YINCHUAN TN
4 December 2025 Insight

Lycra opens largest spandex supplier hub in China

By Abigail Turner

The LYCRA Company tells WTiN how its second facility in China will ramp-up sustainable production of spandex as demand grows in the Asia-Pacific region.

You do not have the correct permission to access this article. Please login to either view the article or upgrade your account as applicable.

Sustainable fibre and technology solutions provider The Lycra company announced the opening of its largest spandex production facility in November 2025.

The US-headquartered company will open the LYCRA® fibre (Yinchuan) Plant in Ningxia Province, China, cementing the company’s continued investment in the Chinese market as it builds and develops localised supply and distribution networks.

The Lycra Company’s CEO Gary Smith defines China as being “strategically important”, representing over 50% of the global apparel production market. He adds that the partnership enables the company to optimise its product mix more broadly while meeting the increase in demand for quality spandex.

Backed by investment of more than 800m Chinese renminbi (US$112m) and located in the eponymous prefecture-level city, the

Sign up today to access your 2 free (insight) articles this month, along with many other benefits.

 

  • Registered

    Stay informed with limited access to global innovation news throughout the textile and apparel value chain.

    Free

    REGISTER & BROWSE

    Join now
    The journey starts here....
    • Weekly ICYMI (in case you missed it) email ? Our weekly round-up of content delivered to your inbox.
    • Insight (limited) ? Feature-length articles providing significant insights into crucial industry developments, material, technology innovation and business innovation, includes direct-to-source interviews with key industry stakeholders and market roundups.
    • News ? Press releases from across the global textile & apparel supply chain, bringing you all the latest developments direct from the companies involved.
    • Sponsored Content ? Sponsored editorial with companies and organisations within the textile & apparel supply chain, based on company developments, product launches and key initiatives.
    • Podcast ? Immerse yourself in the latest innovations and expert insights from global textile and apparel leaders—spanning Asia to the Americas—covering the full value chain from tech to manufacturing.
    • Digital Journals (limited) ? Our current and archived digital journals.
  • Member

    Deepen your understanding of key trends, technologies, and developments shaping the textile and apparel industry.

    £1,750

    PER MEMBER PER YEAR

    Talk to us
    Everything in 'Registered' and....
    • Insight (unlimited) ? Feature-length articles providing significant insights into crucial industry developments, material, technology innovation and business innovation, includes direct-to-source interviews with key industry stakeholders and market roundups.
    • Watchlist ? Build bespoke email alerts using keywords, schedule frequency, and delivery timing.
    • Virtual event pass (1 per member) ? Attend our virtual events that explore and celebrate innovation right across the textile and apparel value chain.
    • Event reports ? Comprehensive digital event reports created after our virtual events, dive deep into key topics discussed during the event.
    • Email support ? We're here to help.
  • Member Plus

    Access expert analysis, actionable intelligence, and vital content to help you uncover, understand, and innovate.

    Tailored

    FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM

    Talk to us
    Everything in 'Member' and....
    • Intelligence ? Business-critical content, sometimes incorporating proprietary data and analysis, with a strategic focus on business, material and/or technology innovation. Often more in-depth and technical, this content type identifies opportunities, market shits and potential impact.
    • Case studies ? Structured insights into challenges faced by manufacturing facilities and the solutions they have adopted. Each article includes business insights, problems, solutions, technologies, measurables, outcomes and learnings.
    • Innovation Briefings ? Articles providing an academic and commercial perspective on key topics and innovations, including both emerging or commercially ready innovations.
    • Company profiles ? In-depth reports offering structured analysis on the strategic activities of companies within the textile & apparel supply chain.
    • Funding watch articles ? Monthly roundup and assessment of the past month's venture funding news within the textile & apparel supply chain, focusing on early and growth stage funding.
    • Reports ? In-depth editorial reports on key sectors, events and topic. Includes insight, market-driven developments, interviews and analysis in a comprehensive, journal format.
    • Pricing ? Access to our weekly EMR (Executive Market Report) and WMR (Wool Market Report) pricing reports.
    • 10% discount on consultancy ? Unlock your next growth phase and discover new opportunities by leveraging our bespoke consultancy service. WTiN has been commissioned by its consultancy clients for almost 10 years, all taking advantage of our over 100 years of history in the textile & apparel industry.
    • Email support ? We're here to help.
  • Member Premium

    Use proprietary data tools to track, monitor, analyse and navigate industry trends and market shifts with confidence.

    Tailored

    FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM

    Talk to us
    Everything in 'Member plus' and....
    • Digital Textiles Market Tracker ? Proprietary data and analysis of global digital textiles market sales.
    • Patents
    • Fibres Hub ? The number of on-demand videos you can show on your booth
    • Smart Textiles Database
    • Additional virtual event passes ? Additional passes for your colleagues and select customers beyond the named members.
    • Custom data feeds ? We can work with you do deliver our data to you in the format you need.
    • 20% discount on consultancy ? Unlock your next growth phase and discover new opportunities by leveraging our bespoke consultancy service. WTiN has been commissioned by its consultancy clients for almost 10 years, all taking advantage of our over 100 years of history in the textile & apparel industry.
    • Email & phone support ? We're here to help

Unlock a bespoke solution-based membership proposal, just for you...