5 Facts About Fleece Fabric You Should Know
Have you ever wondered how clothing companies make some of your favorite cold-weather clothing? Discover something you didn’t know by reading these five facts about fleece fabric!
Fleece Is a Type of Polyester Fiber
Fleece is a close relative of polyester. Clothing manufacturers develop it using plastic—making it petroleum-based. As the petroleum derivatives heat up, they form a thick substance that they spin to form threads.
If they ended the process here, it would result in polyester fabric. However, to create fleece, they must brush out the fabric to create a thicker material.
Fleece Was Created To Mimic Wool
People love wool fabric due to its warmth and moisture-wicking properties. It has been a part of our collective lives since 10,000 BCE. In those early years, and even as time progressed, some had trouble using this natural material, potentially harming the sheep in the process. Therefore, people searched for a man-made, synthetic material to mimic the texture, warmth, and water resistance of wool. Thus, we created fleece!
Manufacturers Can Blend Fleece With Other Fibers
Check out the clothing tags during your next purchase; you’ll notice they include percentages beside the materials used in the product. For example, the fabric might consist of 80% fleece and 20% cotton. That’s because it’s very common for manufacturers to strengthen fleece fibers by blending them with other materials.
Manufacturers weave in other materials when they want a different feeling or appearance to fleece. These supplemental fabrics can include rayon, cotton, hemp, and spandex.
There are Different Levels of Fleece Warmth
Fleece is a desirable fabric that many adore because it provides the perfect level of warmth. Companies measure such warmth by grams per square meter or GSM.
On days when it’s extremely cold, you’ll need a heavyweight fleece fabric to retain a proper core body temperature. This material sits at 300 GSM and above. While the fabric’s thickness isn’t the most popular, it’s crucial when living in a region with exceptionally low temperatures.
Midweight fleece is right in the middle; it’s great for cold days when you don’t want to wear a heavy winter coat but still need something to cover your arms. This material ranges from 200 to 300 GSM.
Lightweight fleece is the lowest level you can choose; it ranges from 100 to 200 GSM. You’ll love this fabric when you want some coverage but don’t require tremendous warmth.
