But spandex had a life before disco. It was invented by two DuPont chemists. It made its debut in 1959, first used in bras and jockstraps, as well as in workout gear. But it quickly became known as a "wonder" fiber — it can stretch more than 100 percent and snap right back to shape.

When did spandex become popular?

Spandex, also known as Lycra, is a synthetic, or man-made, stretch fabric that gained immense popularity in the 1980s in a range of clothing items, beginning with biking shorts.

Who invented the first spandex?

Joseph C. Shivers Jr.

One of the top clothing innovations of the 20th century was invented at DuPont during the 1950s by chemist Joseph Shivers. While working as a researcher developing polymers, Shivers created Lycra, the stretchy synthetic fiber known generically as spandex.