Why Choose Nylon + Spandex Fabric for Custom-Made Clothing?
- By Wingtu
- /
In the yoga wear market of 2025, Nylon + Spandex has become the preferred fabric for high-end brands and small-batch customization customers. Compared with the common Polyester + Spandex, nylon + spandex is significantly superior in terms of touch, resilience, moisture absorption and sweat wicking. It is precisely the core fabric that has been widely used by first-line brands such as Lululemon and Alo Yoga for a long time.
Our factory staff, including Wingtuactivewear, are helping small and medium-sized brands and chain yoga stores in North America and Europe with custom orders for nylon and spandex every day. Today, we have compiled our real factory experience and data into this informative article to help you quickly decide whether to add this fabric to your product line for the next season.
First of All, Let’s Take a Look at Where Exactly Nylon is So Remarkable?
1.Outstanding strength and durability
The most famous feature of nylon is its extremely high tensile strength. It is particularly resistant to wear and tear. During World War II, it was used in “ballistic nylon” bulletproof vests. Even today, it remains a common material for high-end suitcases, tool belts and other products, and is almost resistant to scratches and abrasion.
2. Superior hand feel (softness)
Nylon fibers are naturally smooth and softer for the skin. This makes it the top choice for underwear and high-end sportswear. Compared with matte polyester, it has a natural luster or sheen, giving the fabric a higher quality appearance.
3. Elasticity and resilience
The elasticity of nylon lies between that of polyester and spandex.
Even without spandex, it can still provide a certain degree of elasticity, making the clothes more comfortable to wear. Its anti-wrinkle and anti-deformation properties enable it to return to its original shape very well after washing. For this reason, many items such as swimsuits and close-fitting sportswear are very suitable for nylon.
4. Easy to stain
Nylon is easier to dye than polyester.
Due to its chemical structure (molecular structure compared with polyester), it can absorb acid dyes very well. This results in deeper, more saturated and brighter colors.
(Tips: Those who want to know about spandex can click to read the previous article.)
Next, Let’s Focus on Taking a Look at Exactly Where the Advantages of Nylon + Spandex Lie Over Polyester + Spandex?
We compare the advantages of the two fabrics impartially to avoid overemphasizing the differences. After our tests, we found that polyester + spandex performs well in budget-friendly products, while nylon + spandex is more suitable for scenarios that pursue high-end experiences. The following is an objective comparison based on factory test data and customer feedback:
| Project | Nylon+Spandex | Polyester+Spandex | Scene Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Feel | Silky smooth, cool, and skin-friendly like a second skin | It dries quickly but is slightly firm, making it suitable for products with strong functionality | Nylon is suitable for nude yoga pants. Polyester is suitable for outdoor fitness wear |
| Elasticity and Resilience | Excellent, four-way elastic, quickly returns to shape after stretching | Good, with long-lasting elasticity but may be slightly loose at high strength | Both are excellent. Nylon is more suitable for long periods of yoga. Polyester is durable and economical. |
| Absorb Moisture and Sweat | Good. It is not sticky when wet and has strong hydrophilicity | Excellent, with outstanding quick-drying performance, suitable for high-sweat exercise | Polyester outperforms HIIT; Nylon is more comfortable for hot yoga |
| Wear-Resistant and Washable | Extremely strong, no pilling after thousands of machine washes, and highly durable | Strong, good anti-pilling performance, low cost and easy to maintain | Both are durable, and polyester is more suitable for daily mass production |
| Dye | The color is bright and long-lasting, suitable for complex printing | High color fastness, bright colors last long but have little impact on hand feel | High-end custom-made nylon Polyester is suitable for bulk color system one |
Conclusion
From the data, it can be seen that nylon + spandex leads in terms of “comfort and skin-friendliness” and “high-end touch” (as commonly used by Lululemon), while the advantages of polyester + spandex lie in “quick-drying and durability” and “high cost performance” (suitable for entry-level fitness wear). If you are testing the market for a small brand, it is recommended that you start with polyester first. For mid-to-high-end lines with a high repurchase rate, choose nylon.
As far as we know, in the industry, it is usually best to use 22-25% spandex. Although it is more elastic than 28%, it is prone to yellowing and the cost increases by 20%. Similar to polyester combinations, testing resilience is key.