Fabrics that stretch presage a whole new technology for the way clothes are made, with stretch fibers now being added to natural yarns.
Spandex is a stretch fiber used in products like underwear, bathing suits, stockings and exercise outfits.
Now several designers have revived the pattern, for day and night, often printing it on denim and adding stretch fibers.
The emphasis is on classic patterns and fabrics - though the latter are almost always laced with stretch fibers for a good fit.
Because it's woven with stretch fibers it not only fits over a variety of shapes, it also gives a nice, slightly firm molding to the body.
His somewhat architectural silhouettes are softened and given movement by the fabrics he uses, almost always woven with stretch fibers.
The tights and cat suits are blends of synthetic stretch fibers, cotton and wool.
But the most far-reaching innovation is the use of fabric permeated with stretch fibers.
He ended up with three weights of wool, with stretch fibers woven in, which are being used for coats and jackets.
All the mills all over the world are adding stretch fibers to their wool or silk yarns.