Is Lycra and spandex the same?
Yes, there are the same. Sometime in the 1950s, the DuPont Corporation developed an elastomeric polyurethane fibre (polyether-polyurea copolymer) and branded it as “Lycra”. Lycra is also known as elastane, spandex, Numa, Spandelle, and Vyrene; however, all these have the same polyurethane fibre and thus, they are different generic or brand names for the same fibre. This fibre has great stretchability and expands quite a lot; thus, sometimes it is said that the word “spandex” is an anagram of the word “expands”. Spandex or Lycra adds itself easily with polyester, or nylon, or hemp, or cotton, or wool. Pacific Sports offers high quality compression wear made from a blend of polyester and Lycra.
