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Lycra fabric

Garment Industry Fabrics

Lycra

Lycra is the trade name for elastane (spandex) and, in the market, for any fabric that carries it. A small share of elastane with cotton, polyester, nylon or viscose gives the cloth stretch and, more importantly, recovery, so garments keep their shape through wear and washing. Supplied as 4-way stretch knits for activewear, leggings and fitted garments, or as woven stretch for trousers and jeans.

Construction
Knitted or woven stretch
Weight
Any GSM
Colour
Dyed or greige

Made to your requirement

Supplied in any GSM or weight per metre, width, thickness and colour, dyed or greige. Tell us your figures, or send the fabric you use now and we will match it.

Quotation within 1 working day.

Supplied as

  • Greige
  • Dyed
  • Printed
Printable specification sheet

Specification

Construction and specification

The standard construction, and the parameters we make to your requirement.

Construction

ConstructionKnitted (2-way or 4-way stretch) or woven stretch
CompositionCotton, polyester, nylon or viscose with elastaneElastane share to requirement.

Made to your requirement

WeightAs per your requirementAny GSM, or grams per running metre.
WidthAs per your requirementAny width on request, subject to loom or machine capacity.
ThicknessAs per your requirementStated in mm where it matters to your process.
ColourDyed to shade, or greigeShades matched to your swatch, lab dip before bulk.

Used for

Typical applications

  • Leggings and activewear
  • Fitted tops, kurtis and dresses
  • Stretch trousers and jeans
  • Innerwear and dancewear

HS heading 6004 (knitted). Confirmed per consignment against the exact composition.

Questions

About Lycra

How much elastane does lycra fabric contain?

Knitted stretch fabrics usually carry around 5-10% elastane, and woven stretch around 2-3%. More elastane means more stretch and stronger recovery. Tell us the garment and we will suggest the blend.

What is the difference between 2-way and 4-way stretch?

2-way stretch gives along one direction, usually the width. 4-way stretch gives both across and along the fabric, which is what leggings and activewear need.

Also consider

Related fabrics

Crepe fabric

Crepe

Fluid fabric with a fine crinkled surface, woven from high-twist yarn.

Construction
High-twist woven
Weight
Any GSM
Rayon fabric

Rayon

Soft, breathable viscose fabric with a fluid drape. Plain, slub or printed.

Construction
Plain, slub or twill
Weight
Any GSM
Twill fabric

Twill

Diagonal-weave fabric that drapes well and wears hard. Trousers, uniforms and chinos.

Construction
2/1 or 3/1 twill
Weight
Any GSM

Fabric development

We specialise in developing all kinds of fabrics.

Looking for a fabric not listed here? Share a swatch, a photograph or your specification, and we will source or develop it to your GSM, width, thickness and shade, dyed or greige.