Fast track: what China can learn from the Lycra story

7 pages, published in Issue 30, 3rd Quarter 2009   Report price: Euro 275.00; US$ 365.00

Few brands have had as much impact on performance apparel as Lycra—which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009.

Initially, Lycra made its mark by providing new levels of comfort and freedom of movement in hosiery, legwear, intimate apparel and swimwear.

But more recently its qualities have been successfully exploited in casual wear and outerwear, and the fibre is now very prominent in the performance sportswear field.

Lycra was invented by a DuPont scientist, Joseph C Shivers, as long ago as 1959. It took the inventor a decade of development work to come up with the formulation which goes under the generic name of spandex or elastane.

In general, elastane, a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer, has better stretch than natural rubber. Indeed, it can be extended by up to 600% and recover to its original size—which means that only a small percentage of it (normally 5%-30%) is needed in a blend to provide good stretch properties.

Also, elastane has better resistance to dry heat and oil, and, unlike rubber, it does not need to be covered or coated.

Buy this Report now	Buy this Issue (30) now	Subscribe

• Fast track: innovations at Techtextil 2009, (2nd Quarter 2009)
• Fast track: sports brands strive for “greener” supply chains, (1st Quarter 2009)
• Fast track: gas plasma treatments for water repellent technology, (4th quarter 2008)
• Fast track: OutDoor 2008, (3rd Quarter 2008)

Four times a year, Performance Apparel Markets provides intelligence, expert analysis and insight on the performance apparel industry. Performance apparel represents one of the fastest growing markets in the global textile and clothing industry--and market growth is being fuelled by an emergence of new fibres, fabrics and innovative materials. The market's growth prospects are also being spurred by increasing demand for performance properties in mainstream fashion.

What's in Performance Apparel Markets? Each issue provides an authoritative source of information on key industry topics, including: antimicrobial textiles; biomaterials; biomimicry; chemical protective clothing; circularity; compression and shapewear; cosmetotextiles; environmental sustainability; finishes; flame resistant clothing; footwear; graphene; insect repellent apparel; insulation materials; medical protective clothing; military clothing and equipment; moisture management; mono materials; outdoor apparel; personal protective equipment (PPE); smart textiles; sportswear; thermoregulation; waterproof breathable textiles; wearable technology; and workwear. A single issue of Performance Apparel Markets includes: an editorial think-piece on a topical issue from an industry expert a round-up of the latest product innovations a main feature on a new or established market insight and analysis of a key market leader or fast-growing start-up a round-up of the latest business developments An annual subscription to Performance Apparel Markets is a cost-effective way to keep informed about trends and developments in the global performance apparel industry. Subscriptions are available in printed and/or digital formats. Printed and digital subscribers receive each issue in printed format in addition to a digital PDF file, which is available immediately on publication. Subscribers also receive a complementary digital subscription to Performance Apparel Update, delivered directly by email once a month. This free supplement contains essential information on business news and the latest product developments. Like all Textiles Intelligence publications, Performance Apparel Markets is a reliable source of independently sourced business information, and it does not carry advertising. This is what our customers say: "I must congratulate your editorial team for the mammoth data collated from across the world, issue after issue; the data … is quite well researched and generally difficult to find." (Sanjay Chawla; Editor in Chief; DFU Publications)