PURPOSE: To obtain the subject substrate comfortably applicable to the skin and having excellent stretchability, water-retention and productivity by mixing an extremely water-absorbing fiber and crimping fiber at a specific weight ratio, forming a web from the mixture, interlocking the web and heat-treating to develop the crimp of the fiber.

CONSTITUTION: An extremely water-absorbing fiber having a water-absorption ratio of ≥10 is produced e.g. by converting exclusively the surface of an acrylic fiber to extremely water-absorbing state. The water-absorbing fiber is mixed with a crimping fiber having a side-by-side structure, etc., at a weight ratio of 80/20 to 20/80, preferably 60/40 to 40/60 and a web is produced from the mixture. The web is interlocked by needle-punching and heat-treated to develop the crimp and obtain the objective substrate. The substrate has a stretch recovery of preferably ≥20%.