The big stretch: how I use elastic

In my quest to design delightfully comfortable clothing, the elastic waist is an important part of my repertoire.

It’s not uncommon for me to hear shoppers in my show booth exclaim, “Oh, good—elastic!” They know what I know—elasticized waists make a lot of sense when dealing with non-standard tummy proportions. But in dealing with genuinely comfortable clothing, it goes further than that. Anyone who has a fluctuating waistline or experiences bloating can appreciate the forgiving fit elastic offers.

Unfortunately, not all elastics are created equal. I landed on the type I use in Sympatico  skirts and pants after considerable experimentation. The type I use has great stretchiness—it can nearly double in length. But it also has excellent memory, returning to its original size when relaxed. Additionally, it has proven very durable and should last the life of your garment.

I've learned through experience that some elastic manufacturers are more attentive to consistent shrinkage rates than others. Although the company I source from is quite good about that, I nonetheless shrink-test every new batch. The type I purchase is considered a non-roll design, but I sew the elastic into the waistband rather than merely threading it through the casing to help ensure it will never roll.

Elastic waists ensure comfortable clothing before and after lunch

Due to the forgiving nature of elasticized waists, I often can fit customers whose waist measurements, by the numbers, are technically larger than my size chart. This stretch factor allows me to cover a much greater range of body types. Thanks to the elastic’s excellent memory though, I can usually fit hourglass shapes too. As a small-scale clothing maker for whom lots and lots of sizes is not feasible, I’m very grateful for elastic's adaptability.

Because of this flexibility, when deciding how to choose your size for Sympatico skirts or pants, for most figures, the hip dimension is the most important.

As a style and comfort matter, I personally don’t tend to tuck tops or wear belts a lot. When I do, though, I usually choose to accessorize with a a loose-fitting belt. Those wide belts we held our our hip huggers with back in the 1970s seem pretty constricting these days. And old-school drawstring waists can feel binding or cutting to my tummy.

Comfortable elegance is at the heart of the Sympatico aesthetic. It’s no surprise then that I count on elastic to help realize that ideal.    

Rose Gerstner is the founder of Sympatico. She creates her line of comfortable clothing made of hemp and Tencel for real women’s bodies. You can follow her blog posts about sustainable fashion here.