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When marketing and selling custom hoodies online, a standout design is not enough to make your clothing brand memorable. You must also consider the hoodie fabrics that best align with your customer’s preferences and weather conditions, including different designs, printing methods, and your brand aesthetics.
The fabric of a hoodie can differ in terms of durability, look, and feel, influenced by the manufacturing techniques and materials involved. Typically, hoodies consist of a mix of fabrics, most commonly a combination of cotton and polyester.
In this comprehensive blog post about hoodie materials, we will examine the most favored types of hoodie fabrics and evaluate their unique characteristics and customization options.
Before we determine which fabrics are best for hoodies, let’s discuss the ideal fabric weight for your high-quality clothing line.
Different Fabric Weights for Hoodies
Fabric weight is one of the first factors that all skilled custom apparel manufacturers consider when selecting a hoodie fabric. Lightweight materials are perfect for summer hoodies, whereas heavier fabrics are suitable for winter hoodies or cool evenings.
Winter Hoodies: From 8.85 oz/yd² to 11.8 oz/yd² (300-400 g/m²)
Summer Hoodies: From 5.9 oz/yd² to 7.38 oz/yd² (200-250 g/m²)
All-year-round Hoodies: From 7.38 oz/yd² to 8.85 oz/yd² (250-300 g/m²)
Considering the weight, you can choose the right hoodie fabric to achieve your objectives. Now, let’s discuss the most common fabrics used for hoodies.
Types of Hoodies Materials
Cotton and polyester blends (Dual Blends)
Cotton, being a natural fiber, offers comfort against the skin and allows for breathability, making it perfect for everyday use. On the other hand, polyester is a synthetic material known for its exceptional durability and resistance to wrinkles and shrinkage. When combined, they create an excellent fabric.
As hoodies are garments you tend to wear frequently, it’s important that the material is resistant to fading, pilling, and shrinking. The combination of cotton and polyester results in a superior fabric that can endure frequent wear and numerous washes.
Therefore, many cut and sew manufacturers use blends of high-quality cotton and polyester to craft the most premium hoodies.
Different proportions of poly-cotton blends offer unique characteristics. Here are the most popular ones:
50/50 cotton-polyester blend
This mix includes the advantages of both materials, resulting in a comfortable and breathable hoodie that maintains vibrant colors. Thanks to the polyester content, hoodies made from this blend require little ironing and are hustle-free to maintain.
65/35 cotton-polyester blend
This ratio strikes a good balance combining the best qualities of cotton and polyester, resulting in a fabric that leans towards softness and fresh colors. Furthermore, this blend offers a decent base for the application of various printing techniques.
80/20 cotton-polyester blend
With a higher cotton content, this fabric is ideal for warmer weather. It is a very lightweight and breathable fabric, however, it doesn’t provide good stretch due to less proportion of polyester material.
85/15 cotton-polyester blend
This blend is ideal for those who appreciate the soft texture of cotton while also wanting some moisture-wicking benefits from polyester. It provides suitable freedom of movement, and the brushed texture of the fabric delivers an incredibly soft touch.
Cotton-polyester-rayon blend (Tri-blends)
Combining the three materials — cotton, polyester, and rayon — creates a luxuriously soft and comfortable material, making it perfect for lightweight hoodies.
Rayon, known as viscose, is a semi-synthetic fabric derived from wood cellulose. Depending on its production method, it can mimic the feel of cotton, polyester, linen, or even silk.
Polyester-cotton-elastane blend (Tri-blends)
Elastane, often referred to as spandex or Lycra, is a highly sought-after synthetic fiber recognized for its stretchiness. While synthetic materials are not the most eco-friendly option, incorporating elastane into garments produces a stretchy fabric that offers easy movement, resulting in long-lasting and durable clothing.
Fleece
Fleece is an excellent fabric choice for clothing since it is not tightly woven. The material is smooth, soft to the touch, and very absorbent. Fleece features excellent moisture-wicking properties, making it a go-to choice for humid weather conditions.
Some fleece fabrics are created from eco-friendly materials — plastic treated under specialized conditions and converted into polyester. So, if you are choosing this fabric for a hoodie collection, you are conserving the environment.
Hoodies manufactured with this material can be worn any time of the year, depending on the type and weave of the fabric.
Jersey
Jersey knit is a fantastic choice for hoodies that require a bit more flexibility and extra stretch. This material will accommodate your movements while you hike for hours or jog in the park, preventing any feeling of restriction.
It can be composed of cotton fibers or a blend of cotton and spandex for added elasticity. Pure cotton jerseys have a tendency to shrink and lose shape. Therefore, choosing a jersey fabric that includes some polyester will provide a more stable option.
Wool
Wool fibers offer a remarkable blend of strength, softness, and lightness. This fabric type for hoodies is often overlooked despite its benefits. It’s long-lasting and resistant to damage.
It should be noted that some wool can be itchy and uncomfortable. Because of this, it isn’t typically the first choice for those seeking the best hoodie fabric. Alpaca or lamb wool can be incredibly soft and comfortable.
To counterbalance the less desirable qualities of the fabric, most wool used in hoodies is blended with another fiber, addressing issues such as losing shape or shrinking in the wash. Wool and rayon complement each other well to create a lightweight hoodie that offers both strength and drape.
Conclusion
For the ideal hoodie fabric, cotton, polyester, or a blend of both are popular choices. Cotton offers softness and breathability, making it comfortable to wear, while polyester adds durability and moisture-wicking properties.
Overall, soft, cozy, and flexible fabrics are best suited for hoodies. Cotton fleece or polyester fleece are also great choices for warmth and comfort.
If you’re looking for professional apparel manufacturers in Atlanta to design and manufacture your premium hoodie collection, you’re just one step closer. Book a free consultation here and let our expert manufacturers make unique additions to your customers’ wardrobes!
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