Invista, a leading producer of fibres and polymers and an owner of the Lycra brand, is presenting its pioneering Xtra Life Lycra fibre at the Interfilière show that is taking place in Paris from 5-7 July.

For the first time, the company conducted a series of rigorous live pool tests, comparing swimsuits produced with Xtra Life Lycra fibre against equivalent fabric made with competitors’ chlorine resistant elastane.

Fabric with Xtra Life Lycra fibre appeared to show 50% superior chlorine resistance performance after the live pool test compared to the equivalent fabric with next best competitive alternative elastane.

Live pool test challenge

This new test was designed to closely mirror real life wear and tear scenarios, measuring against sunscreen, chlorinated pool water and heat aggression, repeated stretching, wear and removal of the swimsuit.

This comparative blind test featured 40 young sprinters and synchronised swimmers to measure the degeneration of swimwear fabric that is continually exercised in a real swimming pool environment.

Overall, the Xtra Life Lycra fibre underwent 8,800 hours of real-time garment testing. The tests found no breakage occurred on fabric, and a dramatic loss of performance in the fabric with the competitive yarn, while fabric with Xtra Life Lycra fibre maintained good properties.

Consumer endorsement

Coupled with the real-life test programme, Invista surveyed 5,500 women to discover more about swimwear buying behaviour and the key attributes women consider when purchasing a swimming costume.

Overall, research shows that fit is the most important factor when selecting a swimsuit. Other key attributes noted from the survey are durability, comfort and shape retention. The survey revealed that 81% of consumers want their swimsuits to last more than a single season and 83% believe that swimsuit durability is very much dependent on the fabric of which it’s made.

Claire O’ Neill, EMEA Marketing Segment Manager for Intimate Apparel and Swimwear commented: “Xtra Life Lycra fibre is bringing increased value to brands, retailers and the ultimate consumer. We are extremely proud to be at the forefront of innovation, and live testing helps us confirm we are producing the best quality fibre for the for the swimwear market, whether performance or fashion driven.”

www.invista.com