Recycled PET Elastic Cord for Footwear — Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Recycled PET Elastic Cord for Footwear: Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Recycled PET Elastic Cord is the version buyers specify for footwear when the base material is fixed by performance rather than by price. This entry sets out what the material actually changes, which specification to write into the tech pack, and where the cost sits — the three questions that decide whether the item passes bulk approval.
What it is
Recycled PET gives elastic cord its durability under wash and abrasion. In practice that means the trim behaves differently in cutting, in finishing and in wear: shrinkage allowance has to be built into the spec. Buyers who specify the material up front avoid the most common failure — an item that looks right on the sample card and behaves differently in bulk.
Typical specification
| Item | Elastic Cord |
|---|---|
| Base material | Recycled PET |
| Standard size | 38 mm Width |
| Common finishes | Soft-Touch Rubber Coating, Piece-Dyed Finish, Antique Copper Finish |
| Processes | Embroidery, Screen Printing, Bonding |
| Typical application | Footwear |
| Related applications | Jackets, Uniforms, Evening Wear, Blazers |
| Test standard | ISO 14001 |
| Usual packing | 500 pieces per polybag, 10000 per carton |
Properties that matter in buying
- Dimensional stability — 1% allowance is built into the spec before cutting.
- Colour fastness — tested to ISO 14001 on the actual base material, not on a substitute.
- Mechanical performance — cycle life after 30 cycles or washes.
- Compliance — ISO 14001 documentation issued with the shipment.
- Consistency — the approved counter sample becomes the reference for every reorder.
Common uses
- Footwear
- Backpacks
- Baby Clothing
- Bras
- Upholstery
- Bridal Gowns
How to specify it
- Name the base material in the tech pack, not just the item.
- Fix the size and tolerance in writing before sampling starts.
- Approve a counter sample made from the actual bulk base material.
- Order the test report against the standard your market requires.
- Retain a golden sample at the factory and a second one with you.
Related reading
Related specifications on this site cover shock cord, combed cotton fabric, velvet ribbon, modal fabric, and the processes most often paired with elastic cord include weaving, piece dyeing, anti-pilling finish.
Tell us the item, the quantity and the delivery window. We will quote it with the sub-processes named, so the lead time you approve is the lead time you get.
