Comparing Gatta brand to Fiore brand – Hosiery Review

sherry ann tights by gatta pantyhose picture on me 1Both Gatta and Fiore brands are from Poland, with factories just a short train ride apart. They keep an eye on each other, copy each other, and so on, just like any good competitors. In general Gatta is more popular and has a wider selection. The price is quite similar.

Today I realized that I still had one of the long time ago limited editions from Gatta called Sherry Ann. It’s been a while since I wore Gatta hosiery since I wear so much of other brands.

It is a sheer 20 den style with pink flowers along the side of the leg. Some of you who followed this blog, you probably saw this style already. It is no longer available for sale simply because I don’t have anymore of it.

I also was trying on for photos some Fiore tights in 20 denier, same size and similar kind of pattern, to compare the fit and feel. Here I’ll just show Gatta tights since I already have so many photos of Fiore.

sherry ann tights by gatta pantyhose picture on me 2Here are my comments so far:

Lycra content: Gatta has a little more lycra! I see that Fiore usually has 12% for such styles and Gatta has 14%. In my opinion higher lycra content results in a softer feel.

Elasticity: Gatta proved to be more elastic. I tried size Large for both pairs and Fiore evenly stretched along my legs right away, but Gatta seemed to have extra material left over that rolled up on my upper thigh, later smoothing out as I continued wearing it.

sherry ann tights by gatta pantyhose picture on me 3 pattern close upToe reinforcement: Gatta has sheer toe, Fiore has invisibly reinforced toe. I rarely get runs, but I hear from other people that any kind of reinforcement helps with durability.

Cotton gusset: Gatta always, always, always has a gusset! Fiore will only up a gusset for sizes Medium and Large. Perhaps it’s not as crucial for fitting when it comes to a petite figure, but mainly it’s a money saver. But here is an important point, on tights checked for Gatta the gusset is synthetic and for Fiore it was made of cotton, thus being more hygienic. (This is not a rule though, both brands produce some with cotton gussets, and some styles with synthetic depending on the price.)

This is all for now. As you see, both have some advantages, disadvantage, and features that may be important for some people.

My Friend’s Vintage Pantyhose Drawer

So as I was digging through my friend’s drawer, I found she had a collection of vintage pantyhose. She wants to sell them for about $4 for single pair, about $6 for value packs that have 2 pairs in them, and $8 for the vintage Dim brand.

Do you want to buy? E-mail me. friends@fantasystockings.com

Just looking at these vintage pantyhose packages is already a thrill!  Most of these are made in Canada.

vintage pantyhose for sale - made in Canada - tights from the 80`s, 100% nylon

Cover Girl brand pantyhose. I didn’t even know there was a brand like that! (SOLD already)

Silky Panty. Extra tall, burgundy. Sheer and ultra transparent, sandal foot.  Made in Canada.  100% nylon.

Cover Girl ultra sheer pantyhose for those special occasions when you want nothing but the ultimate sheer.  Soft cotton lined gusset.

vintage pantyhose for sale

Finesse brand no run pantyhose. 4 taupe, 4 black pairs in stock. Made in Canada. Magi-stitch construction provides greater durability. Run resistant. Queen size. 100% nylon.

vintage pantyhose for sale

L’amour sandalfoot pantyhose with a polka dot print.  Made in Canada.  100% nylon. Available in several shades of grey and one in taupe. Buy it here – L’Amour Vintage.

vintage pantyhose by Baycrest brand

Baycrest brand, sheer silky control top sandal foot pantyhose. Queen size. Misty black. Made in Canada. Quality tested by the retail research foundation of Canada. Buy it here – Baycrest Vintage.

These pantyhose have a silky nylon / spandex panty for gentle hip and tummy contol, ultra sheer and lycra spandex leg and an invisible reinforcement knitted into the toe for added durability called Super Toe. The extra touch of lycra in the leg offers you a better fit with a silky luxurious feel.

made in Canada - tights from the 80`s, 100% nylon

Discretion nude pantyhose, ivory colour, rather off white. Large (135 – 155 lbs). It says that there is a 30 day guarantee! (well, I’m unable to extend it to you after 30 yrs though) 100% nylon. Made in Canada.

made in Canada - tights from the 80`s, 100% nylon

Woodsonia silky panties and hose in one. Sandalfoot. Cotton gusset added for extra comfort. Panty portion consists of 77% nylon, 23% Spandex. Leg is 100% nylon. Made in Canada. Actifresh, made exclusively for Woodward’s!

