Dance Fabrics

Dance Fabrics - Stretch, Shine and Stage-Ready Materials

Creating dancewear means working with fabrics that bend, stretch and recover without losing shape. We stock lycra, mesh, tulle and hologram materials in wholesale quantities from 6 metres. Every fabric here is OEKO-TEX certified and ships from our Tilburg warehouse, often the same day if you order before 3 PM.

Lycra Fabric: The Stretch Foundation

Most dance garments start with lycra. You get two surface finishes: shiny and matte. Shiny lycra reflects stage lights, which makes turns and jumps more visible from the back row. The glossy finish amplifies movement. Matte lycra keeps that four-way stretch but offers a softer look, better for rehearsal wear or costumes that shouldn't catch every spotlight.

Four-way stretch means the fabric gives in all directions. Pull it sideways, lengthwise or diagonally - it moves, then snaps back. This elasticity matters when a dancer lifts a leg or extends an arm. The fabric follows instead of restricting. Weight sits around 200 to 250 grams per square metre. Light enough to layer, heavy enough to keep its shape through repeated use.

Sewing lycra requires a ballpoint needle. Sharp needles snag the knit structure and cause runs. Pair that needle with a narrow zigzag stitch so your seams stretch along with the fabric. Straight stitches will pop under tension. A walking foot helps feed the material evenly, especially if you're layering two stretch fabrics.

Mesh and Tulle: Transparency Meets Volume

Mesh stretch fabric brings transparency without sacrificing flexibility. The open weave lets air through, useful when dancers work up a sweat under stage lights. Insert mesh panels along the back, sleeves or sides to break up solid colour blocks. This fabric stretches in at least two directions, though the exact stretch depends on how it's knitted. Check the product specs before cutting.

Tulle sits at the opposite end of the drape spectrum. Stiffer, structured, and better at holding volume. Dancers use tulle for skirts that need to stand away from the body. It doesn't cling. The fabric maintains shape even after hours of movement. Standard tulle works for overlays and decorative layers where you want definition.

Then there's tulle netting fabric 300cm wide. Softer than regular tulle, with finer mesh and a gentler drape. The width matters: you can cut a full-circle skirt without centre seams. That 300cm span also suits bridal applications, from veils to trains, which is why you'll see this material listed under both dance and bridal categories.

Hologram Fabric: Shifting Colour Under Lights

Hologram fabric changes colour depending on the viewing angle. Under stage lighting, it shifts from pink to blue to green as the dancer moves. This effect adds depth to simple costume designs without extra embellishment. Combine hologram sections with plain lycra to balance visual impact against wearability.

The reflective coating makes hologram fabric slightly stiffer than uncoated lycra. You'll notice this when draping or gathering. The material still stretches, but not as freely. Check the stretch percentage on the product page. Some hologram fabrics offer two-way stretch only, which affects how you position pattern pieces on the grain.

Wholesale Pricing, Samples and Delivery

Wholesale prices kick in at 6 metres. Below that, you pay regular retail rates. Before committing to full lengths, order fabric samples for €0.50 each. You'll get a swatch large enough to test weight, stretch and surface finish. Samples ship quickly, usually within a day or two.

All orders leave from Tilburg. Place your order before 3 PM on a working day and we'll typically process it the same afternoon. Delivery times vary across Europe, but you'll receive a tracking number by email once your package is on its way. If you're sewing for a performance with a fixed deadline, factor in a few extra days for customs if you're outside the Netherlands.