was put in charge of the women's line, a segment which has specific ideas of what is practical - and stylish.
"The collection involved a lot of testing — fabric performance, fit, comfort — with a group of core female cyclists. We ended up approaching the overall fit portfolio in a very different way because the feedback was that closer-to-skin fits worked better for female cyclists."
The testing also determine many of the small details.
"We had to go much higher on the rise and change the pitch - the angle from front to back- to fit women’s body shapes and their form on the bike. We also adjusted the reflective tape on the interior outseam to look proportionate for women."
How do the jeans compare to regular Levi's?
"The overall aesthetic is always true to our Levi’s icons — the excitement really comes in the garment performance and the small, crafted tweaks. You won’t find any go-faster stripes here. Just time-tested, authentic, high-performance product in modern fits and beautiful fabrics."