Whisper vintage pantyhose brand for sale

Whisper pantyhose. Different colours. 100% nylon. 20 Denier. Made in Canada. Buy it here – Whisper Vintage.

vintage Kayser soft touch pantyhose

SOLD ALREADY

Kayser soft touch, all sheer sandalfoot. Extra large. All sheer pantyhose, cotton lined gusset. “Soft touch” with a touch of lycra for a superb fit. SOLD.

92% Nylon, 8% Lycra/Spandex

made in Canada - tights from the 80`s, 100% nylon

Woodsonia non run all sheer sandal foot panty hose. Colour – bone. Fits between 5’4” to 5’8”.  Non-run stitch provides greater durability. 100% nylon. Made in Canada. Buy it here – Woodsonia vintage.

vintage tights queen size - pantyhose XL from The Bay brand

The Bay brand. Queen size pantyhose. Reinforced panty and toe. Fits 160-200 lbs, 73-90 kg. 100% nylon. Made in Canada. Treated for long lasting freshness.

made in Canada - tights from the 80`s, 100% nylon

L’amour queen size pantyhose. Slate grey, 170-200 lbs. Motif style. Made in Canada. 100% nylon.

made in Canada - tights from the 80`s, 100% nylon

SOLD

Phantom fashionables. Medium size. Fashion patterned and opaque panti hose sandalfoot. Fashonables add a little mystique to a very beautiful you! Made in Canada. 100% nylon. SOLD ALREADY

made in Canada - tights from the 80`s, 100% nylon

Dim pantyhose looks like coffee in these small bags.  One pack, the shiny one, is black pantyhose and the knee highs are in the other one.  These were purchased in France in 1982.  Large size.  These Dim are $8 each.

These Dim pantyhose were bought in Marseilles in France by my friend, in a shop that just sold lingerie and stockings. She went there to visit her friend and they together went to this shop, buying Dim bras and hosiery. That store was special because it was one of the few places that had bras with adjustable straps.

woodwynn hosiery vintage

Woodwynn brand. Queen size pantyhose. 160-195 lbs. Made in Canada. 100% nylon. Charcoal.

Buy Vintage Pantyhose in our SHOP.

Video – Hosiery News Report in French – Translated

Youtube link : http://youtu.be/21_dtILnVoY

 Thank you so much to Michel from France who did this translation!

 

Reportage de collants Hosiery news report
Présentatrice : (A Josée, la maquilleuse) Merci Josée. (Au public) Oh non ! Encore une maille ! Les femmes qui, comme moi, portent des bas Nylon régulièrement, peuvent en acheter 2 ou 3 paires par semaine. C’est beaucoup d’argent. Ca peut coà?ter jusqu’à?400$ par année. Est-ce qu’on peut économiser en achetant des bas nylons de meilleure qualité ? C’est ce qu’on va voir aujourd’hui en allant magasiner. Et heureusement, j’en ai une paire en réserve.(Musique et plan de coupe. Dans une boutique de collants.)collant reportage 10 den photo

Présentatrice : (A la vendeuseQuand je magasine des bas nylon, quelles questions je dois me poser, tout d’abord?

Vendeuse : Avant tout, est-ce que c’est une occasion de soirée, ou si c’est un bas nylon, pour tous les jours, pour le bureau, et deuxièmement si on veut une culotte de maintien ou non, et si on va les porter avec des chaussures ouvertes ou non.

 

Présentatrice Qu’est-ce que je dois regarder pour avoir un bas résistant ?

 

Vendeuse : Le denier doit être un peu plus élevé. Plus le denier est bas, plus le bas est mince. Et un autre facteur très important, c’est le Lycra dans le produit. Ca existe 100% Nylon, c’est-à?-dire, il n’y a pas de Lycra, alors, à?a risque de descendre sur la jambe. Ca va glisser. Avec le Lycra, à?a reste mieux sur la jambe, et puis c’est plus moulant.

