Through our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices in more than 100 countries, Intertek provides quality and safety solutions to a wide range of industries around the world.
Intertek is the industry leader with more than 1,000 laboratories and offices in more than 100 countries. Whether your business is local or global, we can ensure your products meet quality, health, environmental, safety, and social accountability standards for virtually any market around the world.
Stretchable fabrics are widely used in underwear, causal wear, tights and jeans, performance wear, yoga/active wear and swimwear.
How can you add value to your products by providing evidence of good stretchable features?
Demonstrate the apparel has good elasticity and is easy to wear
Enhance good elasticity facilitating exercising with stretching
Ensure good recovery to prevent the apparel from being easily deformed
Demonstrate the durability of apparel for its function, size and appearance
Provide comfort wearing to fit any lifestyle
How Does Stretch and Recovery Work?
Stretchable fabric can be extended in the direction in which force is applied without/before breaking by two-way stretch (extended in the crosswise direction) or four-way stretch (extended in both direction, crosswise and lengthwise). Some fabrics can return to original size after stretching, which is called recovery, while some are unable to revert to original size after stretching, which is called growth.
Fabrics with superior stretch and recovery can be achieved by using special fibre weaving, or knitting into the fabric construction, or textured yarn.
Intertek Hong Kong supports stretch and recovery testing via various testing methods: