Performance, durability, and sustainability are redefining how materials compete in apparel
As apparel shifts toward performance-led and value-added segments, stretch materials are under closer scrutiny both for how they perform and how long they last. In this interview, Nicholas Kurland, Product Development Director at The LYCRA Company and Alistair Williamson, Vice President EMEA & South Asia at The LYCRA Company discuss how fibre development is responding to these expectations. They discuss about balancing durability with comfort, the steady move toward renewable and recycled inputs, and the technical realities behind making elastane more circular. The discussion also reflects on Bangladesh’s evolving role, where demand is moving beyond basic cotton into more complex, stretch-based applications. Together, their insights point to a practical direction for manufacturers aiming to stay relevant in a competitive and changing market.
TexSPACE Today: What are the latest innovations in LYCRA® fibre technology, particularly in terms of durability, comfort, and performance enhancement for modern apparel applications?
Nicholas Kurland: At The LYCRA Company, recent innovation has focused on delivering smarter stretch by combining durability, adaptive comfort, and performance in a manner that is more tailored to how garments are worn.
On the comfort and performance side, fibres such as LYCRA® ADAPTIV fibre represent a step change. This platform delivers high holding power at low stretch and lower resistance at higher stretch, enabling garments that feel supportive at rest but more comfortable in motion. It also broadens the fit window, supporting inclusive sizing and improved ease of donning and doffing.
Durability that extends garment wear life is another critical focus area. Technologies like LYCRA® TOUGH MAX™ fibre for denim deliver rugged durability, comfort and freedom of movement, while LYCRA XTRA LIFE® fibre for swimwear resists damage caused by chlorine, oils, and UV exposure for a lasting fit that keeps its shape. By engineering the polymer and fibre architecture to maintain elasticity and recovery over time, durability is achieved.
Across all of these innovations, our goal is to enhance wearer comfort while simultaneously addressing real durability challenges faced by brands in current garment categories and emerging technical applications.
TexSPACE Today: The industry is moving toward eco‑friendly materials. Could you elaborate on developments such as bio‑based or recycled LYCRA® fibres and their commercial readiness?
Nicholas Kurland: Sustainability has shifted from a future ambition to actively shaping today’s product portfolio. One of our most significant developments is Renewable LYCRA® fibre, which replaces a key petroleum‑based ingredient with a renewable, plant‑based feedstock while maintaining the same performance as traditional LYCRA® fibre.
This technology is commercially ready and scaling, with third‑party life cycle assessment data indicating up to a 45% reduction in carbon footprint compared to fossil‑derived products. Importantly, because the polymer chemistry remains the same, brands can adopt Renewable LYCRA® fibre without re‑engineering fabrics, garments, or manufacturing processes.
In parallel, we offer LYCRA® EcoMade fibre made from pre-consumer recycled content, and we are actively advancing textile‑to‑textile recycling platforms that enable LYCRA® fibre to be recovered from blended fabrics and re‑spun into new elastane. There is more to share in this area as we start to achieve commercial volumes through key partnerships with select recyclers.
Together, these solutions address different points along the sustainability spectrum, from renewable feedstocks today to circular end‑of‑life solutions that will define the next generation of stretch materials.
TexSPACE Today: How does The LYCRA Company balance performance attributes such as elasticity, recovery, and longevity with sustainability requirements in new product development?
Nicholas Kurland: We start from a fundamental principle: sustainability cannot come at the expense of performance. If a fibre stretches well but fails prematurely, or if comfort is compromised, any environmental benefits are lost due to reduced garment lifetime.
Our development approach integrates sustainability criteria directly into polymer design rather than as an afterthought. For example, increasing durability through better elastic recovery and resistance to degradation directly reduces environmental impact by extending garment wear life. In many cases, durability is sustainability. However, we must also balance the need for more durable materials with the ability to recycle them, which has been addressed in reference to our recycling ambitions.
We also take a systems‑level view. Renewable or recycled feedstocks, process efficiency, and recyclability are evaluated alongside mechanical performance metrics, fibre, such as the fibre and fabric stress-strain behavior, and key uniformity metrics of the fabric. Life cycle assessment data are used early to guide decisions, ensuring sustainability targets are met without introducing unintended trade‑offs.
Ultimately, the balance comes from disciplined materials science: designing fibres that perform exactly as needed for their end use, for as long as possible, using feedstocks and processes that are progressively lower impact.
TexSPACE Today: What emerging technologies or next‑generation fibre innovations are currently in your pipeline that could redefine stretch fabrics over the next 5–10 years?
Nicholas Kurland: Over the next decade, we see stretch fabrics evolving from passive elasticity to functional, adaptive systems.
One key direction is adaptive, responsive elastomeric fibres that alter their mechanical behavior in response to movement, load, or environmental conditions, building on the foundation established by platforms like LYCRA® ADAPTIV fibre. We can more intelligently integrate these fibres through the natural evolution of fabric design, moving towards fabrics engineered to better exploit their unique stress-strain benefits.
Another major focus is advanced durability and chemical resistance, particularly for applications beyond traditional apparel, such as workwear, technical textiles, and hybrid apparel‑industrial products. These developments involve new strategies that dramatically improve resistance to heat, chemicals, oils, and UV exposure.
