They may be a daily staple in many wardrobes, but have you ever stopped and wondered how tights are actually made? Here’s what you need to know.
The Circular Knitting Machine
From making light 15 denier tights to anti chafing shorts such as those from https://www.bettertights.com/collections/anti-chafing-shorts, the secret to making any kind of tights is the circular knitting machine. This is used to create the durable strength of the resulting garment and the tight-knit appearance. The yarn feeds into the machine, which then uses up to 400 needles to transform nylon, elastane and other fibres into tiny loops.
The Threading Machine
From this point, the threading machine will convert the loops into a tube-shaped sleeve of material, which creates that flush finish against the skin that characterises a great pair of tights. Once the material tube is ready, the legs are placed on to a leg mould and then seamed. A human operator will usually finish the gusset.
Speed and Control
The fascinating thing about this process is the speed at which tights can be made. It can take only 90 seconds for machinery to make one leg of a pair of tights. Modern technology has made the production process faster and better than ever.
Fibres Used
Many brands use spandex and nylon fibres because they are hard-wearing and result in high-quality tights that can be worn time and time again.
Finishing the Tights
After the tights are made, they are dyed, steamed and stretched. This happens by placing the tights in a large drum and cleaning them with detergents before adding a dye. The stretching process involves stretching them on a mould to the maximum desired capacity. If any of the fibres snap, they are instantly removed and recycled. And the steaming process takes just two seconds before drying the tights and packing them!
It’s a fascinating process for a wardrobe basic we take for granted. So next time you pick anti chafing tights or hold-ups to pull your outfit together, remember all the work that goes into making these hard-working wonders.