Did You Know This About Spandex?

Here are some facts about spandex that will blow your mind

Spandex is a more popular name for elastane fibre

Spandex is capable of stretching up to 500% its size and recovering, without snapping

Elastane fibre was discovered by polymer chemist Farbenfabriken Bayer in the 1950’s as a cheaper alternative to rubber during the world war. Rubber was expensive and would weather easy. Since it was being used extensively for the construction of equipment, finding a cheaper alternative that would be stable in atmospheric shifts, was necessary. That is also why

Spandex does not weather in the presence of oil, sweat or mild detergents. Yes, it can be molded through heat setting at very high temperatures of 240 degree C

Spandex fabrics are more eco-friendly than natural fabrics because they are easy to recycle and use up less natural resources in their production or recycling process

While spandex blends may have either a 2 way stretch or a 4 way stretch depending up on their construction, spandex itself alone has a 4 way stretch which means that it can stretch in both horizontal and vertical directions at once

In the past people have complained of being allergic to spandex wear. That spandex causes allergy is a myth. Spandex does not trigger allergies but at the point of yarn twisting or fabric construction, if the elastane fibre is treated with substandard chemicals, those chemicals may trigger an allergic reaction.

Saving the best for last:

Spandex is actually an anagram of the word expands

All You Need To Know About Compression Wear

For those who don’t like the idea of even the slightest bumps revealing through tight fitted garments, compression wear is a blessing. Compression wear contours the body the way the wearer desires and supports it through long periods of use. But for those of you that didn’t know, compression wear has a purpose other than just shaping the body and concealing bulges-- there’s more.

There is an array of compression wear available in the market that serves the purpose of improving blood circulation, aside from controlling the appearance of the body and enhancing its appeal, thereby promoting well being through medical benefits.

These compression garments are made from special  that is, generally, a blend of spandex and nylon or polyester and sometimes cotton.

This type of hosiery yarn is special because it is very similar to regular spandex blend yarn in terms of appearance but it works secretly as a compression agent.

The fibre that is used to create this specialised Hosiery Yarn is crafted in a way that it has a controlled stretch that lends unique controlling abilities to the compression garment made out of it.

You will find this type of compression wear in the form of tights, tummy tuckers, stockings and socks. Earlier, compression wear came mostly in nude colours so that it would blend with the skin and not  show but designers are looking at making the functional garments fashionable by introducing new designs and textures so that it serves three purposes-- shaping the body, improving blood circulation and adding aesthetic appeal to your look while at it.

How Are Your Favourite Leggings Made?

Just the right amount of matt or shine…tailored for your legs and your legs only…velvety smooth like a rose petal…and most importantly, packing enough stretch to move around with ease-- all of these qualities and more make a pair of leggings, your favourite leggings. Leggings or jeggings or both. Have you ever wondered how your favourite leggings or jeggings are made? We’ll tell you how. Take some Bare Spandex yarn, some natural or synthetic yarn and a special machine that knits the two together. Bam! Your favourite legwear is ready.

Both jeggings and leggings are manufactured through a special knitting process called circular knitting. A circular knitting machine may look a bit complicated but the task it carries out is very simply defined. Several long needles work together to take bare spandex yarn and natural or synthetic hard yarn and interloop them again and again to create a smooth fabric in tubular form (for seamless leggings).

The fabric manufactured is inherently smooth and has stretch capabilities of its own, but the use of Bare Spandex yarn takes the stretch capabilities of the fabric to an increased level. The hard yarn used lends the leggings structure.

Some leggings are made using a flat knit technique. These types of leggings will have seams since they are cut out from a flat knit fabric and then sewn on a different machine.

Ergo, leggings or jeggings made using the circular knit technique will always be preferred over the ones made using a flat knit technique unless you are a fan if seams.

Taken For Granted Everyday- Elastane!

How is your skinny jeans stretchable… your bodycon dress snug but just enough breathable… your socks fitted but not suffocating… your intimate wear supportive but not restricting…? Don’t worry, we wont keep you guessing, the answer is-- Elastane fibre.

The presence of elastane fibre in all of the garments we mentioned renders them with one marvelous property-- stretch in structure. That means, even though your garment may appear small, snug and dangerously rigid, some of the attributes we associate with structured clothing, they magically turn pliant and expansive on stretching.

But the labels on these garments say cotton + spandex or polyester + spandex etc. So where is the elastane? Don’t get confused, spandex is the more common market name for elastane. What you see on the garment labels is the information of elastane or spandex blends with natural and synthetic yarns.

Yes, bare elastane fibre is never used in the manufacturing of garments. Like the very malleable 24K gold that needs to be amalgamated with stabler metals to be able to used in the make of jewellery, elastane needs to be blended with natural or synthetic yarns like cotton, rayon and polyester to maintain structure and fall out of shape on stretching.

While it is used in both fashion and functional garments, it would interest you to know that the elastane was actually invented as a substitute for rubber during World War II. Little did Mr. Farbenfabriken Bayer, polymerist and the inventor of elastane fibre, know that he would revolutionise the fashion and garments manufacture industry with just a little bit of stretch… a lot of stretch actually, elastane can expand upto 500% its size on stretching and recover on letting go!

Switch To Active Wear For Utmost Freedom Of Movement

Comfort is one of the most important elements in clothing physiology. You may buy the most stylish garments from the most expensive retail outlets but if you dont feel comfortable wearing them it is sure that you will ditch them sooner or later. Perhaps this is one reason why comfort clothes like hoodies and sweat pants have forayed out of gyms and fitness houses and have become a staple wear which we don with elan during weekend outings. If recent survery are to be believed, active wear garments like Tees and cargoes have become more popular than most other garments in the last couple of years. So much so, that people now-a-days hyave no hesitations in wearing them for work too.

If you think you are lagging behind in terms of active wear, here are some essentials you should stock up your wardrobe with this season!

1. T-Shirts and a lot of them

The good old T-shirt is hard to beat. The quintessential jeans and t-shirt look is probably as young as ever and no competition stands a chance infront of it! If you want a quick synchronization of comfort and style, stock up on t-shirts. Buy them in solid colors, in graphic prints, in stripes, in any way they come in! Garment manufacturing units are gradually taking t-shirts seriously and are spending a lot of time researching on how to make this classic garment more robust and productive. This is one reason why there has been an increase in the demand for Cotton Stretch Yarn. Inviya fibre is one of a kind spandex yarn which textile manufacturers Indorama has developed to make garments more adaptabile to the needs of users. Next time you head out to buy t-shirts, make sure you look out for the presence of Inviya fashion fibre and leverage the flawless comfort of active wear!

2.  Hoodies

If you thought that hoodies were restricted only to the precincts of your gym, you were getting it wrong the entire time. Conventional fashion has taken a back seat and experimental fashion is reigning like never before, which explains why hoodies and sweatshirts have become a staple wear. High quality cotton stretch yarn is used for the production of Inviya fibre which is used to make hoodies more versatile in performance. The presence of inviya fashion fibre retains the stretch property of clothes thereby keeping them young despite repeated usage. It also prevents clothes from shrinking while washing them.

3. Sweat Pants

Tired of wearing jeans and trousers for weekend outings? Try wearing a pair of sweat pants and hang out at your comfortable best. Sweat pants lets you breathe like never before and also helps to contour your curves.