What is 4-way stretch cotton fabric? Advantages and disadvantages of 4-way stretch fabric

Surely you have heard of the concept of 4-way fabric in the fashion industry. So what is 4-way cotton fabric , how to recognize which is good and which is poor quality? All will be answered by Shondo Blog below!

1. What is 4-way stretch cotton fabric?

4-way stretch fabric is a fabric designed with 4-way stretch. There are many different types of fabric on the market today, most 1-way or 2-way fabrics usually do not recover themselves after being stretched.

4-way cotton can stretch comfortably in all directions up, down, left, right and automatically return to its original shape. This is achieved thanks to the use of elastic fibers combined with a relatively complex weaving process.

2. Classification of 4-way stretch cotton fabric

Depending on the composition of cotton fibers, the weaving process will follow a certain ratio, creating 4-way cotton fabrics with the following names:

2.1 4-way stretch fabric

To the naked eye, the surface of the cotton fabric has tiny particles like sesame seeds. This design allows for good ventilation. The most outstanding feature is the ability to stretch in 4 directions with the ability to resist wrinkles and pilling even when you wash it vigorously.

Cotton fabric is suitable for sportswear such as football, badminton, basketball, etc. The product is easy to clean, dries quickly and has a relatively long lifespan. However, the softness is not as good as natural cotton and can cause slight irritation to sensitive skin.

2.2 4-way stretch khaki fabric

Unlike conventional materials, 4-way stretch khaki has higher elasticity, creating a comfortable feeling for the user for a long time. In addition, it is sturdy, retains its shape well, and does not wrinkle much.

4-way khaki is suitable for activities that prioritize flexibility but still maintain a polite look. We can mix them with many different types of clothing, it is worth noting that the ability to absorb sweat is slightly better than regular cotton.

2.3 4-way stretch kate fabric

Similarly, 4-way stretch kate still gives users a clear feeling of flexible stretch thanks to the unique blend of spandex. The material both keeps its shape and colorfast after many washes.

The material is suitable for hot and humid weather with good sweat absorption. If not stored properly, the product may appear slightly fuzzy, but this is insignificant and does not affect the experience much.

>>>See more: What is satin fabric ? How many types are there? Is it good?

3. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of 4-way stretch cotton fabric

What is 4-way stretch cotton fabric and what are its strengths and weaknesses compared to other fabrics that customers need to note:

3.1 Advantages

• Good sweat absorption: Thanks to the high proportion of cotton fibers in the fabric, the product has outstanding sweat absorption ability.
• Comfortable stretch: The fabric allows for 4-way stretch horizontally and vertically and quickly returns to its original state.
• Smooth surface, less wrinkles: Thanks to the spandex fibers blended in the weaving, the contact surface is softer, significantly reducing wrinkles.
• Easy to dye: You can request to print colorful patterns on the product. Cotton is inherently very colorfast, even when machine washed, these details are difficult to fade.

3.2 Disadvantages

• High price: Due to the large amount of cotton, the price is also higher than that of regular fabrics.
• Poor durability: Although it is a natural material, if customers do not know how to preserve it properly during use, the product will become frayed and torn.

4. How to identify good quality 4-way stretch cotton fabric

The current fabric market has many types of 4-way stretch cotton advertised as genuine and high quality. However, no one has proven and shown customers the difference between genuine and poor quality products.

We can recognize it in 3 simple ways as follows:

• Look with your eyes: Use your hand to stretch the fabric. If you see the fabric move evenly in all 4 directions and then slowly shrink, this is definitely standard 4-way stretch cotton.
• Identify by water: Pour water directly onto the fabric surface. If it is high-quality 4-way stretch fabric, the water will absorb very quickly, leaving only about 3% remaining. If it is low-quality stretch fabric, the water absorption time will be longer and the amount of water remaining will be greater.
• Identify by temperature: You cut the fabric into small pieces, then use a lighter to burn it directly. Normally, the fabric will burn up to 90% and create many tiny fabric scraps.

5. Instructions for preserving and cleaning 4-way stretch cotton fabric

To make products made from 4-way stretch cotton fabric last longer, users need to pay attention to how to preserve and clean them to ensure the following criteria:

• Machine washing limitations: You should hand wash because the force in the washing machine can cause severe deformation of the fabric.
• Do not wash with hot water: The properties of water that is too hot cause the 4-way stretch cotton fabric to change its structure and shrink, losing its elasticity.
• Do not use strong detergents: Similarly, strong detergents if poured directly onto the fabric surface will cause fraying and rapid deterioration in a short time.
• Dry properly: You should dry in a cool place, avoid direct sunlight. At the same time, you should dry horizontally to keep the shape of the clothes and avoid sagging.
• Iron at the right temperature: As recommended, you should choose a low temperature and iron on the wrong side to protect the fabric surface for longer durability.
• Store in the wardrobe: After drying, you should put the clothes in the wardrobe, avoid hanging for a long time to minimize sharp folds.

6. Applications of 4-way stretch cotton fabric in the textile industry

4-way stretch cotton is gradually becoming a familiar material in the modern fashion industry. In daily life, this fabric is commonly used for activities such as:

• Suitable for baby clothes because the main ingredients are natural fibers, ensuring safety and gentleness for all skin types.
• Serves sports activities for many professional units due to its incredible stretch and sweat absorption.
• Easy to print, easy to dye, 4-way cotton is widely used by students, companies as uniforms.

7. Conclusion

The above article has brought you a lot of useful information about the question of what is 4-way cotton fabric . At the same time, it guides you on how to preserve and use clothes made of this material properly. You can refer to and follow it in the near future.