Spandex (Elastane) vs Microfiber

Spandex, commonly called elastane outside North America, is a synthetic fiber composed primarily of segmented polyurethane. Developed for commercial use by DuPont chemist Joseph Shivers in the late 1950s, it can stretch several times beyond its original length and recover much of its shape. Because it is usually blended with fibers such as cotton, polyester, or nylon, it is widely used in activewe...

Microfiber is a textile made from extremely fine synthetic filaments, conventionally defined as fibers measuring less than one denier. Polyester and polyamide are common constituent materials, and manufacturers can split or combine the filaments to create fabrics with high surface area, softness, and effective moisture or particle capture. Microfiber is used in cleaning cloths, upholstery, clothin...