Elastane: the stretch fibre in our blends
Elastane is a synthetic fibre with high stretch and low weight. Also known as spandex in America, it has been produced since 1959 and close-fitting clothing is hard to imagine without it. There are no fabrics made of pure elastane. The fibre is always blended with other materials.
Elastane combines stretch with strength. Polyurethane holds the fibres together, polyethylene glycol provides the elasticity. That combination makes elastane the common blend fibre for close-fitting underwear. Garments containing elastane are often labelled "stretch".
Properties of Elastane
A small share of elastane makes the difference in our products:
- High stretch: depending on the fibre, up to several times its original length
- Returns to its original shape after stretching
- Low weight
- Low moisture absorption
- Keeps underwear where it should be on the body
Together with cotton or modal, a small share of elastane provides the necessary stretch in almost all of our material blends.
Elastane and the environment
Elastane is made from crude oil. Production is energy-intensive and uses non-renewable raw materials. A small share in a blend doesn't change that, which is why we say it so plainly here.
There are now yarns with recycled or partly degradable elastane. Switching is a lot of work, because every fibre has to be tested again: fit, wash resistance, durability.
Elastane at erlich textil
We keep the elastane content in our products as low as possible. A small amount is needed so that underwear moves with you and returns to shape after washing. In some of our lace collections we use ROICA™ V550 by Asahi Kasei.
How to care for elastane properly
Washing:
Do not wash products containing elastane hotter than 40 °C. If the heat is too high, the fibres break. Choose a delicate cycle, as spinning can pull garments out of shape. Tip: skip fabric softener and use a few drops of clear vinegar instead. This keeps the shape, softens the water and descales the washing machine.
Drying:
Do not hang textiles containing elastane; instead, dry them flat. The weight of the wet material can stress the fibers and stretch the garment. Avoid using clothes pegs.
Ironing:
Elastane is virtually crease-free and quickly returns to shape after washing. If ironing is necessary, choose a low temperature.
