What Is Fleece Material? A Guide for Wholesalers
Fleece material is a knitted fabric whose surface has been brushed to raise a soft, insulating pile. Most fleece is 100% polyester, but the word describes a construction, not a fiber: recycled polyester, cotton-polyester blends, polyester-spandex, and cotton-rich or bamboo blends are all sold as fleece.
For wholesalers, garment manufacturers, and home-textile importers, that distinction matters because two fabrics both labelled "fleece" can differ in warmth, hand, moisture behaviour, durability, cost, and the certifications they can carry.
Key Takeaways
- Fleece is a finish on a knit, not a fiber. The raised nap traps air; the fiber underneath sets moisture behaviour, hand and price.
- Polyester dominates because it absorbs very little water (moisture regain about 0.4%, against about 8.5% for cotton), so it dries fast and stays light.
- Cotton-rich fleece (for example 80/20 or 60/40 cotton/polyester) feels more natural and breathes better but dries slower; polyester-spandex fleece adds stretch.
- French terry is a looped-back knit; it becomes brushed-back fleece only after those loops are napped.
What Is Polyester Fleece Material Made Of?
Fleece is made of whatever yarn is knitted into the base cloth, and it is primarily made from polyester fibers, with 100% polyester (polyethylene terephthalate, PET) as the most common choice. Polyester's moisture regain is about 0.4%, compared with about 8.5% for cotton, which is why polyester fleece wicks and dries quickly instead of soaking up water.
In the production process, polyester is melted, extruded into yarn, then knitted and brushed into fleece.
The other fiber bases each change the fabric in a predictable way:
| Fiber base | Typical composition | How it changes the fleece | Common products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin polyester | 100% polyester | Light, fast-drying, warm for its weight, lowest cost | Polar fleece jackets, blankets, linings |
| Recycled polyester (rPET) | 50-100% recycled PET | Performs like virgin polyester; recycled-content claims possible | Sustainable outerwear, retail eco ranges |
| Cotton/polyester blend | 80/20, 60/40 (CVC) or 35/65 (TC) | Softer, more natural hand, better breathability; dries slower | Hoodies, sweatshirts, joggers |
| Cotton-rich or 100% cotton | 100% cotton or organic cotton | Most natural feel, absorbs moisture, heavier when wet | Loungewear, babywear, premium sweats |
| Polyester/spandex | about 92-95% polyester, 5-8% spandex | Adds stretch and recovery for close-fitting garments | Fitted mid-layers, activewear |
| Bamboo, hemp or modal blends | Blended with cotton or polyester | Very soft drape, cellulosic hand; usually higher cost, with sustainable fleece options also including bamboo and organic cotton | Baby products, loungewear |
Typical compositions only. Exact blend ratios vary by mill and quality. These are the most common materials, though some buyers prefer natural fibers while others choose synthetic fibers for lower cost, insulation, and easier care.
Unlike wool, which is an animal fiber, fleece is a man-made construction and can be made from recycled materials. Even cotton fleece is a knitted and brushed fabric rather than a shorn fleece.
What Are the Main Types of Fleece Material?
The main types of fleece material, first developed in 1979 as a lightweight alternative to wool by Malden Mills, are microfleece, polar fleece, brushed-back (sweatshirt) fleece, French terry and sherpa. They differ mostly in weight (GSM), pile height and whether one or both sides are brushed. Lighter fleeces sit around 100-200 GSM, while midweight fleece is typically 200-300 GSM and heavyweight fleece is 300 GSM and above.
| Type | Typical weight | Construction | Character | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microfleece | about 100-200 GSM | Fine yarn, short pile, often double-brushed | Made from the same material as regular fleece, but thinner, lighter, breathable and flexible | Base layers, linings, light pullovers |
| Polar fleece | about 200-350 GSM | Polyester, double-brushed and sheared | Thicker and warmer than microfleece; a thick, double-sided fabric suited to cold weather | Jackets, vests, hats, blankets |
| Brushed-back fleece | about 260-400 GSM | Terry-back knit with the loops brushed | Smooth face, soft fuzzy inside | Hoodies, sweatshirts, joggers |
| French terry | about 200-320 GSM | Terry-back knit, loops left unbrushed | Midweight, structured, more breathable | Transitional sweats, casual tops |
| Sherpa fleece | about 250-400 GSM | Polyester pile with a curly, wool-like face | Very fluffy and designed to mimic wool fleece | Jacket linings, collars, throws |
Typical ranges. GSM means grams per square meter, and weights overlap between types, so GSM and construction together describe a quality better than the type name alone.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Fleece Material?
