Designing the Perfect Open-Back Leotards
What’s one of the most popular leotard trends right now? You’ve probably seen them in your gym lately: open-back leotards. Gymnasts love the stylish look of a strappy, open-back leotard. The extra cooling that comes from a more open style is an added bonus.
However, there are drawbacks to this popular style that range from aesthetic issues to safety concerns in the gym. That’s why our open-back leotards are designed with those drawbacks in mind, so we can find the balance between an on-trend and stylish leotard and a safe and comfortable fit for the gymnast wearing it.
We spoke with Kindra Walker, former gymnastics coach and now vice president and head of production at Snowflake Designs, to get her insight on the pros and cons of open-back leotards in the gym. She’s spent 30 years in the gymnastics world even before she took up her role at Snowflake Designs – 15 years as a gymnast and 15 more years as a coach. She coached most levels of gymnastics over the years, from girls’ and boys’ pre-team to compulsories to optional teams.
The Pros
Open-back leotards are a fresh and modern trend that gymnasts are drawn to. As Kindra says, “Gymnasts want something stylish. I have two daughters with wildly different tastes and body shapes so I understand the challenge this can present.” With lots of gymnasts looking for their own unique style, open-back leotards can fit that need with so many style variations available.
They can also be cooler than a traditional leotard style with fabric covering the entire torso. The open back allows for better airflow across the skin.
With a trendy, unique leotard for their workout, a gymnast can feel cool and confident walking into the gym. However, open-back leotards can also present challenges for a gymnast in the gym.
The Cons
One common drawback to open-back leotards is that undergarments cannot be hidden. Older gymnasts who wear sports bras under their leotards are unable to hide straps under their leotards. Some gymnasts coordinate the two and like the look of the sports bra straps, but others prefer to keep their sports bra hidden.
A more serious con to this trendy style is the safety of the gymnast and her coach. As a former gymnastics coach and now a leotard designer, Kindra describes how she feels about the recent open-back trend as “a love/hate relationship”. She sees the desire for fun and unique leotard styles, but she also sees the need for safe and functional leotards.
Kindra says, “I was a hands-on coach who felt it was important to be able to safely spot skills and adjust body shapes, both of which required being in physical contact with the athletes.
“There is a lot of talk about protecting our athletes from inappropriate touch and abuse (I hate that these are even subjects that need to be discussed because no one deserves to be abused) but athletes are wearing leotards to practice that create a lot more possibilities of skin-to-skin contact during spotting. It can put the coach and the athlete in an awkward situation if a leotard slides or a hand slips.”
“In regards to physical safety, I have seen coaches get their hands stuck in strappy backs and seen straps tear. It ruins the leotard and can leave the gymnast exposed. There needs to be a middle ground between form and function, so the gymnast can feel comfortable and confident in practice and the coach can also feel comfortable spotting said gymnast.”
Finding A Balance
When designing leotards, we focus on what is trending with gymnasts to make sure we’re offering what they want to wear. We also keep in mind the gymnast’s comfort and safety when creating new apparel.
As Kindra says, “We’ve accomplished a style that is modern, edgy, and on-trend while still maintaining the function needed to put in the hard work at the gym”.
Our open-back leotards like Hydra or Boho Garden are designed with thick straps and a band around the back for a secure fit and more coverage. Gymnasts still get the open-back style, but with the same security and coverage where it counts.
Our strappy leotards such as Dynamo are made with minimal, thin straps that are less likely to tangle. They also connect at multiple points on the leotard so if a strap did accidentally get caught on a hand and ripped, the gymnast would still be fully supported and covered.
We also offer leotards with an open-back feel that is still full-coverage. Leotards like Splash Zone or Neon Dreams use mesh on the back to give an open-back look, with most of the coverage a solid fabric provides. They also have the cooling feel of an open leotard.
When it comes to designing our leotards, we prioritize the comfort and safety of the gymnast (and her coach) in the gym. We want gymnasts to be confident and comfortable in the gym, and that starts with a well-fitting, functional style. Whether it’s open-back or full-coverage, you know it’ll be stylish and safe for your gymnast!
What do you think about open-back leotards? Let us know in the comments!
