NylonXtra Life Lycra Spandex Knit is a high-quality fabric that offers exceptional durability and flexibility. It’s commonly used in the production of swimsuits, shapewear, dancewear, undergarments, and bodycon style clothing. With it’s four-way stretch capabilities, this fabric allows for comfortable movement and a snug fit. What sets NylonXtra Life Lycra apart is it’s longevity, as it’s specially designed to resist wear and maintain it’s shape even after prolonged use. Moreover, this fabric is OEKO-TEX certified, ensuring that it meets strict international standards for safety and sustainability.
What Is Lycra Knit?
Lycra knit is a type of fabric that’s blended with spandex to create a highly stretchable material. This fabric is commonly used in the production of dancewear and swimwear due to it’s exceptional flexibility and ability to conform to the bodys movements. It’s stretchiness makes it ideal for garments that require a snug fit, such as leotards and leggings.
When making swimwear or any form-fitting garment with Lycra knit, it’s important to consider using a lining. While Lycra knit itself isn’t transparent, the stretchiness of the fabric can lead to slight sheerness when stretched to it’s maximum capacity. A lining helps to prevent any transparency issues, ensuring that the garment remains opaque and suitable for it’s intended purpose.
It’s ability to conform to the body makes it a popular choice for dancewear, swimwear, and other garments that require a close fit.
Benefits and Characteristics of Lycra Knit Fabric
Lycra knit fabric, also known as spandex or elastane, offers several benefits and has distinctive characteristics. Firstly, it provides excellent stretch and recovery, meaning it can be stretched and will quickly return to it’s original shape. This elasticity allows for a comfortable and flexible fit, making it an ideal choice for activewear, swimwear, and undergarments.
Moreover, Lycra knit fabric is highly durable and resistant to wear and tear. It’s fibres are known for their strength and ability to withstand repeated stretching and frequent use, ensuring that the fabric maintains it’s shape and longevity over time.
In addition to it’s stretch and durability, Lycra knit fabric is breathable and moisture-wicking. It’s ability to transport moisture away from the body, combined with it’s stretchiness, makes it suitable for sportswear and athletic clothing, as it helps keep the wearer cool and dry during physical activities.
Furthermore, Lycra knit fabric is wrinkle-resistant and easy to care for. It retains it’s shape and doesn’t require ironing, making it a convenient option for busy individuals looking for low-maintenance clothing.
Overall, the benefits and characteristics of Lycra knit fabric include exceptional stretch and recovery, durability, breathability, moisture-wicking properties, wrinkle-resistance, and easy care. It’s a versatile material that provides comfort and performance, making it a popular choice in various industries, including fashion, sportswear, and intimate apparel.
LYCRA® fiber has undoubtedly earned it’s reputation as a reliable and high-quality material, offering exceptional elasticity, lasting shape, and a comfortable fit in a wide range of apparel. However, opinions on the material’s sustainability and environmental impact differ. Let’s delve deeper into the debate and explore both the positive and negative aspects surrounding Lycra as a clothing fiber.
Is Lycra a Good or Bad Material?
Lycra is a material that’s proven to be airtight when it comes to quality and durability. Over time, it’s established itself as the go-to brand for spandex fiber worldwide. The materials exceptional elasticity has made it a favorite among consumers who seek a comfortable and secure fit in their apparel. Lycras ability to maintain it’s shape even after prolonged use sets it apart from other materials on the market.
One of the biggest advantages of Lycra is it’s versatility. It can be mixed with various fabrics like cotton or polyester to enhance their stretchability without compromising their other desirable qualities. This unique characteristic allows designers to create garments that provide both comfort and style, making Lycra a valuable material in the fashion industry.
Although Lycra has many positive attributes, it’s essential to consider personal preferences and specific needs when choosing a material for clothing. Some individuals may find the tightness of Lycra uncomfortable or prefer the natural feel of other fabrics.
Lycra in Intimate Wear: Examine the Pros and Cons of Using Lycra in Lingerie and Other Intimate Garments.
