[ Technical Textiles - Sponsored Content: Spacer Meets Jacquard - A Spacer Fabric Built for Athleisure.]

Taipei - As the global obesity epidemic escalates, consumers are placing more
emphasis on health and wellness, which is contributing to the growing demand for athletic-

inspired apparel and footwear. To satiate this demand, manufacturers are turning 

towards spacer fabric — a double-knit fabric whereby monofilament yarn connects 

two layers of single-knit fabric, leaving a “space” between the two layers. 
This sandwich-structure makes  spacer one of the most breathable fabrics 

available on the market, while also offering excellent impact resistance — 

music to the ears of athletes looking to stay cool and injury-free.

Due to the rising demand for apparel and footwear that is both comfortable 

and stylish, manufacturers are looking for spacer fabric that is soft, 

breathable, and also allows for plenty of creative leeway. As such, spacer 

jacquard is quickly becoming the go-to fabric for athleisure.

1Spacer Jacquard

Until recently, spacer fabric was notoriously stiff, heavy, and rough — 

three words athletes would most certainly not like to have associated with 

their athletic wear — and could only be knit in monochrome. While designers 

could add unique patterns or designs to the fabric, they could
only do so through time-intensive post-production dyeing processes.


This is all changing with a recent breakthrough in circular knitting machines, 

whereby the exterior layer of spacer fabric can be knit using a jacquard pattern — 

combining design-rich jacquard with the comfortable, moisture-wicking nature 

of weft-knitted spacer. 

As athleisure exists at the intersection of comfort and design, it’s not 

surprising that many big names in athleisure — including Nike, Adidas, 

Lululemon, and Puma — have quickly implemented spacer jacquard into their 

product lines.

Warp Knitting vs. Circular Knitting: Which knits better spacer jacquard?

 The following list outlines four key ways in which weft machines — circular 

machines, in 
particular — are better able to meet future market needs:

 2. Comfort.

While warp-knitted spacer fabric is undeniably sturdy and durable, it is also 
uncomfortably stiff and rough, and thus completely ill-suited for athletic wear 
designed for comfort and ease of motion.

In contrast, circular machines knit spacer fabric that is soft, plushy and feels 
incredible against bare skin — with a natural drape that offers excellent range of 
motion for athletes. Whether wearers are running errands, laying around the house, 
or running a marathon, they are bound to appreciate the delicate feel of smooth, 
weft-knitted fabric that both enhances comfort and
also wicks away heat and moisture.

2. Unrestricted patterns

Although warp machines can also create spacer jacquard, the patterns are mostly 
just limited to repetitive or lace-like patterns, and designers can only create 
patterns of a certain width — the more complicated or irregular the pattern, the 
narrower the width. With a limited range in design possibilities and a coarse 
texture, warp-knitted fabric is ideal for home textile or automotive applications 
that generally don’t require elaborate patterns or a soft touch.

For athleisure applications, on the other hand, consumers are looking for unique 
designs and patterns that match their personal style. To meet this demand, circular 
machines are able to knit spacer jacquard without any pattern restrictions, giving 
designers free rein to let their creativity roam.

3. More colours 

When modern consumers look for athletic-inspired apparel and footwear, they’re 
looking for styles that fit their individual tastes. As such, manufacturers need 
to be able to easily switch between multiple colors and patterns.
Spacer jacquard is a knitting technique that offers designers completely free-range 
in combining different colours, while also embedding clothing and footwear with the 
high heat- and moisture-wicking functionalities of the spacer. Furthermore, circular 
knitting machines can easily knit fabrics in up to four different colours, while 
their warp machine counterparts can only simultaneously knit two different colours.

Moreover, circular machines can immediately begin knitting fabrics without lengthy 
pre-production preparations – and are thus better suited to modern consumers, who 
demand abundant style choices in shorter periods of time. As this trend continues to 
unfold, warp machines – and the tedious pre-production warping process they require – 
are becoming less and less favorable to meeting market needs.

4. Agile, low-input production

Modern consumers are no longer content with the lumbering, 18-month concept-
to-market 
cycles of retail giants, as indicated by the rise of fast fashion brands like 
H&M and 
Zara that can bring new products to market in just one to five weeks. The consumer 
 
wants 
new, fresh – and they want it faster than traditional models can provide.

Combining abundant design possibilities with heat- and moisture-wicking functions, spacer 
jacquard fills the demand for “new and fresh” – and using a circular machine to knit 
spacer jacquard is adding nimbleness to the manufacturing process.

Not only are circular machines much more agile — with an ability to rapidly 
switch between different colors and styles — they are also a mere fifteenth of 
the cost of a warp machine, less labor intensive, and occupy minimal floor space. 
For manufacturers looking to quickly knit apparel and footwear in spacer jacquard, 
circular machines offer simpler production at a competitive cost.

Spacer jacquard is launching athleisure to new heights

Today’s athleisure enthusiasts demand apparel and footwear that is comfortable 
and functional, and they are demanding fresh new styles faster than traditional 
production models can keep up with.

Right at the intersection of function, comfort, and agile manufacturing lies 
circular-knitted spacer jacquard. This new technology will enable brands and 
companies to bring innovative new products to market before their competitors, 
instead of scrambling to adapt outdated production models to modern consumer 
demands. Circular-knitted spacer jacquard is perfectly poised to launch athleisure 
to new heights and streamline production – the only question that remains is which 
companies will be quickest to adapt.

Pailung, an internationally renowned knitting machinery company, is continuously 
innovating in order to further broaden spacer’s potential. In the last few years 
alone, Pailung has released several proprietary technologies that are pushing spacer 
fabrics to new limits. Most notably, the knitted eyelet spacer and the sculpted 
spacer. Furthermore, Pailung offers circular knitting machines that can knit 
spacer jacquard – giving manufacturers a competitive edge in the athleisure market.
For further details go to:-
 http://www.pailung.com.tw