Upcycled Fabric: How SneakyDeez Wrist Wraps Are Made

Every pair of SneakyDeez wrist wraps is cut and sewn by hand in Slovenia from upcycled designer fabric, which means Lycra, polyester and jersey samples from Italian fashion houses that we reuse instead of buying new rolls. Each design is made in a small batch of one to three pairs, with firm elastic compression where the load goes and a shape that sits low on the wrist so your grip on the pole stays yours. Our Limited Editions are single pairs, so when one is sold, that design is gone.

People often ask me where the fabric comes from and why no two designs are the same, so this is the whole story, from a sore pair of wrists to a pair in your gym bag.

How did SneakyDeez start?

It started with my own wrists. I teach pole dance at Pandora Art of Pole in Slovenia, and for years I was teaching classes every day and needing to perform at my best for my students while my wrists hurt through all of it.

I tried the popular wrist supports, and they were either expensive or cheaply made, and none of them gave me strong support without locking my wrist. On a pole that matters, because you need your wrist to bend for spins, grips and handsprings.

At the same time I was working as a fashion designer for an international clothing brand. One day at work the design came to me, and the materials I needed were right there around me. I made a pair for myself, and they became a hit in my own classes because people felt the difference in their training. Then friends of my students started asking for them, and SneakyDeez grew from there. Since 2017 dancers in more than 40 countries have trained in them.

What does upcycled fabric mean?

Upcycling means taking a material that already exists and making it into something new that's useful or valuable in its own right, without breaking it down first. That's the difference from recycling, where textiles are usually shredded or melted back into fibre before they can be used again.

Fashion houses use a lot of fabric samples when they design and develop a collection, because designers need to see and feel how a fabric moves, how a print looks and how a colour sits next to another. Our wraps are made from those samples, mostly Lycra, polyester and jersey from Italian fashion houses, so the fabric for your pair was already made before I ever cut into it. We reuse it instead of ordering new rolls.

That's also why every design looks different and why so many of them only exist once, because a sample is a limited piece of fabric.

Why does upcycling fabric matter?

Making new fabric takes a lot. The European Environment Agency describes textile manufacturing as needing large amounts of energy and water and a range of chemicals, and points out that producing synthetic fibres such as polyester and elastane uses energy and chemical feedstock too. Using fabric that already exists means none of that has to happen again for our wraps.

I won't pretend a small brand sewing wrist wraps changes the fashion industry, but reusing fabric that's already been made is a choice we can make with every single pair. It also suits what we make, because a wrap only needs a small piece of fabric, which is exactly what a sample is.

Which fabrics are SneakyDeez wraps made from?

The fabric changes from design to design, and each product page lists the exact fabric of that pair. You'll mostly see these:

• Lycra, which is softer and more flexible around the wrist. Our Traditional Black pair is made from it.
• Polyester, including polyester Ponte Roma, which is stronger and thicker and gives a firmer hold around the wrist. Our Black Grid pair is one of these.
• Jersey, a stretchy knitted fabric.

Because the samples vary, two designs can feel slightly different on the wrist, so if you know you like a softer or a firmer feel, check the fabric line on the product page before you choose.

How is a pair designed for pole?

The design came from what I needed on the pole, so a few things never change, whichever fabric a pair is made from. There's firm elastic compression right where the load goes, so the wrist feels held without being locked. The wrap sits low on the wrist and never covers your palm or fingers, so your skin still meets the pole and your grip stays yours. And there's no metal and no splints, so you can bend, grip, invert and handstand the way you normally would.

They come in two widths, 6 cm for a lower profile and 8 cm to cover more of the wrist, although not every design is made in both. Sizes go by the measurement around your wrist, with S (14.5 to 15.5 cm) and M (16 to 17.5 cm) kept in stock and XS (under 14.5 cm) and L (over 18 cm) made to measure in one to two weeks. If you're between sizes, take the smaller one for firmer support. My guide to wrist wraps for pole goes into how to choose and wear them, and how to measure your wrist size shows you where to put the tape.

Are SneakyDeez wraps really handmade?

Yes. Every pair is cut and sewn by hand in Slovenia, and nothing is mass-produced. That's also why the measurements of a pair can vary by a few millimetres.

Each design is made in a small batch of one to three pairs, which suits working with samples. For wrists outside the standard sizes, I sew a pair to your measurement, with the same fabric and support as the standard pairs.

What's the difference between Limited Edition and Regular designs?

Regular designs are our everyday range, and they get restocked, so you can come back for the same pair. Limited Editions are one-offs made from upcycled Italian designer fabric and never remade, and each one is a single pair. When it's sold, that design is gone, so the one on your wrists won't be on everyone else in class.

How do you make an upcycled pair last?

Reusing fabric only makes sense if the thing you make from it lasts, so looking after your wraps matters. Hand wash them and let them air dry, which keeps the elastic firm for longer, and keep them away from radiators, tumble dryers and fabric softener. My guide on how to wash wrist wraps goes through the whole routine.

Masha's tip: If you fall in love with a Limited Edition, don't wait too long to decide, because Limited Editions are never remade. If you'd rather have a pair you can always replace, go for one of the Regular designs.

If you'd like to know more about why I started, the about us page has the rest of the story, and if wrist pain is what brought you here, my guide to wrist pain from pole dancing explains what's normal and when to get it checked.