Celanese and Under Armour have joined forces to introduce a groundbreaking performance stretch fabric named Neolast. This material is poised to offer the industry a superior alternative to elastane, commonly known as spandex, the elastic fiber responsible for providing stretch in apparel.
The aim is to unlock the potential for end users to recycle performance stretch fabrics, a feat yet to be achieved. Neolast fibers, as claimed by the companies, promise powerful stretch, durability, and comfort. The fibers are produced using a proprietary solvent-free melt-extrusion process, a departure from the use of potentially hazardous chemicals typically associated with elastane-based stretch fabrics.
Beyond its sustainability benefits, Neolast’s fibers offer increased production precision. This enables spinners to finely tune power-stretch levels and engineer fibers to meet a broader array of fabric specifications. Celanese is now exploring avenues to make the material accessible beyond Under Armour, recognizing the potential to reduce dependence on elastane across the industry.
