Do Gymnastics Leotards Shrink? (And How to Make Them Last)

It's a fair question, and one we get constantly, usually phrased as "it definitely fit last term".

Here's the honest answer: a gymnastics leotard won't shrink the way a cotton t-shirt shrinks. Lycra, elastane and nylon don't tighten up in the wash the way natural fibres do. What can happen is heat damage to the elastane, which makes a leotard feel tighter, look duller and lose its recovery. From the outside, that feels a lot like shrinking.

The good news is it's entirely preventable.

What actually happens to a leotard over time

Elastane fatigue

Elastane, the stretch fibre in every leotard, is the most heat-sensitive component in the garment. Hot water, a hot dryer and direct Australian sun all break it down. Once it's damaged, the fabric stops springing back, so it either sags at the leg line or feels tight and unyielding across the body. Neither is reversible.

Chlorine and sunscreen

Both are hard on elastane. If a leotard has been near a pool or worn over sunscreen, get it washed as soon as you can rather than leaving it sitting in the bag.

Sweat left sitting

A damp leotard rolled up in a gym bag overnight is the fastest way to shorten its life. Salt from sweat degrades the fibres and sets odour into the fabric.

She grew

Worth saying plainly: gymnasts in the 8 to 13 range routinely grow through a full size in a single term. Nine times out of ten, a leotard that "shrank" is a leotard that was outgrown. It's worth re-measuring at the start of each term before you assume the garment is at fault.

How to wash a gymnastics leotard

These are our official care instructions. You'll find the same list on our fabric care page.

Do

• Cold gentle machine wash. Cold is the important part, because heat is what damages elastane.
• Wash inside out. Protects prints, foiling and rhinestones from abrasion.
• Wash competition leotards separately, and always in a delicates or bra bag.
• Remove immediately after washing. Don't leave it sitting in the machine.
• Line dry in the shade. Never in direct sun.

Don't

• Don't soak, and don't hand wash. A cold gentle machine cycle in a delicates bag is gentler on the fibres than most hand washing.
• No bleach, harsh detergents or fabric softener. Softener coats the fibres, reduces stretch recovery and dulls printed and foiled finishes.
• No tumble drying, ironing or dry cleaning.
• Don't wring the garment.
• Don't leave it wet for extended periods.
• Don't leave it soiled with sweat, deodorant or chalk, especially competition leotards.

All of the above can damage fabrics, prints, foiling, rhinestones and elasticity, or cause colour transfer.

Follow it and a leotard will hold its shape and colour for its full life, which for most families is until it's outgrown, not until it wears out.

Two extras worth knowing: printed garments should never be ironed over the print or heat transfer, and Forme Butter garments should be hung to dry immediately after washing to avoid colour transfer.

Care by fabric

Different fabrics have slightly different needs. Every GMD product page lists the fabric used, so you'll always know which set of rules applies.

• Luxe is a soft nylon elastane blend with four-way stretch. Easy to care for, but keep it away from abrasive surfaces like velcro, which will pill the surface.
• Nylon Lycra is our most durable everyday fabric. Very hard-wearing. Standard cold wash and shade dry.
• Mystique is the foiled competition fabric, and the most delicate of the range. Always wash inside out, separately, in a delicates bag, and never iron or tumble dry. Best kept for competitions and occasional wear.
• Active Edge is smooth, solid-colour and durable. Straightforward cold wash.
• Dynamic is sublimation printed on a white base, so the print is dyed into the fibre rather than sitting on top. It won't crack or peel, but avoid hot washes which can dull the vibrancy.

For more on how each fabric feels and wears, read our full fabric guide.

Can you stretch a leotard back out?

Not really. Once elastane has been heat-damaged, the recovery is gone for good. Soaking, stretching or steaming won't bring it back, and heat will make it worse. Prevention is the only fix here.

Should you buy a size up to allow for growth?

One size of growing room in a training leotard is sensible. Two isn't. A leotard that's too big rides up on the bars, twists through the torso and can genuinely put a gymnast off wearing it.

For competition leotards, order the size her girth measurement actually lands in. Comp leotards are meant to sit clean and close on the body.

Not sure where she sits? Start with our sizing guide or go straight to the size chart.

Quick reference: do's and don'ts

Shop gymnastics leotards