 

(Musique et plan de coupe. Chez la coiffeuse.)

 

Présentatrice : (A la coiffeuseA quelle occasion vous portez des bas Nylon ?

 

La coiffeuse (la dame 1) : PlutГѓВґt dans les soirées. Les parties de Noà?l, les choses comme à?a.

 

Dame 2 : Dès que je me mets en jupe ou en robe, je mets des bas Nylon.

 

Dame 3 : Le travail, régulièrement. Les sorties.

 

Dame 4 : Quand je me mets en robe. Des fois pour le travail, pour une sortie.

 

Présentatrice (off): Claudine, Amélia, Katia et Sylvie, travaillent à?la maison Saint-Laurent de Longueuil. Elles acceptent de se transformer en mannequin pendant quelques jours.

 

Présentatrice (de retour à?la boutique de collants) : Nous avons choisi quelques modèles pour nos 4 testeuses. Tout d’abord, un modèle assez simple, je crois.

 

Vendeuse Le premier, c’est un bas assez mince, mais très bien pour tous les jours. Culotte de maintien, et le pied renforcé.

 

Présentatrice (off) : Modèle numéro 1, bas de gamme, à?7,50$, 15 deniers, 6% de Lycra.

 

Dame 1 : J’ai pas vraiment aimé le confort, le bout du bas. Il n’y avait pas de renfort. En plus la première fois que je l’ai porté, à?a a fait une maille. Première journée.

 

Dame 2 : Il est plus soyeux. Il bouge sur la peau. Le seul inconvénient, c’est qu’il n’est pas durable.

 

Dame 3 : Avec, on les enfile, juste s’asseoir, se relever, à?a fait des plis.

 

Dame 4 : Je l’aime beaucoup. C’était confortable dedans pour bouger. C’était souple. Il serrait bien la jambe. Il était assez solide. Rien, pas de maille.

 

(Musique. Plan de coupe. Dans la rue.)

 

Présentatrice (A un homme dans la rue) Vous, en tant qu’homme, qu’est-ce que vous pensez des femmes qui portent des bas Nylon ? Est-ce vous trouvez à?a sexy ?

 

Homme 1 : Bien sà?r que je trouve à?a sexy. J’adore à?a.

 

Homme 2 : Ca peut être suggestif, comme à?a peut être juste esthétique.

 

(Musique. Plan de coupe. Dans la boutique de collants).

 

Présentatrice Le deuxième modèle ?

 

Vendeuse : Le deuxième, c’est un 40 deniers. Alors, c’est bien pour quelqu’un qui va porter une jupe, qui ne veut pas d’un produit trop opaque, qui couvre complètement la jambe, mais assez soyeux.

 

Présentatrice Est-ce qu’il est plus résistant ?

 

Vendeuse : Oui. Parce que le denier est plus élevé.

 

Présentatrice (off) : Modèle numéro 2. Milieu de gamme. A 12,95$. 40 deniers. 21% de Lycra.

 

Dame 1 : Bah, moi, le numéro 2, en fait, je l’ai adoré. Le renfort au bout des pieds. Moi, à?a me plaà?t assez. J’ai des orteils mangeurs de bas. Le confort, aussi au niveau de la culotte, j’ai adoré. J’ai aucune maille.

 

Dame 2 : C’est un massacre. C’est une torture. Il est difficile à?mettre. C’est comme si on avait une couche de bébé entre les 2 jambes. Et on peut pas les monter à?la taille, comme les autres, les premiers.

 

Dame 3 : Il ressemblait pas mal à?un collant.

 

(Musique. Plan de coupe. Dans la rue.)

 

Homme 3 : Ca peut être sexy, effectivement.

 

Homme 4 : Tout dépend de la personne. Ca fait un plus beau galbe, la plupart du temps.

 

(Retour dans la boutique de collants.)

 

Présentatrice : Le troisième modèle, c’est vraiment un modèle de luxe qu’on décide de se payer, n’est-ce pas ?