- Superb stretch and elasticity
- Enhances the fit and comfort of intimate wear
- Provides excellent shape retention
- Creates a flattering silhouette
- Offers a sleek and smooth appearance
- Allows for ease of movement
Lycra Xtra Life, recognized as LYCRA® XTRA LIFE™ fiber, is an exceptionally durable spandex (elastane) fiber. Unlike regular fibers, it possesses a unique LYCRA® lastingFIT technology that shields against various elements, including sun exposure, heat, chlorine, lotion, and other potential damages. Through this special formulation, Lycra Xtra Life is designed to endure up to 10 times longer than unprotected fibers, ensuring the longevity and resilience of the garments it’s incorporated into.
What Is Lycra Xtra Life Made Of?
LYCRA® XTRA LIFE™ fiber is a special blend of materials that incorporates spandex, also known as elastane, which gives it it’s stretch and recovery properties. The fiber is made by combining a core of spandex with a protective layer of nylon or polyester, creating a barrier against external factors that can damage the fiber.
The core of spandex is responsible for the fibers elastic properties, allowing it to stretch and return to it’s original shape.
It acts as a shield against the damaging effects of sun exposure, heat, chlorine, and other chemicals commonly encountered in water environments. This protective layer helps to maintain the fibers integrity over time, preventing loss of elasticity and shape.
The result is a durable fiber that’s resistant to stretching, sagging, and loss of shape, even after repeated exposure to harsh conditions.
This resistance helps to maintain the garments appearance and performance, allowing it to hold it’s shape and stretch over time.
It’s use in garments ensures a comfortable fit, long-lasting performance, and protection against the elements, making it a popular choice for activewear and swimwear.
The Process of Making Lycra Xtra Life Fiber
The process of making Lycra Xtra Life fiber involves a series of steps that allow for the production of a high-quality, durable material. This process starts with the selection of raw materials that are carefully chosen for their specific properties and characteristics. Once the raw materials are obtained, they undergo a series of chemical treatments and undergo a spinning process to create individual fibers. These fibers are then stretched in multiple directions to enhance their elasticity and strength. Finally, the fibers are woven or knitted into different textiles, such as swimwear, activewear, and lingerie. The result is a fabric that maintains it’s shape and resists sagging, even with continuous wear and exposure to chlorine, sun, and other harsh conditions.
Cotton Lycra, also referred to as cotton spandex, is a fabric blend that combines the natural properties of cotton with the stretch and elasticity of spandex. Despite being marketed under different names, Cotton Lycra and Cotton Spandex essentially share the same composition and characteristics, making them interchangeable in terms of their properties and uses.
Is Cotton Lycra the Same as Cotton Spandex?
Cotton Lycra and cotton spandex are essentially the same fabric. Lycra is actually a brand name for spandex, which is a type of synthetic fiber known for it’s exceptional stretchiness and recovery.
The addition of spandex to cotton fabric provides several benefits. Firstly, it enhances the fabrics stretchability, allowing it to comfortably conform to the bodys movements. This makes it an ideal choice for garments that require good flexibility, such as activewear, leggings, and fitted clothing.
Moreover, the blend of cotton and spandex offers improved shape retention.
The spandex fibers can introduce a subtle luster to the fabric, giving it a more polished and sleek appearance. However, this is usually quite minimal and not noticeably different to the naked eye.
Different Types of Cotton Lycra/Spandex Fabric Blends Available on the Market
- Cotton with a low percentage of elastane
- Cotton blended with nylon
- Cotton combined with polyester
- Cotton mixed with rayon
- Cotton blended with spandex
- Cotton with modal
- Cotton combined with bamboo
- Cotton mixed with polypropylene
- Cotton blended with viscose
Source: A Guide to Our Apparel Fabrics – So Sew English Fabrics
Conclusion
Additionally, it’s four-way stretch provides exceptional comfort and flexibility, allowing for ease of movement. It’s longevity and resilience make it a reliable option for all your clothing needs.