Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
A good lingerie elastic is soft, thin, with a smooth stretch, and hugs the body without cutting in. Knitted elastic made of polyamide or polyester with elastane is most commonly used: 6–12 mm for leg openings and necklines, 12–25 mm for bra underbands and 25–40 mm for the waistbands of briefs and boxers. The choice depends on the garment, the fabric and whether the elastic will be visible.
Why soft elastic is used for lingerie
Lingerie is in constant contact with the skin and is worn all day. Any hard edge, rough surface or excessive stretch is felt immediately and becomes a reason for the customer not to buy the style again. That is why the main choice is knitted elastic – it is light, flexible across its width and is sewn directly onto the jersey without making the lingerie thicker.
In lingerie, the elastic also has a function that is rarely noticed: it determines how the garment sits under clothes. An elastic that is too wide or too tight shows as a line under a thin dress, while one with too little tension leaves folds.
Types of lingerie elastic
Elastic for briefs
For the leg openings, a narrow elastic of 6 to 12 mm is used, often with a scalloped (picot) edge that remains visible along the edge. For the waist of briefs, 8–20 mm is chosen, and for high-waisted styles a wider soft elastic. In seamless styles the elastic can be replaced by bonded tape, but classic lingerie relies on sewn-in elastic.
Bra elastic
A bra uses several different elastics: the underband (usually 12–25 mm, often with a plush back), strap elastic (10–20 mm, with a smooth shiny face) and a narrow elastic for the top edge of the cups and the neckline. The underband carries the main load, so a stronger stretch and good recovery are needed there.
Elastic for boxers
Men’s boxers usually have a wide visible waistband of 25 to 40 mm, often with a jacquard logo or a contrasting colour. Here the elastic is also a branding element. The legs of boxers rarely have elastic – they are more often hemmed with a coverstitch.
Lingerie elastic widths – summary table
| Garment / area | Approximate width | Type of elastic |
|---|---|---|
| Leg openings of briefs | 6–12 mm | Knitted, plain or with picot edge |
| Waist of briefs | 8–20 mm | Knitted, soft |
| Bra underband | 12–25 mm | With plush back |
| Straps | 10–20 mm | Strap elastic |
| Neckline, top edge | 6–10 mm | Narrow, with decorative edge |
| Waistband of boxers | 25–40 mm | Wide, often with logo |
How to choose lingerie elastic
Besides the width, there are several other parameters to check before serial production:
- Composition – polyamide is softer and smoother, polyester is more resistant to light. Elastane withstands washing better than rubber.
- Elongation – by what percentage the elastic stretches to its maximum. For lingerie, a sufficient reserve is needed so that the limit is not reached when putting the garment on.
- Tension – at the same percentage of stretch, two elastics can hold quite differently.
- Recovery – whether the elastic returns to its original length after repeated stretching and washing.
- Colour – in lingerie, the elastic must match the fabric or the lace, so dyeing to Pantone is common practice.
- Surface – smooth or brushed side against the skin.
How much shorter than the edge to cut the elastic
In lingerie, the elastic is almost always sewn on stretched so that it draws the edge towards the body. As a guide for leg openings, an elastic about 10–20% shorter than the length of the edge is used, and for the waist – according to the body circumference and the tension of the specific elastic. The distribution is not uniform: at the leg openings the elastic is stretched more at the back and hardly at all at the front. That is why the ratio is checked on a sample rather than calculated only in theory.
When the garment has several elastics – for example leg openings, waist and neckline – the ratios are recorded separately for each of them and for each size. This way, when the elastic batch or the factory changes, the technique stays the same and the fit of the lingerie does not change between orders.
Checks before serial sewing
- Sew a sample in all sizes with the selected elastic.
- Stretch the elastic repeatedly and check that the seam does not break.
- Wash the sample according to the care label instructions at least several times.
- Compare the length and tension before and after washing.
- Check the colour of the elastic against the fabric in daylight.
For the seams, use polyester or polyamide thread with elasticity. Suitable options are in the sewing threads category.
Common mistakes with lingerie elastic
- A stiff elastic in thin jersey – the edge puckers and shows under clothes.
- An elastic that is too wide for leg openings – it digs in when sitting.
- A composition unsuitable for the washing method stated on the label.
- Different shades between elastic, fabric and lace in one collection.
Lingerie elastic from Polkom
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer of accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags, working with lingerie brands, ateliers and factories in the EU. We offer soft knitted lingerie elastic in various widths, elastic with a picot edge and with a plush back, Pantone dyeing and elastic with a logo. Send us the style and a fabric sample via the inquiry form – we will suggest a suitable article and samples. You will find more options in the knitted elastic category.
