A Guide to the Different Types of Elastics

Elastic is an essential part of nearly every kind of garment. It’s incredibly versatile, with a few different types for certain needs. Elastic is a common necessity for clothing companies, and it’s also easy to handle for shipping and, therefore, easily sold in bulk. But before you commit to buying in bulk, consider this guide to the different types of elastics so that you know exactly what you’re looking for and so that you can distinguish the differences in elastics.

Knitted Elastic

Smooth in appearance and soft to the skin, a knitted elastic band doesn’t narrow when the band is stretched because it uses less rubber and fiber than other elastics. Knitted elastic also doesn’t lose its resiliency when used for sewing, making it ideal for manufacturing applications. Knitted elastic is commonly found in suspenders, sweatbands, and athletic apparel such as gym shorts, making its applications very common and widespread. Luckily, knitted elastic is very quick to produce, so you’ll have no problem meeting demand.

Braided Elastic

Like knitted elastic, braided elastic is equally common in sewing and garment manufacturing. The difference, however, is that braided elastic does narrow when stretched—but it returns to its original shape afterward. This can be a desirable quality in some forms of clothing, such as waistbands, necklines, and swimwear. Braided elastic is comprised of industrial-strength latex rubber and fiber covering, so it should be used when a better-quality elastic is necessary in narrower widths.

Woven Elastic

By the nature of its construction, woven elastic is notably the strongest garment elastic, as it’s capable of bending and moving with everyday use without narrowing when stretched. It gets this strength and durability from being made with twice as much elastic material. It’s the best type of elastic to use when the stretch is the most important factor. This makes woven elastic ideal for heavy-duty situations such as car covers or home decorating, as it’s capable of weathering environmental damage and supporting heavier objects.

Now that you’re equipped with this guide to the different types of elastic, you should be able to distinguish what elastic will work best for your projects. Elastic is an efficient and effective material for the manufacturing of clothes, so keep yourself well stocked.