Stretch Fibres and Fabrics: Reaching New Levels of Comfort
This report examines the field of stretch fibres and fabrics, which have been credited with radically changing the way people look and feel in the clothes they wear. Developments in stretch fibres and fabrics have made it possible to produce new types of functional clothing—including compression garments which help to improve an athlete's performance, and workwear which offers greater comfort and freedom of movement. This report provides a wealth of information on various types of stretch fabrics; ways of imparting stretch properties to fabrics; elastane fibres; testing of stretch fabrics; and applications of stretch fabrics. It also provides an overview on the key producers of stretch fibres and yarns, stretch fabrics, and the products and innovations in both sectors.
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
TYPES OF STRETCH FABRICS
ROLES OF FIBRE TYPE AND FABRIC CONSTRUCTION IN THE PROPERTIES OF STRETCH FABRICS
WAYS OF IMPARTING STRETCH PROPERTIES TO FABRICS
Mechanical stretch
Elastomeric fibres
Elastane versus rubber
Fibres and yarns with inherent stretch
Elastolefin fibres
Stretch polyester fibres
Yarn crimping
DEVELOPMENT OF ELASTANE FIBRES AND ELASTANE FIBRE
MARKETS
CHARACTERISTICS OF ELASTANE FIBRES
PRODUCTION OF ELASTANE FIBRES
Solution dry spinning
INCORPORATING ELASTANE FIBRES IN TEXTILES
Working pure elastane yarns into fabrics
Incorporating elastane fibre into a bicomponent or combination yarn
SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR ELASTANE FIBRES
Supply of elastane fibres
Demand for elastane fibres
TESTING OF STRETCH FABRICS
Elongation at load
Force for elongation
Recovery after load
APPLICATIONS OF STRETCH FABRICS
Activewear
Compression garments
Cosmetotextiles
Fashion wear
Outdoor apparel
Ready-to-wear garments
Seamless garments
Shapewear
Workwear
Other applications
KEY PRODUCERS OF STRETCH FIBRES AND YARNS AND THEIR PRODUCTS
Invista: Lycra
Lycra T400
Easy Set Lycra
Lycra Fusion
Xtra Life Lycra
Xfit Lycra
Black Lycra
Lycra Sport
Lycra Xtra Fine
Lycra freshFX
DuPont: Sorona
Asahi Kasei: Dorlastan
RadiciSpandex: RadElast
Hyosung: Creora
Unifi: Reflexx
KEY PRODUCERS OF STRETCH FABRICS AND THEIR PRODUCTS
Brugnoli: stretch fabrics
Carvico: warp knitted fabrics
Darlington Fabrics: warp knitted fabrics
Elastic Textile Europe: elastic fabrics and laces
Eurojersey: Sensitive
Jersey Lomellina: elasticised circular knitted fabrics
Malden Mills: Polartec Power Stretch
Piave Maitex: Toptex
Schoeller Group: schoeller-dynamic, schoeller-prestige and schoeller-WB-formula
schoeller-dynamic
schoeller-prestige
schoeller-WB-formula
OUTLOOK
INTRODUCTION
TYPES OF STRETCH FABRICS
ROLES OF FIBRE TYPE AND FABRIC CONSTRUCTION IN THE PROPERTIES OF STRETCH FABRICS
WAYS OF IMPARTING STRETCH PROPERTIES TO FABRICS
Mechanical stretch
Elastomeric fibres
Elastane versus rubber
Fibres and yarns with inherent stretch
Elastolefin fibres
Stretch polyester fibres
Yarn crimping
DEVELOPMENT OF ELASTANE FIBRES AND ELASTANE FIBRE
MARKETS
CHARACTERISTICS OF ELASTANE FIBRES
PRODUCTION OF ELASTANE FIBRES
Solution dry spinning
INCORPORATING ELASTANE FIBRES IN TEXTILES
Working pure elastane yarns into fabrics
Incorporating elastane fibre into a bicomponent or combination yarn
SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR ELASTANE FIBRES
Supply of elastane fibres
Demand for elastane fibres
TESTING OF STRETCH FABRICS
Elongation at load
Force for elongation
Recovery after load
APPLICATIONS OF STRETCH FABRICS
Activewear
Compression garments
Cosmetotextiles
Fashion wear
Outdoor apparel
Ready-to-wear garments
Seamless garments
Shapewear
Workwear
Other applications
KEY PRODUCERS OF STRETCH FIBRES AND YARNS AND THEIR PRODUCTS
Invista: Lycra
Lycra T400
Easy Set Lycra
Lycra Fusion
Xtra Life Lycra
Xfit Lycra
Black Lycra
Lycra Sport
Lycra Xtra Fine
Lycra freshFX
DuPont: Sorona
Asahi Kasei: Dorlastan
RadiciSpandex: RadElast
Hyosung: Creora
Unifi: Reflexx
KEY PRODUCERS OF STRETCH FABRICS AND THEIR PRODUCTS
Brugnoli: stretch fabrics
Carvico: warp knitted fabrics
Darlington Fabrics: warp knitted fabrics
Elastic Textile Europe: elastic fabrics and laces
Eurojersey: Sensitive
Jersey Lomellina: elasticised circular knitted fabrics
Malden Mills: Polartec Power Stretch
Piave Maitex: Toptex
Schoeller Group: schoeller-dynamic, schoeller-prestige and schoeller-WB-formula
schoeller-dynamic
schoeller-prestige
schoeller-WB-formula
OUTLOOK
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Properties of selected textile fibres
Table 2: Elastane content of garments
Table 3: Elastane prices, by type, June 2010-June 2011
Table 4: Applications of stretch fabrics
Table 5: Development of Lycra, 1958-2010
Table 6: Hyosung: annual production of elastane, 1992-2012
Table 7: Hyosung: creora product portfolio, 2011
Table 1: Properties of selected textile fibres
Table 2: Elastane content of garments
Table 3: Elastane prices, by type, June 2010-June 2011
Table 4: Applications of stretch fabrics
Table 5: Development of Lycra, 1958-2010
Table 6: Hyosung: annual production of elastane, 1992-2012
Table 7: Hyosung: creora product portfolio, 2011
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Elastane fibre
Figure 2: Double covered yarn containing elastane
Figure 3: Core-spun yarn containing elastane
Figure 4: Core-twisted yarn containing elastane
Figure 5: Interlaced yarn containing elastane
Figure 1: Elastane fibre
Figure 2: Double covered yarn containing elastane
Figure 3: Core-spun yarn containing elastane
Figure 4: Core-twisted yarn containing elastane
Figure 5: Interlaced yarn containing elastane
