What Is Jersey Cloth Material and Why Is It Widely Used in Global Garment Manufacturing?

Jersey cloth material is one of the most widely used fabrics in global garment manufacturing. Jersey fabric originated in the Channel Islands, specifically on the island of Jersey, where it was historically used for fishermen's sweaters. Dating back to the Middle Ages, jersey fabric was originally manufactured from wool, but over time, its manufacture has evolved to include cotton and synthetic blends. From the T-shirts stacked in African retail markets to the polo shirts worn by corporate staff in the Middle East, this versatile knit fabric forms the backbone of casual wear, sportswear, underwear, and children’s clothing programs around the world.

For garment manufacturers and textile wholesalers operating at scale, understanding jersey cloth material—its construction, variations, and performance characteristics, as well as the role of manufacture in its evolution from traditional to modern production—is essential to making informed sourcing decisions. This guide breaks down everything B2B buyers need to know about jersey fabric, from technical specifications and types to production capabilities and bulk ordering.

What is Jersey Cloth Material?

Jersey cloth material is a knit fabric produced on circular knitting machines, characterized by interlocking loops that create a smooth face side and a loopy backside. This knitting technique makes it a popular choice for mass-produced garments like t shirts, polo shirts, sportswear, underwear, and kidswear.

The term “jersey” refers to a specific knitting structure—a weft knit or single knit construction—rather than a single fiber type. Jersey fabric can be knit from any fiber, with common types being cotton, polyester, and rayon. MH supplies jersey cloth material in the fiber compositions that matter most for wholesale programs:

• Polyester jersey for durability and cost efficiency

• Cotton jersey fabric for softness and breathability

• Poly-cotton blends for balanced performance

• Spandex/elastane blends for stretch and recovery in fitted garments

• Rayon blends for enhanced softness, stretchability, and eco-friendly appeal

There are different types and common types of jersey fabric, such as cotton, polyester, rayon, and stretch jersey, each with unique properties and applications. Cotton jersey fabric is lightweight and breathable, making it ideal for t-shirts and summer dresses. Polyester jersey is known for being durable and resistant to wear and tear, making it suitable for activewear and uniforms. Rayon blends offer versatility and sustainability, while spandex blends provide excellent stretch for fitted garments. Jersey fabric is highly absorbent and breathable despite being fully opaque.

Jersey fabric was originally made from wool, which is still valued for its quality and environmental advantages.

MH’s focus is strictly B2B wholesale. The company supplies bulk rolls of jersey cloth material to garment factories, textile distributors, and fabric wholesalers—not small retail cuts for home sewing or DIY projects.

The core advantages for manufacturers include:

• Consistent quality across large production runs

• Natural stretch without excessive elastane content

• Smooth hand feel suitable for direct skin contact

• Easy handling on circular knitting and high-speed cutting lines

• Reliable performance in mass garment assembly

Key Characteristics of Jersey Knit Fabric for Garment Manufacturing

Jersey’s technical properties directly support high-efficiency sewing lines and large-scale apparel programs. For sourcing managers and pattern makers evaluating fabric options, these performance attributes determine production success.

• Fabric hand feel: Jersey fabric offers a soft texture with a smooth surface on one flat side, making it comfortable next to skin. This characteristic makes it ideal for basics, fashion t shirts, and intimate apparel where wearer comfort drives repeat purchases. Single jersey is the most common, lightest, and most stretchy type of jersey cloth material, making it especially suitable for t-shirts, while double jersey (also known as interlock) is thicker and more stable, often used for heavier garments like sportswear.

• Stretch and recovery: The looped structure of jersey knit fabric provides natural mechanical stretch—typically 20–30% extension compared to 5–10% in woven material. For sportswear and fitted garments requiring better recovery, MH offers cotton-spandex or poly-spandex jerseys with 3–7% elastane content, maintaining 90% shape retention after 50+ wash cycles.

