Specialty materials leader Celanese Corp. and athletic apparel giant Under Armour Inc. have worked together to develop Neolast, a new fiber for performance stretch fabrics.
In a news release, officials with Celanese in Dallas and with UA in Baltimore said Neolast "will offer the apparel industry a high-performing alternative" to elastane — an elastic fiber that gives apparel stretch and is commonly called spandex.
Neolast fibers are made using recyclable elastoester polymers, which officials said is "a critical first step" for the industry to address the challenge of recycling blended fabrics containing elastane. As end users transition to a more circular economy, Celanese and UA are exploring the potential of the fibers to improve the compatibility of stretch fabrics with future recycling systems and infrastructure.
In addition to exploring application opportunities with UA, Celanese intends to make Neolast available to the broader apparel industry, potentially reducing elastane dependence.
Celanese Senior Vice President Tom Kelly and UA senior vice president Kyle Blakely recently took time to answer some questions about the new product via email.
Q: Can you elaborate on the market needs or gaps Neolast aims to address?
Blakely: Spandex, also called elastane, is widely used by the apparel industry for its signature stretch, but it's also heavy, holds moisture, can be sheer and degrades with time.
Stretch is particularly important in sports performance apparel, which is why our innovation team (including our in-house materials science team) wanted to explore a high-performing fiber alternative. At Under Armour, we believe sustainability and innovation go hand in hand, so when we innovate for performance, we also have an eye toward improving sustainability.
Kelly: Traditional stretch fabric made with elastane poses challenges for recycling, especially in blended fabrics. These new fibers are made using our specially formulated elastoester polymers, and offer a more recyclable solution, especially when combined with polyester. In addition to aligning with the growing demand for sustainable materials, the fiber also doesn't compromise on performance, fit, comfort or washability.