Saturday, November 11, 2017

The Clothing Revolution: 4 Way Stretch Fabric

By Edward Olson


Clothes that really fit, that really move with you, that neither chafe nor constrain, are a pleasure to wear. The reason that we can enjoy such garments is stretch fabric. The first stretchy thread was invented by DuPont in the late 1950s. Today 2 way and 4 way stretch fabric is sold by the yard and incorporated with natural fibers in much of the clothing made for the retail trade.

In 1978 Peter Golding, a British designer, introduced the first stretch jeans, using a fabric from Japan. The form-fitting pants wowed his clients, the trend-setting rebels of Chelsea. Golding's jeans were shown in a variety of colors, but blue denim soon became the look that everyone wanted.

Of course, many clothing manufacturers use cloth with 1% to 4% stretch. At first, the new materials were used mainly in women's underwear and swimming suits. Now you see it everywhere. All riding breeches are form-fitting today, and the stretchy cloth they're made of keeps its shape, allows the rider to lift a leg to the stirrup without constraint, and doesn't wrinkle or chafe. Tank tops, leggings, ballet clothes, skinny jeans, comfy pajamas - where would we be without them?

All sports clothes use Spandex, Lycra, or another form of the original stretchy material today. You see it in the outfits worn by bike riders who pedal along looking a little like colorful insects or helmeted aliens. Yoga would not be so impressive without form-fitting, elegant workout gear. Bathing suits as we know them would not be possible. The clothing trade once used this cloth mainly for bras and swimming suits, but now uses it in every kind of garment for the fit and comfort it enables.

Stretchy fabrics are also sold by the yard. Many who wear ready-made clothes will be astounded at the variety of cloth on sale for sewing, house decor, and crafting. Don't think that cloth that gives with any strain put upon it need have a certain look; check online fabric stores for smooth and brushed cotton, sleek and shiny sateen, metallic or spangled cloth, prints for kid's pajamas or pretty sheets, and soft, luxurious velvet.

All the stretch comes from elastane, the original discovery. It was developed in 1959, but didn't really hit the fashion world until Golding's introduction almost twenty years later. At first only the rich and famous could have these comfortable clothes, but the mass market grew rapidly, with the jeans companies leading the way.

The fabrics wash well. However, they break down if you use hot wash water or the high-heat setting on the dryer. If your new fabric or garment is a big-ticket item, you might want to hand-wash and line-dry. Never, never use chlorine bleach.

Visit the online stores to see the astounding variety of fabrics on sale. It's amazing that so many people must still sew, quilt, or make their own curtains. Crafters can find everything they need, from faux leather to rose-colored velvet. If you would prefer to buy ready-made, just pick up a catalog or visit a shop and enjoy the sleek silhouette of body-hugging clothes and luxuriously soft domestics.




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