Though women often dread pulling on hosiery, struggling to make them
fit and feel comfortable throughout the day, the hosiery industry today
aims to make something for everyone. They aim to achieve this goal by
using many different fabrics and combining different fabrics to create
the desired results.
Standing in front of a hosiery rack at the store can be quite
intimidating if you haven’t bought hosiery in a while. There are so
many different brands, each with their own variations made with the
latest fabric. They are made to control, contour, hide, soften and
protect your shape. They also strive to provide comfort. Each of the
different fabrics provides a different effect.
Cotton
Cotton is the ultimate in comfort. It is soft and is derived from a
plant. It is versatile and long lasting. By adding cotton to a bend of
fabrics to make hosiery, it is possible to make it comfortable for
everyday wear.
Wool
Made from animal hair, wool is warm, attractive and keeps its shape.
Wool is perfect for cooler weather conditions. It keeps the moisture
away from your skin. It also gives a more distinguished look. Used in
combination with several other materials it can achieve the desired
effect of wearing hosiery.
Silk
The nice thing about silk is that it adjusts to your body temperature.
It is able to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter, so it
can be worn year round. It is a fine, natural fiber that provides
luxurious comfort. It feels good to the touch and lies nicely. It is
not a versatile fabric though. Several fabrics should be blended with
silk for a good pair of hosiery.
Nylon
Nylon is one of the most popular fabrics used for hosiery because it
recovers its shape due to its elasticity. No matter how far the
material is stretched, it goes back to its original size and shape. It
is smooth, tough and strong. It is a versatile fabric that is perfect
for all day wear.
Spandex
Spandex is gaining popularity in products like hosiery. It is elastic,
strong and durable. It hugs the body a little closer than some of the
different kinds of fabric. Hosiery products are often a combination of
nylon and spandex.
Polyester
For wrinkle resistant hosiery, a polyester blend is the way to go. It is light and weather- resistant, as well.
Lycra
Also referred to as spandex, this fabric is added to hosiery because it
is able to bounce back, therefore also providing the hugging sensation
over your legs and having the ability to contour possible problem areas
such as the tummy and thighs.
Finding the right blend of fabrics to meet your needs may be the key to
finding comfortable hosiery that you can feel confident in all through
your day. The right hosiery can also provide health benefits by
reducing leg pain and decreasing your chances of getting painful and
unsightly varicose veins.
As trends continue to change in the hosiery industry and they struggle
to keep their spot in the marketplace, I’m sure we will see new blends
of fabric that will provide other desired effects.
