Harbor Nine Japan: Yoga Shorts Built on Recycled Nylon/Spandex Tricot Knit
Harbor Nine, based in Japan, needed a yoga shorts that delivered full coverage under stretch without moving away from a clean, commercial silhouette. The finished fabric was Recycled Nylon/Spandex Tricot Knit.
Project brief and fabric selection
The fabric selected combines Tricot Knit (warp knitted smooth structure) with regenerated polyamide with elastane, giving lower footprint with identical performance. Construction is warp knitted smooth structure at 120-180 GSM. The brief also asked for plus a stable base. Each lot was checked against AATCC 183 with extension rig before cutting began.
Construction and fit decisions
Pattern and construction were adjusted around the chosen fabric: seam placement moved away from high-friction areas, stitch density was matched to the elastane content, and the fit block was revised once the first wear trial showed the panel tension distribution. The development brief set the outcome as opacity stayed above 97% at 45% extension.
Dyeing and finishing approach
Finishing was limited to processes that support full coverage under stretch. Soft handle came from construction rather than heavy softening, which keeps performance stable through repeated washing. Consistency between repeat lots mattered more to Harbor Nine than an isolated best result.
Measured results
Measured outcome: opacity stayed above 97% at 45% extension, verified by AATCC 183 with extension rig. Size sets were checked after five home washes to confirm that dimensional change stayed inside the agreed tolerance before bulk release. Fabric Recycled Nylon/Spandex Tricot Knit supplied the base behaviour for full coverage under stretch.
Repeat order performance
The style moved to repeat orders after two seasons. Bulk fabric is now booked against a fixed recipe, with test reports issued per lot, and the Tricot Knit construction is used for additional colourways in the same programme. The Japan market requires documentation, so reports shipped with every lot.
