Stretch fabric
Stretch fabric structures create contemporary and modern looking design elements that have many uses in corporate theatre and event production. . Stretch fabric is a term that refers to synthetic fabrics which stretch in all four directions.From this research, in 1958 commercial stretch fabrics ( elastomerics ) such as spandex or elastane (widely branded as Lycra ) were brought to the market. Stretch fabrics simplify the construction of clothing. This is in contrast to normal fabrics that will often stretch to a small extent, although only in two directions. Stretch fabrics evolved from the scientific effort to make fibres using neoprene.
First used in swimsuits and women s bras, fashion designers began using them as early as the mid-1980s. They entered the mainstream market in the early 1990s, and are widely used in sportswear. On a larger scale, the materials have also been adapted to many artistic and decorative purposes.
