Exactly where did this miracle fabric come from? A couple of places really. First spandex was invented in 1959 by chemist Joseph Shivers at DuPont's laboratories in the US. Second, spandex is combined with other materials to build the ultimate garment more versatile. Often spandex is as little as 10% of the final garment. When first introduced, it revolutionized much of the clothing marketplace. The chemical make up makes shorts, shirts, jerseys and uniforms last for a longer period as it does not break down as quickly from exposure to sweat, body oils and sunscreen.
Spandex is really a play on the word expands and is most commonly used in North America. Other locations of the world call it, and its slight variations, names such as elastine, polyurethane, lycra and several other names. The elasticity of spandex enables for it to expand up to seven times its length and return to its original shape while being stronger and more durable than rubber. The combining with other fabrics for example cotton and polyester makes it soft and comfy.
All of this makes it a great choice for volleyball. The game requires a player to make essential aggressive moves such as jumping, spiking, digging, serving and blocking. A versatile garment lets the player concentrate on making a spectacular play while not worrying about their uniform binding, pinching, bunching or restricting their movements. By returning again to its original shape it ensures embarrassing mishaps don't occur or players constantly readjusting their uniforms. By being soft, supple and slightly slippery a player can move across the floor easier as they make a spectacular play. Spandex is additionally used in other sports including cycling and wrestling.
In the volleyball world some of the most favored brands are Mizuo and Asics. Mizuno is the official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic volleyball team. These are the brands of choice by Olympians and leading pros as they wick moisture and sweat away keeping players dry and comfy.
These brands and others can be found at vbvolleyball.com. The newest styles, colors and funky patterns are available for sale to you and your team. Customization is available for selected pieces to make you look just like the volleyball spandex wearing rock star you are.
