Teijin Frontier has announced the development of a next-generation stretch fabric featuring an extra-fine three-dimensional structure enhanced by randomly sized crimps. The innovative textile combines exceptional elasticity with a soft, airy texture, offering quick-drying and moisture-wicking performance for a wide range of applications.
Market Launch
The new fabric will debut in the Autumn/Winter 2026 season, initially targeting the outdoor and sportswear markets. Teijin Frontier plans to expand into lifestyle apparel, innerwear, and fashion garments, with sales targets of 100,000 metres in 2026 and one million metres by 2029.
Addressing Limitations of Conventional Stretch Fabrics
Traditional stretch fabrics for sportswear and fashion often rely on polyurethane, which presents challenges in strength, durability, weight, and colorfastness. Teijin Frontier has already sought alternatives through Solotex® fibre, made from polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT). However, evolving consumer demand now seeks fabrics that deliver not only stretchability but also new textures, comfort, and aesthetics.
Advanced Technology Behind the Fabric
Leveraging advanced PTT spinning and drawing technologies, Teijin Frontier has engineered an extra-fine side-by-side conjugate yarn by bonding two PTT polymers in parallel. The yarn features a strong, large crimp structure for superior stretch.
Using proprietary processing, this core yarn is combined with high-multifilament polyester fibres to create a sheath-core composite yarn with randomly sized crimps. When woven into a high-density textile, the result is a fabric with a natural, finely textured surface, a light airy hand, and gentle comfort.
The contrast in crimp structures produces a natural uneven surface, adding moderate firmness, drape, and soft resilience. The fabric also excels in moisture absorption and quick drying, helping prevent stickiness during perspiration.
Sustainability Built In
Sustainability is central to the new fabric: the core yarn includes plant-derived raw materials, while the sheath yarn is made from recycled polyester, aligning with growing consumer and industry demand for eco-friendly textiles.
With this innovation, Teijin Frontier continues to reinforce its position as a leader in functional, sustainable textile solutions for the global sportswear and fashion industries.
