Stretch fabric

Stretch fabrics evolved from the scientific effort to make fibres using neoprene.

From this research, in 1958, commercial stretch fabrics ("elastomerics") such as spandex or elastane (widely branded as "Lycra") were brought to the market.

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 sports clothing.

Stretch fabric structures create contemporary-looking design elements that have many uses in corporate theatre and event production.