The Clothing Revolution: 4 Way Stretch Fabric

By Edward Olson


In the old days, jeans were stiff, especially when new, and tended to bag at the knee and in the seat after a hard day's work or play. Blouses were hard to keep tucked in, and underwear had to be laced up to fit correctly. However, 2 and 4 way stretch fabric changed all that. The basic stretchy synthetic was developed by DuPont in the late 1950s, and once the clothing trade picked up on the new invention, the rest is history.

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.

Stretch fabrics come in a keep-the-shape but not so form-fitting 1% to the slinky 4%. The look is not the only reason people like stretchy fabrics. A pair of riding breeches that stretches both from side to side and up and down does not bind in the seat or the knees. The pants don't bag after a long ride, don't bind when the rider lifts a leg to the stirrup, and gives a professionally trim look when astride.

However, it's hard to argue with true comfort and utility, and today almost all sports clothes use Spandex, Lycra, or another form of the original DuPont discovery. Bike riders can bend and pedal in form-fitting clothes that wick away sweat and never catch in the bike's moving parts. Yoga enthusiasts can twist themselves in knots and their clothes follow right along.

You can be your own designer with stretchy fabrics sold by the yard. These are made of natural or synthetic fibers combined with Spandex, Lycra, or another trademarked version of DuPont's invention. Crafters, home decorators, and people who like to sew have an amazing choice of stretchy fabrics. Check out some of the online stores to see smooth or brushed cotton, printed or dotted or textured cloth, velvet in seductive colors, spangled cloth that yells 'evening gown', and more created to fit every need.

All the different brandname fabrics use the original elastane, developed in 1959. By 1980, many designers and major jean companies like Levi offered high-end clothing with body-hugging appeal and a new comfort level. Today this type of clothing has trickled down to the mass market. People of all ages walk out in leggings and 'skinny' jeans.

This combination fabric washes well in the machine and can even go in the dryer. However, if a garment represents a major investment, or you like it so much you want it to last forever, avoid hot water and high heat. It will last longest if you hand wash it in mild soap and hang it on the line to dry. Never subject a stretch fabric to 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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