The only reason why I watch the Grammys?  I am all about the fashion and the fabrics!  Here’s how some of the top stars rated in my book:

Best Use of the “It” Fabric:

Adele:  Adele sparkled in this sequin-studded black mesh dress.  Mesh fabrics are popping up everywhere!  The feminine silhouette created by the mesh softened the structured lines of her dress for an award-winning look.

Best Use of Spandex:

Katy Perry performed in a futuristic metallic body suit.  Thank goodness for the spandex blend that allowed this skin-tight number to stretch far enough for her awkward dance moves.  Sorry boys, no wardrobe malfunction this time thanks to our favorite stretch fabric!   

Worst Dressed Performer:

There is no question that Rihanna was the worst-dressed performer at the Grammys.  Not only did she abuse the star fabric of the day with her cropped mesh top, but she turned her nylon-spandex blend tights into something that resembled Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman.”

www.livetradingpost.com

The United States Olympic Committee has chosen Ralph Lauren to design the official Olympic apparel for Team USA for the Olympics 2012.

This isn’t the world-famous designer’s first shot at being involved with the Olympics.  Ralph Lauren also designed the Team USA uniforms for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China and the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.

While we do not get a sneak peek of these uniforms, the US Olympic Committee does admit that Team USA’s red, white, and navy uniforms will be channeling Team USA uniforms from the 1948 London Olympic Games.

Exactly how much spandex do you think it takes to make Olympic-quality active wear for our champions?   The world may never know…  We do know that we are seeing an increase of popularity in our red, white, and blue stretch fabrics.  To see our favorites, CLICK HERE!!!

http://seekingalpha.com/news-article/2102246-ralph-lauren-announces-u-s-olympic-paralympic-athlete-roster-for-london-2012

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ycn-10639757

Cosmeto-what?!  Cosmetotextiles are a form of “wearable skincare.”  It seems everyone is searching for new forms of well-being, and this might just be the trend to watch in stretch fabrics!

This new technology has stretch fabrics printed with bio-based microparticles that are continuously released for cosmetic or medical benefit.  Manufacturers of these super active-wear fabrics claim they can give our skin vitamins, moisture, and even reduce cellulite.

But how does this fabric know when to release its anti-cellulite treatment?  Changes in the atmosphere such as increased body temperature or humidity, changes in surface pH, and even friction can trigger a release of the microparticles.

Months ago, I was gifted some socks that claimed to release shea butter into my skin while I slept.  My feet don’t feel any softer… so I remain skeptical.

'Encapsulated cosmetics in textiles.'

http://www.just-style.com/analysis/cosmetotextiles-market-has-exciting-potential_id111926.aspx

http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textilenews/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=104319

At your request, we have posted a new addition to our website!  For items in stock which we have 20-60 yards on hand, we have created ‘Small Yardage.’  For the most part these are not items we plan on reordering, so we are looking to move them at a great price for you!

Here are my favorite two prints that you can receive at a discount today!

LA International Textile Show 2011

   Come check us out as a trade show near you!  We have the latest in active wear knit fabrics in your favorite spandex blends.  We will be showcasing a variety of stretch fabrics to suit all of your swim, dance, gymnastics, and other active wear needs!

Seattle International Textile Expo
Red Lion Hotel Fifth Avenue
1415 Fifth Avenue, Seattle WA
March 11-12, 2012

LA International Textile Show
California Market Center
Los Angeles, CA
March 26-28, 2012

Denim is the American classic.  In the year 2010, the denim industry was worth about $16 billions dollars.  Since the birth of the jegging, this is the only category reporting significant new growth in denim in the last few years.  In fact, from 2009 to 2010, sales of jeggings jumped from about $88 million to a tremendous $178 million!

What is the secret to the perfect pair of stretch denim leggings?  The right fabric!  Our new denim stretch fabric has all the comfort of our active wear knit fabrics with the look of a denim twill weave.  The dark wash on this stretch fabric simulates the wash of a premium denim weave, perfect for the most comfortable and durable stretch jeggings!

PCP2447

This month only we are offering this fabric for $3.95/yard for a full roll and $4.95/yard for a cut roll.  This incredible price is only good through the end of January so call now and get your jeggings on!

www.usatoday.com

Erdem Spring 2012; Pine Crest Fabrics Floral Pick-A-Print

As I researched the popular prints we can expect to see on fabrics for 2012, I was especially surprised by the photographic prints.  These photographic prints are a nod to the Photorealism art trend inspired by Pop Art of the 1950s.  This is why the artistic fabric prints work so well with the vintage 1950s feel of many of the Spring/Summer 2012 lines.  Soft and meadowy floral printed fabrics seem to be everywhere, as seen above in Erdem’s spring line.

Interested in taking this look from the runway to your favorite stretch active wear fabric?  Our Pick-A-Print collection has a huge library of artwork such as photo-realistic artwork seen on the fabric swatch above.  We can print your favorite artwork on to any of 12 base clothes.  Click the image above to visit our Pick-A-Prints page.

Dolce&Gabbana/ Carven

The latest runway collections for Spring/Summer 2012 are bright with prints and patterns on fabric like I have never seen!

Color-blocking was once reserved for solid colors but designers across the board are showing color blocks of printed fabrics.  Kenzo featured a tossed parrot print in bold colors mixed with the geometric feel of a chicken wire print.

Dolce and Gabbana also featured color blocking of prints, but opted for a different look completely.  D&G used photographic prints on their fabric that featured mostly earthy vegetables.  Photographic prints of florals were also used by designers such as Julian Louie and Erdem.

My favorite spring fabric trend is a Missoni-inspired zigzag print done by Carven.  The cross-stitching and bright colors (such as Pantone color of the year Tangerine Tango) give the traditional stripe a global feel.

http://weconnectfashion.com/

nicetrybro.tumblr.com

Ever notice that fuzzy halo on the surface of your favorite knit sweater?  The fuzzy ends that you see are the result of abrasion and friction.  Poor abrasion resistance causes fiber ends and fiber debris to break away from the surface and entangle with fibers still attached to the material, leading to formation of pills.

Pilling is affected by the type of fiber, the twist of the yarn, the knit or weave structure, and the finish of a fabric.  Tightly knitted stretch fabrics pill much less than loose knits or weaves.  Spun fibers such as cotton or wool are also known to pill.  Having a filament yarn such a spandex in your stretch knit fabric can increase abrasion resistance and decrease pilling, keeping your active wear knit fabrics in perfect condition.

(1992). A dictionary of textile terms. (14 ed.). New York, NY:Dan River, Inc.

Of all the clothing in my closet made with stretchy fabric, there is no doubt I would rather just wear my blue jeans.  This week I decided to wear my brand new pair of skinny jeans and squeezed into my favorite cotton-spandex blend fabric.

As the Portland rain started making my jeans wet, my hands and everything that came into contact with my jeans developed a bluish tinge.  What a crock of… well actually, crocking!

Crocking is the tendency of excess dyes to rub off one fabric onto another and is a very important colorfastness test.  As you discover quickly in Portland, crocking during wet testing is much more severe.

At Pine Crest Fabrics we know the importance of testing all of our stretch fabrics, especially our swimwear knits.  The industry sets standards and recommends tests in order to prevent the occurrence of crocking.  We meet and exceed all of these industry standards set for crocking for all of our stretch fabrics.

(1992). A dictionary of textile terms. (14 ed.). New York, NY: Dan River, Inc.