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From the 1930s when nylon took the world by storm applied in stockings, to the idol Superman dressed in tights saving the world, and to today's trend of wearing leggings as outerwear, the human desire for elasticity in clothing can be traced back to the fixation on socks.

The Evolution of Clothing Elasticity Driven by Changes in Dressing Concepts and Discovery of New Materials

China's earliest socks were called "corner socks," using two triangular pieces to protect the toes and heels, secured in the middle with ties. Other countries also opted to secure socks with ties. At that time, as fabrics generally lacked elasticity, ties were necessary to keep socks closely fitted to the body. With the Renaissance, people's concepts of dressing began to change. Europe saw the emergence of corsets that showcased body lines, and in China, cheongsams began to emphasize women's graceful body lines through fitted tailoring.

In 1935, the advent of nylon opened new possibilities for elastic clothing, with nylon stockings becoming a global sensation. Later, the discovery of highly elastic fibers such as spandex and elastane further expanded the possibilities for fabric elasticity.

Methods to Achieve Fabric Elasticity

With the advancement of textile technology, there are several ways to achieve fabric elasticity:

Using high-elastic fibers like spandex to weave fabrics, these fibers have a unique molecular structure that can withstand significant pulling forces, thereby giving the fabric better elasticity and extensibility;

Enhancing fabric elasticity through weaving techniques, opting for knitting processes that allow the fabric to stretch more easily, achieving better comfort and fit;

Elastic weft contraction and weft shrinkage: In some fabrics, special weft shrinkage and contraction processes are used to increase fabric elasticity. The weft contraction process involves adding organic or elastic weft yarns during weaving to make the fabric appear contracted, and then stretching the fabric during post-processing to produce better elasticity. Weft shrinkage involves applying high temperatures or steam during weaving to shrink the fabric's weft, thus giving the fabric better longitudinal extensibility.

Evolution of Elastic Fabrics: From Uni-directional Woven Elasticity and Four-way Stretch to "360-degree" High Resilience Fabrics

Uni-directional woven elastic fabrics, characterized by stretch in only one direction, usually show greater horizontal than vertical elasticity. These fabrics are often used for clothing that requires elasticity in specific areas, such as trousers that need greater elasticity at the knees and buttocks. However, some uni-directional elastic fabrics may weaken in elasticity over time, leading to bagging and deformation at the knees and buttocks after prolonged wear.

Bi-directional stretch fabrics, also known as "four-way stretch," exhibit stretch characteristics in both longitudinal and latitudinal directions, making garments more conforming to body curves and more comfortable to wear. These are commonly used in body-hugging apparel like bodycon dresses, sportswear, and yoga pants, though their colorfastness is generally not high, especially in black, leading to issues with color discrepancies.

"360-degree" high resilience fabric, as the name suggests, enables elasticity and resilience in every direction, setting it apart from uni-directional woven elastic fabrics and four-way stretch by achieving elasticity not just from the fabric weave but also by incorporating a "technological buff" — Surforce nanofiber film. This adds high resilience and elasticity in all directions to the fabric.

A crucial indicator for evaluating the elasticity of clothing is "resilience," which refers to the material's ability to return to its original shape and size after being stressed. Materials with good resilience can quickly return to their original state after external forces are removed, not permanently deforming or losing elasticity. In real life, we often encounter deformation and bagging at the knees of leggings or thermals worn over time, which is due to poor resilience of textile materials. The film-making process of Surforce nanofiber mimics the sericulture of flat cocoon silk from 5000 years ago, formed by stacking nanofibers, enabling "360-degree" all-around stretching and resilience. It can be combined with various fabrics, including elastic knit fabrics, offering a soft touch and resistance to bagging and deformation. Surforce nanofilm can stretch more than twice its length and recover 100% of its elongation; it's like a "spring device" you wear!

As a high-elasticity + high-resilience technological new material, Surforce nanofiber film's outstanding performance in textile and clothing applications will continue to enhance the elasticity and comfort of apparel! For more information on Surforce products, please visit the official website: http://www.surforce.cc/

※ Data from Lerune Laboratory

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