• Breathability and moisture management: Cotton and cotton-rich jerseys deliver air permeability up to 200–300 mm/s, making them suitable for casual wear in humid climates. Polyester and poly-spandex jerseys provide quick-dry performance for activewear and sportswear programs targeting hot-weather markets.

• Stability and dimensional control: GSM options range from lightweight 120–150 GSM for promotional tees up to 220–260 GSM for structured polo shirts. Compact knitting and proper finishing treatments control torque and shrinkage (typically under 5% when pre-finished), ensuring predictable behavior during bulk cutting and sewing. Double jersey/interlock construction involves two layers of fabric joined at the center, which enhances its structural stability and weight, making it more durable and suitable for demanding applications.

• Production consistency: MH controls yarn count, knitting density, and finishing parameters to minimize shade variation between production lots. This consistency is critical for large PO repeats where color matching across shipments affects brand quality perception.

• Durability under industrial processing: Jersey knits withstand the rigors of bulk dyeing, enzyme washing, and compacting without significant degradation. Tensile strength in blended jerseys reaches 200–400 N, supporting heavy-use applications.

Types of Jersey Cloth Material Supplied by MH

MH supplies a full range of jersey structures designed for different end-uses, price points, and market requirements. Jersey fabric can be purchased online by the yard for small projects or in bulk by the roll for larger production needs, making it accessible for both DIY crafters and manufacturers.

• Single Jersey: This is the foundational jersey type—lightweight to medium weight (140–200 GSM) with one knit face and one piled side on the reverse. Single jersey is the workhorse for t shirts, promotional tees, fashion tops, and basic garments. Its cost-efficiency (20–30% cheaper than double knit alternatives) makes it ideal for value-market programs. Note that single jersey may curl at edges due to its unbalanced structure, but proper finishing minimizes handling issues in factory settings. Jersey fabric is commonly used for making T-shirts, dresses, skirts, and leggings.

• Double Jersey / Interlock: A denser, more stable construction (180–260 GSM) that is thicker and smooth on both sides. Double jersey offers reduced curling, greater opacity, and superior durability under repeated wear. It is commonly used for polo shirts, school uniforms, corporate wear, and higher-end basics where transparency must be avoided.

• Cotton Jersey: Made from ring-spun or combed cotton yarn in counts like Ne 20s, 24s, or 30s. Cotton jersey fabric delivers the soft, breathable feel preferred for everyday tees, kidswear, and underwear. Combed cotton options reduce pilling and provide a smoother surface for printing.

• Polyester Jersey: Known for durability, excellent color fastness, and cost efficiency. Polyester jersey resists wrinkles and dries quickly, making it a common choice for school uniforms, promotional shirts, and teamwear programs in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America where synthetic fibers perform well in hot climates.

• Poly-Cotton Jersey: Blends such as 65/35 or 60/40 polyester-cotton combined offer a balance of breathability, strength, and easy care. These are commonly sold for workwear polos, corporate logo t shirts, and uniforms requiring both comfort and longevity.

• Spandex/Elastane Jersey: Cotton-spandex or poly-spandex jerseys containing 3–7% spandex deliver enhanced 4-way stretch. These stretchy fabric options are used for sportswear, leggings, fitted tops, women’s wear, and performance activewear where shape retention and body-hugging fit matter.

• Specialty Options: Against OEM orders, MH can supply melange jersey, brushed jersey for a softer hand, or moisture-wicking functional jerseys with technical finishes. These support brands developing differentiated product lines.

Jersey fabric is available in a wide variety of colors and printed patterns, allowing for creative and customized apparel designs.

Applications of Jersey Cloth in Mass-Produced Garments

MH’s jersey cloth material supports mass programs from basic promotional tees to branded sportswear collections across multiple markets and product categories.

