Invista has announced it will launch ‘a cutting-edge advancement' in Lycra fibre technology in Paris in January. The innovation, called Lycra fibre with W Technology, is designed to offer the European fabric industry a new level of performance in an elastane fibre for intimate apparel, offering improved whiteness retention, uniformity and brilliant colour clarity for fabrics and garments.

Invista says that for the intimate apparel industry, the technology will enhance styling flexibility with increased confidence, and will be the foundation for both whites and fashion colours. According to the company it will be ideal for warp and circular knit fabrics, delivering visible improvements and allowing robust mill processing.

"This new product will provide a solution for more attractive garments with higher visual impact, which is especially important for moulded garments," said Steve Stewart, Invista Apparel Global Director of Intimate Apparel & Swimwear.

"In a market where excellent whites and fashion colours are a requirement, Lycra fibre with W Technology will be key to providing customers with quality they can see," he said.

"It will incorporate new spinning, lustre, and dye-uptake technologies to make the fibre the invisible secret that delivers truly visible improvements," Stewart added.

Invista will officially launch the new fibre technology at a gala event in Paris in January 2012, where the European industry players leading its adoption into commercial fabrics and garments will be recognized