Coloured Sweats – Green, Grey and Navy in Your Wardrobe

Short answer: Green, grey and navy are the three colours that make sweats more than just black. They are dark enough to be worn outside, light enough to read as a colour, and all three combine with the clothes most people already own.

Why not just black

Black sweats are easy, but they quickly become monotonous, and they fade to a greyish tone after a year of washing. Green, grey and navy hold their look longer and mean two sets do not resemble each other.

Grey is the easy one

Grey marl is the colour that goes with everything, because it does not really compete with anything. A bamboo sweatshirt for men in grey can be worn with jeans, black trousers and grey sweatpants without looking like a uniform.

Navy is the smart one

Navy looks more polished than black, because it is not as hard against the face. It works particularly well with bamboo sweatpants for men in the same tone, if the set is to be worn outside the home.

Green is the memorable one

Dark green and olive green are the two shades that work. They are dark enough to behave like a neutral and still clear enough to be noticed. Light green is noticeably harder to wear with anything else and looks out of place next to darker pieces.

The colours for women

The same applies on the women's side. A bamboo sweatshirt for women in green or navy gives a different look from the black one, without any thought about what to wear it with in the morning.

Set or separate

A full set in one colour looks coherent, but it requires a colour you like every day. Two different colours, for example a grey top and navy bamboo sweatpants for women, are more flexible over time.

What they go with

Grey takes everything. Navy works best with white, grey and denim. Green works with sand, white and black, but not with navy, where the two colours end up looking like a mistake rather than a choice.

How they fade

Coloured sweats fade fastest across the shoulders, where sunlight hits. Hang them to dry indoors or in shade, and turn them inside out in the wash, and they hold their tone for two to three seasons.

How many you need

Two colours are enough. A grey one for everyday and a navy or green one for the days you will be seen by others. Three is only necessary if sweats are worn daily and need drying time. See also washing guide for bamboo clothing.