What is Stretch fabric? Definition and types

What is Stretch fabric? Definition and types
Stretch fabric is a fabric that has the ability to stretch, that is, its fibers can stretch to a certain degree and then return to their original size.Get more news about wholesale cotton stretch fabric,you can vist our website!

Stretch fabrics are expressed as “2-way” or “4-way”. The 2-way stretch is horizontal and runs through the tissue from selvage to selvage. The 4-way stretch is both horizontal and vertical, going through the tissue and up/down the tissue. However, the type of stretch is not the only variation. The fibers that go into the final result can come from a variety of elastic materials. Some common types of stretch fabrics that can be found are:

Elastane and blends with Elastane
Elastane is also known as Lycra or Spandex, although the first Elastane fibers reached the U.S. market in 1959 being called K-fibers. Spandex is an anagram of the word “expand”. This fiber name is common in Asia, North and South America. Elastane, on the other hand, is a predominant name in European countries.

On its own, spandex can stretch up to 400% of its size, but once mixed with other materials, it can still lend up to 20% of its elasticity to the coupled fiber. Polyester, cotton-spandex (found widely in denim), nylon and stretch velvet are some of the most common spandex blends found on the market, but there are many other adaptations.

Too much elastane can make work pants and T-shirts or blouses uncomfortable and even deform. Stretch fabrics generally contain between 3% and 7% elastane, depending on the type of garment, but usually do not exceed this amount. Part of the elastane is made of polyurethane which allows a special elasticity while maintaining the original shape. Moreover, in order to be called elastane, a fabric must have at least 85% polyurethane.

Knitted fabrics
Knitted fabrics owe their elasticity to the way they are produced, using interwoven fibers in loops. The “knit” or loops give the fabric some of its elasticity, although they may be blended with elastic fibers such as elastane, viscose or polyester to increase their elasticity. Knitted fabrics tend to be bidirectional, but are still widely used for sewing clothing. Knitted fabrics can be found in everyday garments such as sweaters, socks and hats.

Rubber/Latex
Latex comes from the sap of rubber trees and can be applied to other materials for its elasticity and water resistance. However, pure rubber is not usually applied to clothing because of its lack of breathability and because it can cause skin irritation.

Neoprene rubber
This synthetic polymer resembles some of the stretch and water-resistant qualities of rubber, while reducing the limitations of the pure material. This material is available in various thicknesses and is increasingly used in suits and fashion apparel.