When your body temperature rises, whether due to hot weather or exertion, it will try to cool itself by sweating. Body heat dissipates as the moisture evaporates. If your clothing absorbs and holds moisture, it prevents perspiration from evaporating and holds it next to your skin. The saturated fabric becomes heavy, and your body is less able to cool itself.

Most natural fabrics, such as wool and cotton, do not "wick" moisture, or carry it away from the skin.

Cotton is comfortable against the body until it absorbs too much moisture and becomes saturated. Wool will retain heat, making it a good insulating fabric in cold weather, but if it gets wet, it will stay wet.

The popularity of sports, fitness activities, and sportswear has contributed to the demand for modern fabrics that are comfortable, versatile, and easy-care.

All modern moisture-wicking, moisture management, quick-dry fabrics consist of a microcarrier system that carries moisture away from the skin (much as a string pulls water from a glass and carries it away) and transports it to an outer layer, where it can evaporate. The carrier system is usually a polyester yarn. No longer are these fabrics worn just by athletes while competing, they have made the transition to everyday use by everyone.

Such fabrics are sold under many trade names, like Dri-FIT and CoolMax, which are 100% polyester; there are also treated fabrics (3M quick dry), whose wicking properties diminish with repeated washings. Textures and stretchability will vary, depending on the yarns 

The industry has made significant advances since the days of polypropylene. Initially wicking fabrics were used to make underwear and liners, but as the technology improved, more synthetic fabrics were used to make many other items of clothing, and they are now widely available.