Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Elastic by the metre is most often bought by ateliers and small factories that need different types in small quantities. Garment manufacturers and brands buy elastic wholesale – in whole rolls or made to order in metres, with an exact specification of type, width, stiffness and colour. The price depends on the type of elastic, width, raw material, colour and quantity, so for a specific figure you send a request for a quote.
Elastic by the metre, on a roll or by the kilo
| Method | Convenient for | Features |
|---|---|---|
| By the metre | Ateliers, repairs, samples | Flexible, but more expensive per unit length |
| On a roll | Garment factories, brands | Standard roll length, convenient for machines |
| Made to order in metres | Series production | Colour, width and type to specification |
| By the kilo | Some types of narrow and round elastic | Requires calculating how many metres there are in a kilo |
When elastic is sold by the kilo, as happens with some narrow and round elastics, ask the supplier for the number of metres per kilo for the specific article. Without this figure, comparing quotes is impossible, because different widths and densities have very different weights per metre.
Which elastics are bought wholesale
- Knitted elastic – soft, for lingerie, pyjamas, children's clothing and light fabrics.
- Woven elastic – firm, for waistbands of trousers and skirts, workwear and belts.
- Round elastic – for masks, loops, labels and packaging.
- Decorative elastic – with logo, jacquard pattern, metallic thread or scalloped edge.
- Special elastics – with silicone, with buttonholes for adjustment, for swimwear.
An overview of all types is in our elastics category.
Elastic by the metre for production – specification
For an accurate quote and the right article, prepare:
- Type: knitted, woven, round, decorative or special.
- Width or diameter: in mm.
- Stiffness and stretch: soft, medium or firm; if you have a requirement – the percentage of comfortable stretch.
- Composition: polyester, polyamide or cotton in the covering; type of elastic thread.
- Colour: white, black or Pantone, with a fabric sample.
- Application: garment, fabric, sewing method.
- Washing: temperature and conditions.
- Quantity: metres per article and colour.
- Packaging: roll length, spools, labelling.
Samples – an essential step
Elastics look similar on the roll, but they behave differently in the garment. Before production, request samples and check:
- how far the elastic stretches and whether the garment passes over the hips or the hand;
- whether it rolls in the channel;
- whether the seam breaks the elastic threads;
- how it behaves after several washes – shrinkage, loss of stretch, colour;
- whether the colour matches the fabric in daylight.
What determines the price of elastic
- Type and construction – knitted, woven, jacquard, with silicone.
- Width and density – more raw material per metre.
- Raw material – type of covering and elastic thread.
- Colour – an available standard colour or custom dyeing.
- Logo or pattern – additional development.
- Quantity – larger runs are usually more economical.
- Packaging and delivery – winding, labelling, destination.
That is why "elastic price" without a specification gives no useful answer. Send a request for a quote with the data above.
How to reduce costs
- standardise widths across styles – fewer articles, larger quantities;
- use standard colours where the elastic is hidden;
- plan orders by season rather than for each style separately;
- test samples in good time to avoid a wrong order.
Elastic for shops and ateliers
Haberdashery retailers and ateliers that sell or use elastic by the metre usually keep a basic range: narrow elastics for lingerie and cuffs, medium for waistbands, wide for belts, and round elastics, in white and black. A few basic colours and special elastics are added according to customer demand.
How to calculate how many metres of elastic you need
Before ordering, calculate the consumption per style and size. For each garment, add up the lengths of all elastics – waistband, cuffs, leg openings, neckline – from the tech pack. Multiply by the number of pieces in each size and add them up. Add a reserve for process losses: machine set-up, cutting out defective sections, roll ends and trial pieces. How much reserve is needed depends on the factory and the operation, but it is better to build it in beforehand than to have production stop for lack of a few metres of elastic.
Example: trousers with a waistband elastic with a cutting length of about 74 cm for size M mean that 500 pieces of this size need about 370 m of elastic plus a reserve. For the whole size range, the calculation is made for each size separately.
Storing elastic
Elastics contain elastomeric threads that are affected by heat, light and time. Store the rolls in a dry, dark and cool place, away from heaters and direct sunlight. Do not keep them stretched and do not press them under heavy objects. Use older batches first – that way the elastic goes into production in the best condition. Keep the roll labels with the article and batch so that you can order the same elastic again.
Repeat orders
Record the article number, width and colour of each approved elastic. When reordering, quote them in your inquiry so that you receive the same elastic with the same behaviour in the garment.
Elastic wholesale from Polkom
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer and wholesaler of haberdashery and garment accessories based in Sofia, with over three decades of experience and more than 10,000 articles. We supply knitted, woven, round and decorative elastics, including to specification, in Pantone colours and with your logo, with fast sampling and delivery across the EU. Minimum quantities depend on the article – send an inquiry. Contact us via our contact page.