Finally, circularity will be transformative. We are investing in next‑generation recycling‑enabled elastane designs and textile‑to‑textile platforms that allow stretch fabrics to participate fully in circular material streams, something that has historically been considered incompatible with elastane.
Together, these innovations are about redefining what stretch fabrics can do, functionally, sustainably, and economically, within the apparel ecosystem and beyond.
TexSPACE Today: South Asia, particularly Bangladesh, remains a key sourcing hub. How do you see demand for stretch and performance fibres evolving in this region, especially with the shift toward value-added apparel?
Alistair Williamson: 2025 was yet another very tough year for the apparel business, and 2026 has begun in the same way. Uncertainties about tariffs, geopolitical issues, rising costs and eroded consumer confidence continue to be key challenges, so members of the textile value chain need to be more and more creative to carve out a space for themselves. Competition has never been so fierce, so differentiation is key.
Bangladesh is indeed a key sourcing hub and will continue to grow in importance as companies invest in new technology and capacity. Bangladesh is still heavily cotton-based, but we are witnessing a shift from basic cotton to value-added apparel such as sportswear, athleisure and technical wear, which is largely made of synthetic fibers. In these end uses, stretch, comfort and performance are key drivers for consumers.
Therefore, I see the demand for stretch and performance fibres growing in South Asia, and in Bangladesh in particular, on the back of increased demand for garments sourced in the region generally, and more specifically due to the greater focus on differentiated products.
TexSPACE Today: With increasing competition from alternative elastane and stretch solutions, how is The LYCRA Company strengthening its brand differentiation and value proposition among manufacturers and global brands?
Alistair Williamson: As the owners of the LYCRA® brand, the original elastane fibre, we always say that innovation is in our DNA, and we continue to develop solutions to meet consumers’ evolving needs.
We have a heritage of introducing groundbreaking, category-leading solutions such as LYCRA FUSION™ fibre that delivers ladder resistance to fine hosiery garments; LYCRA® XTRA LIFE® fiber has built-in resistance to degradation from chlorine, UV light and sunscreen to help swimwear last up to 10 times longer than ordinary spandex; LYCRA®ADAPTIV fiber has a unique chemistry enabling garments to adapt to the wearer’s needs. All of these innovations have enabled manufacturers and global brands to produce differentiated garments that consumers value.
With nearly 70 years of history, the LYCRA® brand is a household name, with 78% consumer brand awareness, which is the highest of any branded fibre. Consumers associate it with lasting fit, shaping and comfort, and manufacturers and brands recognize it as endorsing the quality of their fabrics and garments.
So, through constant innovation based on consumer needs, upholding the equity of the LYCRA® brand, and, as a result of many years of relationships and trust with key manufacturers and global brands, we are able to remain relevant in today’s competitive market.
TexSPACE Today: Global brands are prioritizing sustainability and traceability. How is this shift influencing purchasing decisions for LYCRA-based products across EMEA and South Asia?
Alistair Williamson: If global brands are prioritizing sustainability and traceability in their product design efforts and sourcing strategies, it is because of a combination of three things: consumers are demanding it, legislation is imposing it, and it is the right thing to do! Earlier, we explained that Renewable LYCRA® Fibre is now being produced at scale and offers up to a 45% reduction* in carbon emissions. This is highly attractive to brands and retailers who want to reduce their Scope 3 emissions to help them reach their sustainability goals. As a result, our mill partners and the sourcing hubs in EMEA and South Asia are seeing significant interest in the new product, as well as requests for other LYCRA® fibers that offer sustainable solutions from a reliable and trusted source.
*Comparative Life Cycle Assessment: LYCRA® fibre with Bio-derived PTMEG vs. LYCRA® fibre with Fossil-Derived PTMEG, Ramboll, 2026
TexSPACE Today: Looking ahead, what are your key strategic priorities for expanding LYCRA’s market presence in emerging markets like Bangladesh, and where do you see the biggest growth opportunities?
Alistair Williamson: Bangladesh has been a key, strategic market for us for many years now. The partnerships we have with the brands and retailers who source there have played an important role in expanding The LYCRA Company’s presence there, but what has helped this to really take off has been the hard work of our local sales representative, Tex Tree Ltd in Dhaka. Thanks to the team, we have been able to build strong relationships with key local players who are open to testing new products, developing new ranges with our products and being creative.
I mentioned earlier the predominance of cotton in Bangladesh, which will remain a core business, but I see growth opportunities in new end uses and with synthetic fibers where we hope that our stretch and performance fibers (such as LYCRA® T400®, COOLMAX® and THERMOLITE® fibres) will play a critical role.
TexSPACE Today: What is one key piece of advice you would give to manufacturers aiming to stay globally competitive
Alistair Williamson: In an ever more competitive market, where it is increasingly difficult to stand out, my advice to any manufacturer would be to think strategically about where they aspire to be in 10 years’ time. With a clear vision of that goal, a company can plan the tactics that need to be implemented to reach that aim. Reliability and trust are critical and focus on quality rather than reducing costs.
And clearly, I hope that they will reach out to The LYCRA Company to help them on that journey.
