Sustainable spandex

INVISTA, owner of the LYCRA brand, has developed a bio-derived spandex available for use in a wide variety of apparel fabrics and garments. Approximately 70 percent by weight of the fiber comes from a renewable source made from dextrose derived from corn. Since this fiber is made using a renewable feedstock, the result is a lower CO2 emissions footprint than fiber manufactured from traditional raw materials. Fabrics and finishing processes and garment patterns should not need to be reengineered, due to the high standards and specifications to which the new fabric is made. Commercial quantities are planned for autumn and winter of 2015.