Is elastic tape the new luxury accessory?

 

Credit: Nastrotex Cufra

 

It peeks out from the hem of the trousers, slips out from under the jacket and beneath the transparency of the top and dress. Underwear is once again on display, worn naturally as a key part of the look, becoming one of the elements that define it and make it cool.

 

But what is the detail that turns underwear into a signature element of the look? The lesson comes from Calvin Klein, whose underwear line built an empire largely thanks to its iconic logo elastic band, launched in the eighties and turned into a cult detail. From the first adv campaigns with Kate Moss, photographed by Herb Ritts in 1992, to the more recent ones featuring Gen Z stars like Justin Bieber, Rosalía, and Jeremy Allen White.

 

Today, the elastic band becomes a couture element, with Veronica Leoni using it to create a dress entirely composed of intertwined logo elastics in her second collection for the brand.

 

It’s not the first time this has happened: in recent history, Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior made the logo elastic an object of desire with the J’ADIOR footwear line, featuring a embroidered elastic strap.

 

But what defines a beautiful and durable elastic? Colour fastness is one of the main factors to consider, as explained by Rebecca Cucchi from Nastrotex Cufra, a company specialised in elastic ribbons for clothing, lingerie, sports and footwear. To resist washing and high temperatures, the pattern is made yarn-dyed rather than piece-dyed, ensuring greater resistance. And from an aesthetic point of view, what should be considered? At equal quality (and thickness), polyester microfibre elastics are stronger than nylon, making them ideal for those seeking an elastic that becomes a true accessory completing the piece, just like Dior’s.