KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) — Choosing the right fabric and cut is crucial in designing modest sportswear that allows women to exercise comfortably while maintaining adequate body coverage, says NADA founder Nurin Afiqah Zulkiflee.
The 30-year-old entrepreneur and influencer said sportswear should use fabrics that do not cling to the body, provide sufficient coverage around the hips and dry quickly to meet the needs of women with active lifestyles.
She said developing technically suitable sportswear was challenging, as manufacturers had to consider more than appearance, including fabric performance, garment dimensions and functionality.
“Choosing the right fabric is the most challenging part because anyone can make clothes, but not everyone can produce garments that meet the technical requirements of sportswear.
“Sometimes, even after trying one or two types of fabric, the results are still unsuitable, and we have to change them. We also need to carefully consider the length, width and dimensions of the cut,” she told reporters after the opening of NADA’s first physical store at KL East Mall here yesterday.
She said developing a technically designed garment, such as a windbreaker with an adjustable hood and waterproof fabric, could take between six and eight months, with fabric selection being the most complex stage.
Sports tops and trousers should also feature curved cuts at the back to provide better coverage, alongside practical concealed pockets.
Nurin Afiqah said the designs were intended to make sportswear suitable not only for exercise but also for everyday use.
A Bachelor of Business Administration graduate from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), she said her active lifestyle and participation in various fitness activities, including a recent HYROX event in Bangkok, Thailand, helped her understand the needs of women who exercised.
“I take part in HYROX myself, so I know what is needed in terms of cuts, fabrics and design. I want women not only to buy the clothes but also to enjoy fitness activities and remain consistent, because that way, they can inspire others as well,” she said.
She added that her experience of being ridiculed over her body shape at the age of 15 had shaped her understanding of women who lacked confidence when choosing workout attire.
“I used to wear my father’s clothes because I was not confident about my body. His jacket later became one of the main inspirations behind NADA because that was what I needed myself in the early days,” she said.
Her interest in sportswear grew after she became a Zumba instructor in 2016, when she noticed many participants wearing jerseys or black T-shirts due to limited choices or high prices of suitable sportswear.
This prompted her to establish NADA in 2020 with an initial capital of RM1,000 from her earnings as a Zumba instructor.
Nurin Afiqah said she took on various part-time jobs, including modelling, and spent about five years building up her finances before focusing more on sportswear production, which requires substantial manufacturing costs.
She credited her husband’s support in business management and systems for helping her navigate the challenges of building the brand.
Nurin Afiqah hopes NADA’s designs will encourage more women to feel confident and maintain an active lifestyle.
Meanwhile, actress and television host Uyaina Arshad, whose real name is Saidatul Naseha Uyaina Arshad, 34, said NADA’s modest and comfortable designs offered a practical option for women who wear headscarves.
“The clothes are good and modest, so they are convenient and comfortable for women who wear headscarves,” she said, adding that she preferred to buy the products herself to support her friend’s business.
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