 

Vendeuse C’est un produit de designer. Il est de 10 deniers. Alors c’est un peu plus mince. Pied sandale. On peut porter à?a avec des chaussures ouvertes sans problèmes. Et au niveau maintien, à?a contrГѓВґle les cuisses et les hanches. Voyez ? Il est très serré.

 

Présentatrice (off) : On ne risque pas d’étouffer, par contre ?

 

Vendeuse Non, il faut prendre la bonne taille, mais faire très attention, parce que si on prend trop grand, à?a risque de rouler à?la cheville.

 

Présentatrice (off) : Modèle 3. Haut de gamme. 34$. 10 deniers. 24% de Lycra.

 

(Musique. Plan de coupe.)

 

Dame 1 : Le renfort au bout du bas est moindre que le deuxième. La gaine est « huh ! ». Je suis étouffée complètement. C’est un peu trop. C’est pas confortable.

 

Dame 2 : Il n’est pas trop serré. Il est un peu rude sur la peau. Je trouve qu’il est assez transparent. Ca fait l’effet qu’on n’en a pas.

 

Dame 3 : Au niveau de la jambe ici, c’est trop large. Ca plisse.

 

Présentatrice (off) : Ca fait des plis ?

 

Dame 3 : Il faudrait que je le tire, que je le tire. Il descend tout le temps.

 

Présentatrice Et la gaine ?

 

Dame 3 : Trop serrée. Vraiment trop serrée. Inconfortable.

 

Dame 4 : C’est assez confortable. Parfois à?a vaut la peine, des fois de payer le prix. Mais là?, non. Je ne paierais pas ce prix-là?pour ce bas-là?.

 

Présentatrice (off) : Même si elles ont choisi la taille qui leur convient, deux de nos quatre testeuses se sentent vraiment inconfortables dans le bas numéro 3. Et voici leur verdict final : le premier modèle remporte 3 votes. Le second, 1 vote. Et le troisième, aucun vote. Elles préfèrent le confort à?la durabilité.

 

Dame 1 : J’ai été très surprise d’être confortable dans un bas Nylon. J’ai été très surprise.

 

Présentatrice (off) : Si, de votre cГѓВґté, vous préférez un bas plus résistant, n’oubliez pas de vérifier le nombre de deniers. Plus il est élevé, plus votre bas risque de durer. Pour le confort, regardez le pourcentage de Lycra.

 

Homme 5 (dans la rue) : J’aime bien un look naturel. Je plains les femmes qui en portent. Je trouve que c’est agaà?ant. J’ai jamais essayé, mais c’est ce que je constate.

 

Présentatrice (près d’une machine à?laver) : Pour que vos bas Nylon durent le plus longtemps possible, l’idéal, c’est de les laver à?la main, mais  on n’a pas toujours le temps de le faire, alors on peut les laver à?la machine, au cycle délicat, mais ce qu’il est important d’utiliser, c’est ce petit sac en filet, dans lequel on met nos bas. Ca évitera bien des mailles. Et voilà? ! Le tour est joué !

 

*Dear friends, please keep in mind that the funding for this blog comes from the shop section. Please have a look at it.*

Host : (To Josée, the make-up artist) Thank you, Josée. (To the viewers) Oh no! A run, again! Women who, like me, wear stockings on a regular basis, can buy 2 or 3 pairs each week. It’s a lot of money. It can cost up to CA$400 per year. Can we save enough money by buying stockings of a better quality? It’s what we will try to know today, by going shopping. And fortunately, I have a spare pair.(Music and cutaway shot. In a hosiery store.)Host: (To the clerk) When I purchase hosiery, which questions should I ask myself, at first?

Clerk: First, is it for a party, or is it pantyhose for everyday use, for work, and second, if you want a support panty or not, and if you will wear them with open-toes shoes or not.

 

Host: What should I look for to have more resistant pantyhose?

 

Clerk: The denier must be higher. The lower the denier, the sheerer the hosiery. And another very important factor, it’s the Lycra inside the product. It exists in 100% Nylon, that is, without Lycra, but it may slide down along the leg. It will slide down. With Lycra, it stays better on the leg, and also, it’s more clinging.

