• Breaking News

    الاثنين، 13 نوفمبر 2017

    The Clothing Revolution: 4 Way Stretch Fabric

    By Edward Olson


    We have gotten so used to stretchy clothes that it's hard to remember when pants bagged at the knee or shirts didn't fit snug at the waist. Garments made from 2 or 4 way stretch fabric hug your body, without constraining or chafing, and move with you as you sit, stand, bend, or reach for things. It wasn't always like this. The first stretch material was invented by DuPont, the chemical company, in the late 1950s.

    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.

    The combination fabrics are machine-washable, but hot water or high drying temperatures will damage them. If you really love a particular garment, or it represents a significant investment, you might want to wash it by hand and hang it on a line to dry. This will definitely make it last longer. You should never use chlorine bleach on stretch cloth.

    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.




    About the Author:



    ليست هناك تعليقات:

    إرسال تعليق

    Fashion

    Beauty

    Travel