When folks are asked about their favorite and worse wearing garment material, spandex sometimes tops the list. Why you ask? It’s snuggly and some folks like that skintight fit. Others say just the opposite. Personally, I would not give a dime for Spandex. Though Spandex has a rich history, it still does not agree with everyday drycleaning (with some solvents) and it certainly does not like heat. Spandex and its buddies are blended materials with Spandex or Lycra. Any blending done with fabrics has its risks. However, it is a marvel to wear some synthetics that are blended with natural fibers such as cottons and linens. Those natural fabrics breathe and wear well.
What Is Spandex?
Spandex as an unrecognized material source has been around since Hector was a pup. It was only when the war efforts of World War II, that the government saw a real need for something other than rubber. Rubber is a plentiful and usable product from trees and it has its many benefits. But it is imperfect and when it comes to military needs, they needed perfect. Spandex is a plastic from various polymers and chemicals such as Polyurethane and a copolymer of sorts. Scientists in the 1940’s found that this certain combination of chemicals lent the resultant Lycra to extreme elasticity which helped perfect war materials. We couldn’t take any chances on messing that up!
I’d Rather Sit On The Front Porch Eating Fried Chicken
If you go to AmericanSpandex.com, you will find information about the depths of the chemical process. But my only intention here is to discuss the pros and cons of natural fibers blended with Spandex (known in America by that name or Lycra as it is known by in Europe). Why the skin tight clothing became so popular is beyond me, but for some folks depending on their trade or recreation, find a body clinging garment to be just the right thing. Fashions in the early days with Spandex included household materials (remember something with a lot of “spring” to it). Girdles (those days are gone I presume), active wear, shoes, gloves and underwear. The hippies of the 1960’s changed garment wear styling more than anything. They were preceded by the coffee house beatniks in the 1950’s, who favored loose sloppy garments. Neither group was into Spandex too much with certain exceptions like Mexican peasant blouses, ponchos, gauchos, headbands and scarves. Somehow I miss the 60’s though I never was a hippie. I guess there was just “too much South in my mouth.” I’d rather sit on the front porch eating fried chicken than protesting life’s difficulties. I have not changed much since then. But I still miss the 50’s and 60’s for the cars if nothing else!
The Population On Earth Is Thicker Than Fur On A Squirrels Back
I remember an article written by Joe Pommier years ago in this very publication writing about synthetic textiles. Joe pointed out that the world has outgrown sources for natural fibers to a great extent. The search for synthetic replacements have been going on for a hundred years. The human population for centuries has relied on plant and animal fiber for protection against the elements. As I pointed out above, textile science has found a way to partially solve the problem and blending is a great way to do it. After all, there will always be plants and animals. It’s just that there are too many people! World population is growing at alarming rates. Combine that with more and more immigration (and some of it not so desirable) and there lies the recipe for not enough abundance. The population on earth is thicker than fur on a squirrels back!
Why do I dislike Spandex? I don’t like clothes that are body tight for one thing and if women who wear these pants and other tight garments only knew how bad they looked, oh my! They cling to every bad spot you have and that goes for men too! As for processing these blended fibers with Spandex, it can be a drycleaner or wetcleaners nightmare. You must take into account heat, shrinkage and dye transfer on a lot of these clothes. Careful finishing usually needs handwork. Follow the care label (if it makes any sense) but in the end a smart drycleaning/wetcleaning store will use their best judgment and through trial and error they will learn how to process these most challenging of all materials.
I’m headin’ to the wagon now, these boots are killin’ me!
