A synthetic elastic fiber and fabric known for its exceptional stretch and recovery properties. Commonly used in athletic wear and form-fitting clothing.
A trademark name coined by DuPont in 1958, possibly influenced by 'lychee' for its smooth texture or simply as an invented brand name. The generic name is spandex in North America, elastane elsewhere.
Lycra revolutionized fashion and athletics by allowing clothes to move like a second skin, but its invention was actually accidental - chemist Joseph Shivers was trying to create a lightweight alternative to rubber during WWII. Today, it's nearly impossible to find athletic wear without at least some lycra content.
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