Written by: Akshata Tiwarkhede
Spandex is a synthetic fiber that exhibits superior elasticity, which makes it suitable for swimwear, gym wear, and other garments where comfort and fit play a key role. This fabric is lightweight, abrasion resistant, and can stretch up to 500% of its original length, thereby making it tolerant to damage and enhancing its service life.
These properties have significantly driven its popularity in the sportswear industry. Spandex is widely used in sportswear like compression gear, cycling outfits, yoga leggings, and figure skating costumes because athletes need comfortable, form-fitting clothing.
Evaluating the Consumption of Spandex across Various Regions
The sector accounted for $8.4 billion in 2020 and is anticipated garner a revenue of $16.9 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.31% from 2021 to 2030. Apart from sportswear, spandex is gaining high popularity in bed lines, men’s suit, women’s wear, and medical products, increasing its reach across various fields.
Studies reveal that approximately 80% of apparels used in the U.S. contain spandex. This is attributed to the rapid expansion of the fashion industry in the U.S. and the strong presence of high-net-worth individuals. The growing demand for comfortable and form-fitting clothing has driven the increased use of spandex in various apparel, including denim and intimate wear.
Furthermore, increase in trend of fast fashion in the U.S. significantly contributes to the growth of the industry, as fast fashion items are majorly fabricated using low-cost fiber such as spandex. A study revealed that Shein, a renowned fast fashion brand, acquires 40% revenue of the fast fashion industry.
On the other hand, Asia-Pacific is anticipated to dominate the spandex fiber industry in the coming years. China presently accounts for 50% of global spandex consumption and 30% of its production. A Korean company, Hyosung TNC is currently the world’s largest producer of spandex. Thus, it is gaining high traction in Asia-Pacific and the U.S. due to its various applications in the appeal industry. Spandex is also expected to find its application in the fashionable furniture sector, making it a Gen-next fiber.
Sustainable Spandex Gaining Popularity
Although synthetic fibers are affordable and easy to produce, they significantly impact the environment. Merely 20% of the fabrics are repurposed or recycled, and 92 million tons of apparel are disposed in the landfills annually. This results in the release of a potent greenhouse gas, methane.
Furthermore, the fashion industry is responsible for producing 100 billion apparels annually, and this number is expected to rise in the near future. About 30% of these garments are never worn or sold, resulting in massive increase in waste production. As a result, manufacturers are focusing on sustainable practices to alleviate greenhouse gas emission and meet eco-conscious needs of consumers.
LYCRA Company introduced bio-derived LYCRA® EcoMade fiber at the 2024 edition of Mare di Moda in Cannes. This innovation set a new standard in the sustainable swimwear and activewear sectors. This fiber is made from 70% renewable materials extracted from the corn field. In addition, it is expected to mitigate 44% of carbon emissions, which will help to meet LYCRA’s 2030 goals.
In February 2024, Indorama India increased its spandex fiber production to 20,000 tons per year. The company offers ECOModa-100 under its Inviya brand, which is fabricated from100% recycled pre-consumer spandex waste. This innovation has also garnered the Recycled Claim Standard certified by SCS Global Services, an international leader in third-party validation, certification, and verification for environmental, sustainability, and food safety.
Furthermore, Hyosung TNC, a global leader in the domestic polyester yarn industry, planned to invest $1 billion in a Vietnam facility to produce biobased 1,4-butanediol, a spandex precursor. With the use of Genomatica’s fermentation technology, these companies aim to fabricate approximately 50,000 metric tons of biobased BDO each year by 2026.
On the other hand, Birla Cellulose, a world leader in viscose staple textile and fiber, and Hyosung TNC introduced an innovative line of cellulosic knits featuring CREORA Color+ Spandex.
This dyeable spandex ensures vibrant color and elasticity in natural fabrics, enhancing flexibility in designing for intimate apparel and activewear. These developments are anticipated to considerably enhance sustainable spandex production and minimize the environmental impact.
Summing up
Spandex production is projected to increase considerably in the upcoming years, as it plays a major role in form-fitting clothing along with improving comfort. With growing consumer health consciousness and increasing sports participation, giants such as Adidas and Nike have increased the integration of spandex in their sports apparel line for enhanced mobility and improved comfort.
