Elastane

Overview

Elastane is a manufactured / synthetic filament fibre. In the US and Canada it goes by the brand name Spandex rather than elastane.

Elastane is an "elastomeric" fibre, meaning it has qualities similar to that of rubber and is made from polymers (the building block of plastics, derived from petrochemicals). It is used in apparel for its elastic qualities, with elastane fibres able to stretch up to five times their own length and recover (snap back) to their original size without loss of shape.

Elastane is frequently blended with other fibres, both natural and synthetic, to make stretch fabrics.

Common Fabrics

stretch lace trim lying across a vintage looking notebook

100% elastane fabrics are often referred to by the brand names Lycra and Spandex
Stretch denim (cotton elastane blend)
Stretch / synthetic lace (nylon elastane blend)
Swimwear (knit)
Stretch woven and stretch knit fabrics (most commonly blended with cotton, polyester or nylon)

Context of Use

Elastane is primarily used in textiles for apparel.

Elastane is used in fabrics where stretch, flexibility and comfort are important. It is often seen blended with cotton to make stretch denim, used in styles of jeans where 100% cotton would make the garment too difficult to put on or uncomfortable to wear, such as skinny jeans.

Elastane is often blended with other fibres to create high performance fabrics for use in sports such as cycling and for use in swimwear. It is also commonly used in athleisure in garments like yoga pants, tights and crop tops.

Elastane is frequently used in undergarments such as hosiery and lingerie to increase their stretch and comfort and also in decorative trims such as stretch lace.

Care Guide

The following is a general guide to caring for this textile, however you should always refer to and follow the instructions on the care label of each garment.

How to Wash

Elastane based fabrics can be machine washed or hand washed.

Washing Temperature

Elastane should be washed in cool (30C) to cold water.

Detergents and Bleach

Most common laundry detergents are suitable for washing elastane.

Do not bleach.

Drying

Elastane should be line dried only. Avoid using a tumble dryer as the heat can damage the fibres.

Ironing

Do not iron 100% elastane fabrics. Fabrics that have a very low elastane content can be ironed on the coolest setting if necessary.

Storing

Store elastane in a well ventilated area out of direct sunlight.

Recycle

There aren't currently effective, large scale methods for recycling elastane. This is in part due to its being blended with other fibres making it very difficult to seperate.