Seamless Technology Catches Fire in Innerwear Market
Seamless apparel construction, which has become popular in the athletics market, is making further inroads into intimate apparel.
Leading the way is Wacoal America’s seamless, stitchless and tagless iBra, which, since being released last July, grabbed the top spot in research firm NPD Group’s top 10–selling styles list.
Now Wacoal is going international with the iBra, releasing it in the United Kingdom next month. The company will also release several new styles in the United States this spring, including animal prints. It’s currently available in nude, black, chocolate and suntan.
Attraction to the bra comes from its comfort and fit. The iBra features a hidden underwire construction sealed between Tactel nylon and Lycra spandex. The company uses heat-transfer labels so there are no tags. According to Wacoal’s Beth Brecher, with no stitches, tags or seams, it’s like a second skin.
“The seamless aspect is important to people because you can’t see any bumps or straps bulging underneath a garment,” she said. The iBra retails for $50 and is available in sizes 32B through 36D.
Seamless construction has been around for several years, but has become popular recently with improved fusingand- bonding technology and circular-knit machinery.
Wacoal is using a heat fusing method to create its seamless bra. Surfwear makers are using it for board shorts, and outerwear companies are using it for ski and hiking jackets. Aside from Wacoal, Victoria’s Secret’s seamless IPEX bra, which employs laser technology, has also been tapping into the trend. —Robert McAllister