 

(Music and cutaway shot. At the hairdresser).

 

Host: (To the hairdresser) What are the opportunities for you to wear sheer hosiery?

 

Hairdresser (Lady 1): The most often in parties. Christmas parties and the likes.

 

Lady 2: Each time I wear a skirt or a dress, I wear sheer hosiery.

 

Lady 3: At work, on a regular basis. Or for stepping out.

 

Lady 4: When I put on a dress. Sometimes for work or to step out.

 

Host (off): Claudine, Amélia, Katia and Sylvie, work at Saint-Laurent of Longueil’s hairdresser shop. They accepted to model for us for a few days.

 

Host (back to the hosiery store): We chose a few styles for our 4 testers. First, a quite inexpensive style, I believe.

 

Clerk: The first one is quite sheer, but is OK for every day’s use. Support panty and reinforced toes.

 

Host (off): Style number one. Low range. CA$7,50. 15 deniers. 6% Lycra.

 

(Back to the hairdresser salon.)

 

Lady 1: I didn’t really like the comfort, the toes. There is no reinforcement. Plus, the first time I put them on, I got a run. The first day.

 

Lady 2: It’s quite soft. It moves on the skin. The only trouble, is that it’s not durable.

 

Lady 3: When I have them on, just sitting down or standing up makes creases.

 

Lady 4: I like it very much. It was comfortable to move. It’s supple. It clung well the leg. It was quite robust. No run.

 

(Music and cutaway shot. In the street)

 

Host: (to a man in the street) You, as a man, what do you think of women who wear hosiery? Do you find it sexy?

 

Man 1: Of course, I find this sexy. I love it!

 

Man 2: It can be suggestive, it can also be only aesthetic.

 

(Music and cutaway shot. Back to the hosiery store)

 

Host: Second style?

 

Clerk: The second style is a 40 deniers. So, it’s good for someone who wears a skirt, who doesn’t want a too opaque product that covers the leg completely. It’s quite silky.

 

Host: Is it more resisting?

 

Clerk: Yes it is, because the denier is higher.

 

Host (off): Style number 2. Middle range. CA$12,95. 40 deniers. 21% Lycra

 

(Back to the hairdresser salon.)

 

Lady 1: Me, the number 2, I loved it. The reinforced toes, I like it quite a lot. I have toes that are aggressive to the stockings. The comfort, too, at the panty. I loved it. I had no run.

 

Lady 2: It’s a massacre. It’s a torture. It’s difficult to put on. It’s like I had a baby diaper between the legs. And I cannot pull it up to the waist, like I did for the style number 1.

 

Lady 3: It looked very much like opaque tights.

 

(Music and cutaway shot. In the street)

 

Man 3: It can be sexy, indeed.

 

Man 4: It depends on the person. It makes the legs more shaped, most of the times.

 

(Back to the hosiery store)

 

Host: The third style is really a luxury style that we decide to purchase, isn’t it?

 

Clerk: It’s a product from a designer. It’s 10 deniers, so it’s sheerer. No reinforced toes, so it can be worn with sandals without problems. And for the support, it’s tighter on the thighs and the hips. See? It’s very tight.

 

Host (off): There’s no risk to suffocate, at least?

 

Clerk: No, you must take the right size, but be extremely careful, given if you take too large, it will slide down.

 

Host (off): Style number 3. High range. CA$34. 10 deniers. 24% Lycra.

 

(Music. Cutaway shot. Back to the hairdresser salon.)

 

Lady 1: The reinforcement at the toe is lower than the second style. The panty is "huh!" I can’t breathe. It’s a bit too much. It’s not comfortable.

 

Lady 2: It’s not too tight. It’s a bit itchy on the skin. To me, it’s quite sheer. It’s like I have no hose at all.

 

Lady 3: On the leg, it’s too large. It creases.

 

Host (off): It makes creases?

 

Lady 3: I should pull it up, pull it up. It slides down all the time.

 

Host: And the panty?

 

Lady 3. It’s too tight. Really too tight. Not comfortable.

