Spandex Jeans

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Stretch Denim: Who Put the “Expands” in Spandex?

Stretch denim has been hugging our booties since 1978 when Peter Golding designed the first stretch jean. Before the invention and inevitable popularization of stretch denim, denim lovers who wanted a tight fit were forced to squeeze into stiff, uncomfortable jeans. How did they ever survive?

Of course, stretch denim wouldn’t be stretch denim without our BFF, spandex. Spandex is a marvelous invention—each fiber is made from alternating stiff and soft segments. The soft segments allow the fiber to stretch and the stiff segments help the fiber snap back to its original length. This allows spandex to stretch up to four times its length and then retract. You go, girl!

Not all of spandex’s traits are desirable—spandex does not take dye easily and it’s not comfortable against the skin. But when combined with its soulmate, cotton, spandex is almost unstoppable. Spandex fibers are wrapped in cotton to create cotton/spandex yarns. When these yarns are woven into a twill, the resulting fabric is (you guessed it!) stretch denim.

Stretch denim, you’ve come a long way since 1978. Today’s fabric designers have created new breeds of stretch denim by adding additional fibers, such as polyester, and by inventing new yarn constructions. These new stretch denims have unmatched recovery and threaten to eradicate jeans that stretch and then stretch out. Bye-bye baggy butts!

Stretch denim means that denim lovers never have to choose between fashion and comfort again. As designers continue to enhance denim, jeans may become a regular at yoga class.

posted by: danielle on July 29, 2010 at 11:10 am
filed under: Denim 101 | Add a comment
TAGS: history of jeans, spandex jeans, stretch denim

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Thursday, April 9, 2009

Stretch Denim Care 101

Getting a pair of stretch denim to fit for their entire lifespan starts with finding stretch denim that fits to begin with. You should look for stretch denim that not only fits your body like a glove, but also has great memory (meaning they stretch and then shrink back to their original form) - something that you will find in all jeans from indi!

Once you've gotten this perfect stretch denim jean (hopefully from indi), the way you wash your jeans is key. Here are a few tricks to help maintain the color, structure and feel of your stretch denim (in order of importance):

1. You should wash your stretch denim as infrequently as possible. In fact, avoid washing your denim at all costs. If you do have to wash...
2. Always turn the jeans inside out.
3. Follow the care label instructions.
4. Wash on the gentle cycle with like colors.
5. If absolutely necessary, tumble dry LOW, but never until the denim is completely dry. Take your stretch jeans out of the dryer when they're still a little damp and lay them flat to dry the rest of the way.

Following these simple steps will ensure that your stretch denim maintains its integrity to the best of its ability.

posted by: Amy D on April 9, 2009 at 6:04 pm
filed under: Trend Alert | comments (12)
TAGS: stretch jeans, spandex jeans, denim care, stretch denim

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