Fleece's main strengths are its high warmth-to-weight ratio, fast drying, and low cost compared with wool; fleece is also lighter than wool, and synthetic production helps keep it more affordable. Its main limitations are pilling on lower grades, static, lack of wind resistance, and microfiber shedding in washing. Most of the limitations depend on fiber, construction and finish rather than on fleece as a category.
| Property | Strength | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Warmth | Raised pile has insulating properties because it creates tiny air pockets that trap body heat, helping wearers stay warm in cold conditions | Standard fleece is not windproof and may need an outer layer in windy conditions |
| Moisture | Polyester absorbs little water and dries fast | Not waterproof; cotton-rich fleece absorbs and dries slowly |
| Comfort | Soft, light, generally hypoallergenic, and less likely to irritate sensitive skin; the loft also holds air pockets | Polyester can feel less breathable than cotton in warm rooms |
| Durability | Polyester resists tearing, shrinking and fraying; usually machine washable, so it is easier to care for than wool | Lower grades pill; high heat can glaze or melt the surface |
| Static | Controllable with an anti-static finish | Untreated polyester builds static and attracts lint |
| Cost | Less expensive to produce than wool | Recycled, organic and certified grades cost more |
| Environment | rPET versions reuse plastic bottles | Petroleum-based; sheds microfibers in washing |
General characteristics. Actual performance depends on fiber base, GSM, knit and finish.
Where Is Fleece Fabric Material Used?
Fleece material is used mainly in outdoor clothing, casual sportswear, blankets and throws, and as a lining in coats, boots and gloves. The choice of type follows the product: polar fleece for outerwear and blankets, brushed-back cotton-blend fleece for sweatshirts, microfleece for linings and layers, and sherpa for collars and plush linings.
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Outerwear and mid-layers: jackets, vests, pullovers, hats and gloves, where it works well as a soft fabric for cozy wear in cold temperatures, often combined with polyester spandex stretch woven fabric in performance pieces.
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Casual and sportswear: hoodies, sweatshirts, joggers and team wear, with a soft texture that also suits lightweight gym clothes and coordinates well with rib knit polo shirt collars.
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Children's clothing and babywear: soft, light and easy to wash, often paired with durable fabrics for school uniforms in coordinated ranges.
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Home textiles: blankets, throws, pet beds and cushion covers, alongside other blends such as TC 65/35 twill fabric for coordinated items.
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Linings: coats, boots, gloves and bags; related corded products include durable nylon and polyester fishing twine for utility uses.
Fleece Material from MH
MH (Ningbo MH) has supplied sewing materials and fabrics since 1999 to buyers in more than 150 countries, including specialized products such as 150D/2 rayon thread for embroidery. Nine factories covering about 350,000 m², more than 3,000 employees and a network of 2,000+ partner manufacturers support a catalogue of roughly 10,000 materials and fabrics.
That range is what makes it practical to source several fleece bases, and the threads, zippers, rib trims and labels that go with them, through one consolidated supply chain from a leading provider of garment accessories and tailoring materials. Wholesalers, garment manufacturers and home-textile importers can view our polar fleece range or contact MH with fiber, GSM, width, color and quantity for a quotation.
Request a fleece fabric quote →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is fleece material made of? Most fleece is knitted from 100% polyester and brushed to raise a soft pile. Fleece is also made from recycled polyester, which can be made from recycled PET bottles, cotton-polyester blends such as 80/20 or 60/40, polyester-spandex for stretch, and cotton-rich, bamboo or hemp blends.
Is fleece a natural or synthetic material? Most fleece is [synthetic fabric], because it's made from polyester, a [man made material] rather than animal fleece. Cotton fleece and organic cotton fleece are natural-fiber versions, but the fleece itself is still a knitted and brushed construction rather than an animal fleece like wool.
Is fleece warmer than cotton? Polyester fleece is generally warmer for its weight than plain cotton fabric, because the raised pile traps air and polyester absorbs very little moisture (about 0.4% regain versus about 8.5% for cotton). It is also [moisture wicking], moving sweat away so it dries quickly. Cotton fleece is warm when dry but loses insulation once damp.
What is the difference between fleece and French terry? Both start from a knit with loops on the back. French terry leaves the loops intact, so it's lighter and more breathable. [synthetic fleece] has those loops, or the fabric face, brushed into a fuzzy pile, which makes it warmer and softer.
Does fleece pill? Lower-quality fleece can pill, and because polyester fibers are strong, pills tend to stay attached. Anti-pill finished fleece and sheared, tightly knitted qualities resist pilling much better through repeated washing. To reduce wear and shrinkage, wash in [cold water] and [air dry] or use low heat.
