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Spandex Lycra Fabric Manufacturer India | Bulk Stretch Fabric Wholesale | Clothwala
Spandex / Lycra Fabric
High-stretch spandex and lycra fabric blends for activewear, jitted fashion, and comfort wear - India's elastic fabric supplier for performance and lifestyle brands.
What is Spandex / Lycra Fabric?
Spandex (known by the brand name Lycra) is a synthetic elastomeric fibre that can stretch up to 5-8 times its original length and return to its original shape. Pure spandex fabric is rarely used - it is typically blended with cotton, polyester, nylon, or viscose to add stretch and recovery to those fabrics. A small percentage of spandex (2-5%) dramatically improves the fit, comfort, and shape retention of woven or knit fabrics. Fabric types include cotton-lycra, nylon-lycra, polyester-lycra, and viscose-lycra blends. These are essential for activewear, swimwear, sportswear, and fitted fashion garments.
Key Properties
Key properties: exceptional stretch and recovery, excellent shape retention (garment returns to original shape after wear), comfortable body-conforming fit, breathable when blended with natural fibres, lightweight and smooth against skin, quick-drying in synthetic blends, resistant to body oils and perspiration. The percentage of spandex determines the degree of stretch - 2% adds comfort stretch, 5-10% gives significant stretch for fitted wear, 20%+ for compression and performance wear.
Origin & History
Spandex was developed by DuPont chemist Joseph Shivers in 1959 and marketed as 'Lycra' (a brand name by DuPont, now owned by Lycra Group). It revolutionised activewear and swimwear manufacturing. In India, spandex-blend fabric manufacturing has grown significantly with the rise of the activewear and athleisure market. Major production centres include Tiruppur (for cotton-lycra knits) and Surat (for synthetic spandex blends).
Why Brands Choose Spandex / Lycra
The global athleisure and activewear market has driven massive demand for spandex-blend fabrics. India's growing fitness culture, yoga wear market, and sports apparel sector make spandex blends a high-growth fabric category. For ethnic wear, cotton-lycra kurtis and churidars have become standard for comfortable everyday wear. Export demand for Indian performance fabrics (spandex blends) to sportswear brands is growing rapidly.
Print Types for Spandex / Lycra
Spandex blends require specialised printing for stretch performance. Best prints at Clothwala:
Sublimation Print
All-over sublimation on polyester-lycra for vibrant sportswear and activewear
Reactive Print
Stretch-compatible reactive prints on cotton-lycra for comfortable activewear
Heat Transfer
Heat transfer prints on spandex blends for performance graphics
Screen Print
Elastic ink screen printing on stretch fabrics for sportswear collections
From Our Warehouse - Sahil Luthra, Clothwala
Written by Sahil Luthra, Founder - Clothwala.com | Based in Surat, India
Lycra-blend fabrics are growing fast in our catalogue. We stock 4-way stretch lycra in 180-280 GSM range. Price is Rs 120-250 per meter. Most orders come from activewear brands. Key tip - always test the recovery rate. Cheap lycra stretches but does not bounce back after 5-6 washes.
Buying Tips for Spandex Lycra
Tip 1: If you are exporting garments, ask for Oeko-Tex or GOTS certification. We can arrange certified fabric for export orders.
Tip 2: Do not judge fabric quality only by price. Rs 10 cheaper per meter often means 20% less durability.
Surat mills specialize in polyester and blended fabrics. For pure cotton, we source from Ahmedabad and Bhilwara.
Common Questions About Spandex Lycra
Q: Can I get custom printing done?
Yes. We offer digital, screen, and rotary printing. Digital printing MOQ is 200 meters. Share your design files and we will send a printed sample before bulk production.
Q: What is the minimum order quantity?
Our MOQ is 200 meters per colour per fabric type. For sample orders, we accept 5-10 meter cuts at slightly higher per-meter pricing.
Q: What is the delivery time?
Stock fabrics ship within 24-48 hours. Custom dyeing or printing orders take 7-12 working days depending on quantity and mill capacity.
Last updated: April 2026 | Reviewed by Sahil Luthra, Clothwala Textile Exports | Surat, Gujarat, India
Uses & Applications
Activewear & Yoga
Nylon-lycra and polyester-lycra for yoga wear, leggings, and gym wear
Swimwear
High-stretch spandex blends for swimwear and beach fashion
Cotton-Lycra Kurtis
Cotton-spandex blends for comfortable, fitted ethnic kurtis and churidars
Sportswear
Performance stretch fabrics for sports jerseys and athletic wear
Fitted Fashion
Viscose-lycra and cotton-lycra for fitted dresses and fashion garments
Export Performance
Indian stretch fabric for global activewear and performance fashion export
Trending 2025: Sustainable spandex alternatives (bio-based elastane from castor oil) are a key 2025 trend. High-waist compression legging fabric (80/20 nylon-lycra) is the top activewear growth segment. Cotton-spandex blends for comfortable everyday ethnic wear continue strong growth.
Source Spandex / Lycra Fabric in Bulk
Talk to Clothwala for wholesale pricing, samples, and custom print options on Spandex / Lycra fabric.
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