• T-shirts and promotional garments: Lightweight single jersey (140–160 GSM) forms the foundation for campaign tees, event shirts, corporate giveaways, and fashion basics. African t-shirt factories commonly achieve 5,000-unit daily output with under 1% rejects using consistent 160 GSM cotton-poly jersey from reliable suppliers.

• Polo shirts and uniforms: Heavier single jersey and double jersey (180–220 GSM) support collar-attached polos, school uniforms, and staff uniforms requiring durability, neat appearance, and reduced transparency. Double knit construction prevents the see-through issues that plague thin single jersey in fitted garments.

• Sportswear and athleisure: Poly-spandex and moisture-management jerseys power football jerseys, running tops, training shirts, gym wear, and dresses designed for active lifestyles. The yarn loops provide airflow while spandex content ensures stretch and recovery during movement.

• Casual wear and fashion basics: Cotton and blended jersey serve everyday tops, skirts, lounge sets, and seasonal collections for retailers and brand programs. Softness, drape, and consistent dye uptake make jersey the go-to fabric for fashion-forward basics. Pink is a popular color option for jersey fabric, especially in kidswear and fashion collections, with shades ranging from pastel pink to vibrant fuchsia.

• Underwear and loungewear: Soft combed cotton jersey and cotton-spandex blends excel in vests, briefs, boxers, sleepwear, and bedding accessories like pillowcases where skin comfort and gentle stretch are critical. Jersey sheets and pillowcases are also popular for their soft feel and breathable nature, making them suitable for bedding applications. Middle Eastern underwear producers favor 140 GSM cotton-spandex for breathable opacity in modest wear.

• Children’s clothing: Fine, soft jersey qualities with gentle hand feel and excellent color fastness suit printed kids’ t shirts, babywear, and sweaters for bulk lines. Pink is frequently chosen for children’s jersey garments, appealing to a wide range of preferences. Safety standards require non-toxic dyes and pH levels between 4–7.5, which properly finished jersey meets consistently.

MH tailors jersey qualities to specific product categories, helping factories improve fabric utilization and reduce defects in mass production. Two jersey fabrics may appear similar but differ significantly in GSM, stretch, or finishing—matching the right quality to the right garment type is essential.

Why Choose MH as Your Wholesale Jersey Cloth Supplier?

MH focuses on long-term B2B partnerships with garment manufacturers, distributors, and importers who need reliable jersey cloth material in commercial quantities.

• Bulk supply capability: MH supports container-scale deliveries, regular repeat orders, and seasonal programs for customers across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. Whether you need stock fabric for immediate shipment or scheduled production over multiple months, MH has the capacity to deliver.

• Competitive factory pricing: Strong yarn sourcing and efficient production allow MH to offer stable prices for large orders. Typical pricing runs $2.50–$4.50 per kg for standard cotton jersey, with polyester mixes available at lower price points—suitable for both value-market and mid-range brand programs.

• Customization and OEM service: MH supports custom fiber compositions, GSM targets, widths, colors (including Pantone matching and matte or shiny colors), and special finishes according to buyer tech packs. Whether you need a specific blend ratio or a unique finishing treatment, OEM development is supported. For buyers seeking domestically produced textiles, MH can also supply organic cotton jersey fabric made in the USA.

• Stable quality and consistency: Controlled yarn selection, knitting process parameters, and finishing protocols reduce shade variation and quality claims across big shipments. This matters when you’re producing 100,000+ garments and cannot afford lot-to-lot inconsistency.

• Logistics and export experience: MH is familiar with export documentation, customs procedures, and shipping to major ports in target regions. This experience simplifies delivery planning for buyers sourcing from overseas.

• Long-term cooperation: MH supports sample yardage and pre-production lots for testing, then scales up to bulk production. Responsive communication on lead times, production status, and technical questions keeps programs on track.

Typical lead times and detailed technical data sheets are provided during the quotation process. Contact MH’s sales team today to discuss your jersey cloth material requirements, request samples, and receive competitive pricing for your next bulk order.