Printed tights are usually made from a combination of materials such as cotton and lycra or polyamide and elastane, which allow them to stretch, providing a tight-fitting garment that doesn't need to be changed as the expectant mother's body shape changes.

The latest hosiery manufacturing techniques can be used to create sandwich-like structures that make the fabric comfortable to wear in both hot and cold climates.

Polyamide - Don't get confused by a rather clinical nomenclature, as polyamide is a broad term for fabrics that includes natural materials like silk and wool or man-made fabrics like nylon. These fabrics are known for their durability and strength, increasing the life expectancy of products made from them.

Elastane - These are man-made materials with properties not seen in nature, such as extreme elasticity. In fact, these fabrics used in bodysuits can be stretched up to 7 times their length before returning to their original strength. From this we can see the importance of their role in maternity tights.

Cotton - is a natural material that grows around the seeds of cotton plants and is most often spun into yarn or thread, used in textiles. Cotton factories that have been used by humans for more than 7,000 years produce white, pink, brown and green cotton, although many producers only grow white cotton for fear that other colors might affect the white cotton's genes.