 

Lady 4: It’s quite comfortable. Sometimes it’s worth paying a high price. But now, it’s not. I would not pay such a price for such a pantyhose.

 

Host (off): Even if they chose the size that fits them, 2 of our 4 testers felt really uncomfortable in the pantyhose number 3. Now, the final results. The first style gets 3 votes. The second style gets 1 vote. The third style gets zero vote. They prefer comfort to durability.

 

Lady 1: I was surprised to feel comfortable. I was very surprised.

 

Host: If you prefer a more resisting pantyhose, don’t forget the check the deniers. The higher deniers, the more durable the pantyhose is. For comfort, look the percentage of Lycra.

 

Man 5: I like a more natural look. I pity the women who wear hose. I find it boring. I never tried, but it’s what I see.

 

Host (close to a washing-machine): To maximize the durability of your hosiery, it’s better to wash them by hand, but we don’t always have the time, so we can wash them in the washing-machine, on the program "Wool", but what’s important is to use that kind of fishnet bag to put the hosiery inside. It will save it from running. That’s all!

collant reportage 3

collant reportage model 40 den

collant reportage 10 den

collant reportage 2

collant reportage 40 den with shoes

 

Fortissima, Run Resistant by Gatta

This video shows off Fortissima pantyhose by Gatta.  Amazing quality!  Available at the shop section.  Fortissima pantyhose is the softest and strongest from Gatta line.  If you’d be to choose only one style to try, that would be it.

Gatta Brand


The company that owns the brand is called Ferax and it is located in a small Polish city called Zdunska Wola. Perhaps there is not much in that city except for that factory.  That district in general has very well established textile industries.
This beautiful and seductive video is an advertisement for a Polish brand called Gatta and for their run resistant Fortissima pantyhose.  This brand dominates Russian and Polish market and is considered to be one of the most well-launched brands in Poland.

Wearing Fortissima Pantyhose

run proof, non run, tights, Pantyhose advertised here is Fortissima, but probably more like in 30 den.  I only so far tried 15 den and 20 den in Fortissima style.  It came out around 2010 and I got my hands on it right away during my visit to Europe.  Amazed by the quality, I kept on buying more and more of it for daily wear.

It is run resistant, not to say completely run-free, but the quality is really good for the price, that’s for sure.  Such properties are achieved by Lycra Fusion mechanism.  A friend of mine told me that she ripped hers with the zipper from her boot by accident, but it didn’t run all over the place, so she returned home and stitched it.  Still wears it, with boots of course.

Another friend of mine, Michelle, likes this style because she finds that it fits comfortably around her hips. She’s got a bit of a fuller figure.

Have you tried it? I’d love to hear your comments!

Does more Lycra make pantyhose shinier?

Matte pantyhose with high lycra content by Platino.

I had some information up earlier that I got from an Asian online newspaper, but some of it was not accurate regarding shine and here is an update from Shapings.com.  Here is the correction by Robert.

 

Does lycra make pantyhose shiny?  

Lycra does not make it shine, you can still have a matte pantyhose with tons of lycra and it does not shine. Here is an example – Total Comfort 10 by Platino.

The shine actually comes from the shape of the nylon fibre. If the cross section is triangular then it shines, if it’s circular then it is mat as the light refraction is the key to the shine.

 

Thank you, Robert, for keeping an eye on my content and submitting a correction!  

 

Run Resistant Hosiery

Some Styles of Run Resistant Hosiery are Available at the Shop Section!

This article is by T. Gallagher from USA, an industry expert and a person with great knowledge about different types of run resistant hosiery.  We express such gratitude to him for taking the time to write for Fantasy Stockings blog and share his knowledge.

buy run resistant hosiery for better performance

This is a package of Brooke’s run resistant pantyhose.

See if you can relate to this story. Its Monday morning, you hit the snooze on your alarm clock one too many times, and now you are running late for work. You are in a full blown frenzy desperately trying to get out the door. You rush to brush your teeth, shower, get dressed, do your hair, and get your makeup just right. You open a new package of your favorite pantyhose. You slip your feet in, gently slide the hose up your legs, tuck yourself in, only to realize that you have a huge run up the back of your leg.

