We often see people stress upon the fabrics of a cloth. They ask for durability, breathability, softness, etc. Because it is not always about design and pattern, material or fabric is also a principal ingredient. In a world full of fabrics, choosing one seems perplexing.
You have a market full of all kinds of fabrics, from silk to velvet and from canvas to twill. Two such fabrics we are going to bring into the spotlight today are Lycra and Cotton. By contemplating their durability, breathability, absorption capacities, etc., we will compare them to lycra vs. cotton and see which stands out loud.
Since both fabrics bear their own features and properties, they still vary in certain aspects. What are those aspects? You will get to know more about them in this blog. You will learn how a particular fabric is produced and what makes it applicable. In this race of lycra vs cotton, we have brought a lot of information about fabrics for you.
Other names for lycra are spandex and elastane. This fabric was first produced in the United States and is commonly used in the making of socks, bike shorts, sports bras, hiking apparel, yoga pants, underwear, bras, motion capture suits, etc. Lycra is a fully synthetic fabric, which means it’s not produced naturally and contains a mixture of chemical compounds.
Explore more about Lycra fabric through the below-mentioned points
Fabric Composition
As we discussed before, lycra is a fully synthetic fiber. However, in the process of production, some constituent parts still have organic roots. By the time the production process reaches its last stage, it loses all the organic components added to it. Several methods are used to make these lycra fabrics, such as reaction spinning, melt extrusion, solution wet spinning, etc. The widely known and used method is solution dry spinning, which produces 95% of global lycra.
Highly Stretchable
If you are looking for extreme stretchability in a fabric, then lycra can break all limits for you. It is an extraordinarily stretchable fabric. This fabric is commonly found in materials that are designed to be stretchy, like waistbands for sweatpants, loungewear, other types of bottom wear, bras, etc. Along with that, every kind of sportswear contains at least a little texture or composition of lycra to ensure flexibility and effortless body movements.
Types of Lycra
Lycra comes in various types to deal with different seasons and environmental conditions. Three major types of lycra are cotton lycra fabric, nylon lycra fabric, and wool lycra fabric. Cotton lycra fabric is easy to maintain and combat stains effectively. It is ideal for durable outfits. Nylon lycra is durable and smooth and is usually used to make bags, table covers, etc. Wool lycra is used to keep the body warm in winter outfits.
Moisture Wicking Abilities
Lycra fabric may not consist of the perfect moisture wicking abilities but still, it is majorly used for athlete clothing to enhance the comfort for them. It provides the happy balance between breathability and moisture wicking abilities. Reason behind its high moisture wicking capacity is polyester which is used in the production process of lycra due to which it excels at moisture wicking. These kinds of fabrics keep the sweat on the surface.
Wrinkle-Resistant
Lycra fabric is highly wrinkle-free, and that’s the reason it remains smooth even after several folds in a bag. Synthetic fibers also make it wrinkle resistant. Thus it is used for the creation of dancing and sports clothing. Lycra gives a good fit and no ironing needed to maintain the seamless texture. It provides you the perfect combination of comfort and style. Lycra can give you stretchability, breathability and flexibility in one fabric.
Cotton: Fabric of Comfort
Cotton has universal likingness. It is preferred over all other fabrics due to its exceptional qualities and properties, which beat the others. The biggest cotton-producing and exporting country is India. Cotton is formed naturally. It is extracted from the seeds of cotton using a process called ginning. Cotton is considered one of the most popular and leading fabrics in the world. After learning about lycra, let’s see what cotton bears are for us as a fabric.
Let’s take a look at some key elements of cotton as a fabric
Soft And Cool
Due to a lot of space between fibres, cotton has absorbing properties, so when you sweat, cotton absorbs it and makes you feel cool and calm. The fabric feels so lightweight and easy on the body that it can be worn in any season without questions. Softness and sophistication are the best-defined attributes for cotton. Along with that, cotton also has heat retention abilities that keep your body cool all day long. Cotton is incredibly soft to the touch and feel of your skin due to its fibrous material.
Natural Fabric
Cotton is a sustainable and renewable resource. Unlike lycra, which goes through laboratory settings with synthetic fibers, cotton is clearly extracted from cotton seeds. Since cotton is organic and biodegradable, it leaves no adverse impacts on the environment, too, as organic cultivation is used to carry out the process of producing cotton. In lycra vs cotton, cotton proves to be an eco-friendly fabric, whereas lycra is not.
High Breathability
Cotton has the natural hollow fibers which allows free flow of air. To accommodate in the warm weather, cotton can work amazingly. That’s the reason why summer clothing is made of cotton. Due to high breathability levels, cotton becomes the top-notch choice among buyers and sellers. In lycra vs cotton, cotton surely checks the box of breathability.
Hypoallergenic
For all those with sensitive skin, cotton is no less than a blessing. Cotton causes no irritation and allergy to the skin because irritation has chances when the fabric is made from chemicals and synthetic fibers but here the cotton is purely a natural fabric. Hence, choosing cotton over other fabrics is never a regretful decision. So if you want to prevent yourself from skin irritants then go for cotton.
Durability
Cotton can bear the rough conditions by tackling against heat and abrasion. Besides this, when cotton is wet, it becomes stronger and harder to tear. If we follow the recommended precautions and take the necessary steps, cotton can extend its life unexpectedly. But with harsh treatments, it is more likely prone to rips, tears, and pilling. Otherwise, cotton is easier to wash, requires less maintenance, and can withstand high temperatures.
Wrapping Up!
In this comparison of fabrics such as lycra vs cotton, both are packed with numerous merits and demerits, too. If lycra wins at stretchability, cotton excels at breathability. Both serve different purposes and have various types.
As you have seen in the blog earlier, lycra is about different varieties in different seasons. Likewise, cotton also comes in multiple types, such as muslin, brushed cotton, Egyptian cotton, and organic cotton, and there are many more that you can explore online.
Without stressing much, you can give a try to lycra and cotton to find out which wins the race, lycra vs cotton. Now that you have got enough information about both fabrics, you can choose the best one for yourself. Don’t forget to explore more known fabrics online.
