the.com/lycra
the fabric that stretches to seven times its size and snaps back unashamed.
means A stretchy synthetic fibre (a brand name for spandex/elastane) woven into clothing to make it cling, flex, and bounce back to shape.
from "Lycra" is a trademark coined by the chemical company DuPont, who introduced the elastic fibre in the mid-20th century. The fibre's generic name, spandex, is itself an anagram of "expands" — a rare case of chemists having a little fun with their letters. The underlying material is a polyurethane elastomer; "elastane," the name used in much of Europe, simply nods to its defining trick of elasticity. So Lycra is to spandex what Kleenex is to tissue: one company's name that stretched to cover the whole category.
- invented
- DuPont chemist Joseph Shivers cracked it in 1958
- true name
- Lycra is a brand; the fiber is spandex
- word play
- spandex anagrams the word expands almost exactly
- unstoppable
- a single thread can stretch and recover endlessly
- everywhere
- hides in jeans, bras, and surgical compression wear
speedo swimsuits — invented 1928, made from lycra/spandex blend, worn by olympic swimmers
lululemon yoga pants — flagship product since 1998, primarily lycra construction
cycling jerseys — professional peloton uniforms use lycra for aerodynamics and comfort