Seriously, what business professional wants to be in the middle of a presentation and realize she has a glaring unsightly run up the side of her leg for all to see?  For that matter, who wants to be at an elegant dinner party or wedding and discover a snag has opened up into an unsightly hole or ladder? Ladders, rips, runs, and snags are often cited by women as the main reason they don’t wear or stopped wearing hosiery including pantyhose stockings and tights.

There is a solution: Run resistant hosiery technology. Run resistant hosiery technology does exist and has been around for decades. When manufactured correctly, hosiery that utilizes run-resistant technology is not only more durable it actually increases the appeal and experience of wearing hosiery. Run-resistant hosiery technology is relatively inexpensive to incorporate in the manufacturing process.

For years, the hosiery industry chose to shelve run-resistant technology. Hosiery manufacturers were slow to embrace and invest in new advances in sewing and textile equipment and processes.
They were content with the status quo and followed the short sighted logic that they would lose business and profit if they made hosiery that was durable. "Sell more to make more profit" was the prevailing thought process of most hosiery manufacturers. Instead of making a product that would last, they chose to make a product that was prone to fail. Had the manufacturers incorporated run resistant technology when it first became available, one could argue more women would still be wearing hosiery today.

buy run resistant hosiery

Run resistant technology for hosiery involves a two-step process.

The first step in producing run resistant hosiery involves changing how the fibers and threads forming the hosiery are stitched, machined, or woven together. In regular hosiery (prone to ladders, runs, rips, and snags) the fibers and threads are plain stitched together which is a looser weave or stitch process. In run-resistant hosiery, the weave or stitch is tightened up. Tightening the weave is referred to as the knotting process or lock stitching. In some hosiery, the knotting process or lock stitching is focused on key areas prone to runs including the waistband, panty, crotch, gusset, heel, toes, and the transition point between the panty and leg. In true run resistant hosiery, the knotting process or lock stitching is incorporated throughout the entire product from waistband to toe.

The second step in run-resistant hosiery involves blending the original nylon fiber with another synthetic or natural fiber. Some examples include acrylic, acetates, cotton, lycra/spandex, polyesters, polyethylene, polyurethane, and polyvinyl, rayon, silk, and wool fibers. The most common blend in hosiery is to combine nylon with lycra/spandex. By increasing the amount of lycra/spandex content, the more run-resistant the hosiery becomes. For example, a pair of pantyhose with a 80% nylon and 20% lycra/spandex blend is going to be more run resistant or more durable than a pair with a 90% nylon and 10% lycra/spandex blend. One drawback to incorporating more Lycra/Spandex into the blend is the denier or thickness of the hosiery increases. A true sheer pantyhose blend would have a 86% Nylon and 14% Lycra/Spandex content. Anything more would result in a heavier denier or thicker ‘tights like’ hosiery product.

buy run resistant hosiery for better performance

run resistant hosiery won’t snag easily

A shortcut would be to stop at the stitching process. However, the finished product would be rougher and uncomfortable to wear. Likewise, blending nylon with lycra/spandex fibers alone would still lead to ladders, rips, runs, and snags. To achieve wearable run-resistant hosiery both steps must be utilized.

 

An early example of a run resistant hosiery brand that I remember was the Brooke Shields Forever Sheer Non-Run Pantyhose. Brooke would sell her brand of hosiery on infomercials only. During her half hour commercial she would take knives, forks, staples, scissors, and other sharp objects to her hose and show they would not snag or run. The visual demonstrations were quite effective and consumer response was strong.

More recently, Microfiber technology has been incorporated in the manufacturing of hosiery as a way to increase run resistance. Microfiber technology is also a process of blending fibers. Microfibers are more commonly synthetic fibers although some natural fibers have been incorporated in the process. The shape, size and combinations of synthetic fibers are selected for specific characteristics, including: softness, durability, breathability, thermal regulating, and wicking properties. Microfiber is also very elastic, making it ideal for hosiery. Microfibers allow for stronger more durable hosiery at lower denier or thickness. Not only does microfiber technology enhance run-resistance… Microfiber technology increases overall comfort, durability, fit, and feel of hosiery. Have you ever felt hot or tend to perspire wearing hosiery? How about a binding sensation or itchy feeling from a pair of pantyhose? Ever have a pair of pantyhose or tights lose their shape, sag, or bunch up/wrinkle at the ankle? Thanks to the incorporation of microfibers into hosiery those problems can also be a thing of the past.

buy run resistant hosiery for better performance

Example of a hole in run resistant hosiery. This specific one is from Forte run resistant tights by Fiore.

High end manufacturers of hosiery in Europe were the first to incorporate run-resistant technology including the use of microfibers in their hosiery products. Brands like Wolford, Falke, Kunert, Gypsy, Gerbe, Filodoro, Elbeo, Cette, Pretty Polly, and Transparenze all have incorporated run resistant technology and the use of microfibers into their product lines. United States brands like Hanes, Berkshire, Just My Size, Leggs, No-Nonsense and Silkies were soon to follow. They all have released run-resistant hosiery in their product lines. Asian manufacturers have also started producing lines of run resistant hosiery.

One can only hope that hosiery manufacturers have learned from their mistakes of the past… opting for the wise choice to embrace improved processes and technology that lead to better products for their customers.

 

Have you tried or do you have a favorite brand of run resistant hosiery? Tell us about it and share your story below.

 

Vintage Youtube videos for Other Run Resistant Pantyhose

1990 Run Free Pantyhose commercial

K-tel “Perfect Pantyhose” commercial

*Friends, please check out the shop section, this is what funds this blog. At the moment Gatta and Fiore run resistant hosiery is available to buy.*

Hosiery Market Analysis

I got these statistics online and I thought you may want to see that actually in some countries hosiery is on the rise.

Canada

In 2011 hosiery in Canada saw healthy sales growth, with an increase of 3% in volume and 6% in current value terms to reach C$1.4 billion in total by the end of the year. This represented healthy growth compared with the value drop experienced during the recession, although in terms of volume growth remained positive through the recession and slow recovery.

United Kingdom

Hosiery sales increased in both volume and value terms compared to 2010, growing by 2% and 5% respectively in 2011. The famous British Wellington Boots led to the trend of wearing "Wellies with socks", which proved very popular in 2011 with sales soaring. Over-the-knee socks had a large part to play in A/W 2012 Fashion weeks, and were featured by many popular designers. Large woollen socks worn with short skirts and a large overcoat hit the runways.

France

In 2011, hosiery volume sales remained on a declining trend while current value sales stabilised somewhat after consecutive years of marginal decline. This could be explained to a large extent by the efforts deployed by the main players to upgrade their offer through innovative and high-tech products. For instance, the leading socks player Groupe Kindy invested €1.5 million in research and development in 2011 to expand its product portfolio and offer ground-breaking products.

India

Companies making formal wear compulsory and the increasing number of students joining professional courses and colleges encouraged ongoing growth in demand for hosiery throughout 2011.

Spain

Cotton remains the main material used in the manufacture of hosiery. However, fabric is increasingly mixed with materials such as elastane, lycra and velvet, which increase the elasticity and comfort of hosiery considerably.

The Hosiery in Spain report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data 2006-2010 and analysis by distribution format allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, leading brands, and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market. Forecasts to 2015 illustrate how the market is set to change.

China

Hosiery experienced 8% current value growth to reach HK$1,649 million in 2011. This represented a strong slowdown versus 2010 with the necessary nature of hosiery helping to support the continued positive performance of this category in 2011.

Germany

Volume sales saw a small decline of less than 1% in 2011. The positive development of values sales has been achieved through the increase of unit prices. An increase in costs due to higher cotton prices and costs for energy induced manufacturers to raise prices. This price increase has been transferred to other customers.

Russia

In 2010, hosiery sales registered 5% growth in volume terms and 16% growth in current value terms. The increase in demand is attributed to the growth in consumers’ disposable income, and hence, rising living standards. Consumers have greater requirements as their quality of life improves. Hosiery is no longer darned, and after the first hole appears is typically discarded. Modern businessmen in cities do care about what socks are visible under their trousers.