What is fleece fabric?

What is Fleece Fabric?

Introduction to the Fabric
Fleece is a synthetic material that revolutionized the cloth industry after its invention. Despite it being named fleece, which is the fur coat of a sheep, it is 100% synthetic and made by synthesizing plastic. It is fuzzy, warm,and very soft to touch,so it is often worn during the winter season. Most of the sweatshirts and the hoodies that we wear during the winter season are made out of fleece. The fabric is very comfortable and is also used in blankets and jackets.

Characteristics
The characteristics of the fleece material vary, and these characteristics make it extremely useful and wearable.
1. Most fleece fabrics havea pile surface; this means that it has a cut fiber layer on both sides. But we do have exceptions. Velvet fleece has only one cut layer.
2. Air pockets in the fabric mean that heat can be trapped within the fabric, which keeps the wearer warm.
3. Warm and durable
4. Some types are also water-resistant.
5. It is warmer than wool but much lighter due to its breathability.

Production Process
Fleece material is often made of polyester, which is a form of plastic. The tiny fibers of polyester are weaved together to form the polyester material, which is then synthesized to form fleece. Wool, hemp, rayon, and cotton are some materials that can be incorporated with polyester to form fleece. The percentage of these materials depends on the quality you are looking to achieve. Initially, petroleum products are used to initially form the polyester strands. The petroleum products are heated at high temperatures until they melt and form heavy syrup. The heavy syrup is then spun together to form strands and threads. These threads, when weaved together, form a material that is breathable and soft to touch.

Types
Fleece can be divided into many types. A few of the types are mentioned below:
1. Cotton Blended Fleece
Cotton is a material most of us are samiliar with and is grown naturally as cotton.This type of fleece is either made from cotton or cotton blended synthetic fibers such as polyester or spandex. It is warm and can be formed into shirts and pants. Cotton blended fleece is very comfortable and often incorporated in adult's clothes and children's clothes

2. Synthetic Fleece
As the name suggests, this fleece is made of synthetic materials. The three main types are as follows:
a.Microfleece

Microfleece is lightweight synthetic fleece fabric.The biggest advantage of this material is that it has a quick-dry feature. It is also super soft and comfortable. The material is very flexible, just like regular fleece. Microfleece is commonly used for shirts, gym clothes, sweaters, light outdoor clothing, lightweight jackets, and homemade diapers that mothers often use for newborn babies. This material is very durable and can be used for a long time.

b.Polar Fleece

Polar fleece is a synthetic fabric that is woven in such a way that it mimics the properties of wool. Recycled plastic bottles can also be partially used in the manufacturing of polar fleece. It is very light, soft, and easy to wash.It is the perfect fabric to be worn outdoors in cold areas and is also used by people who have technical outdoor jobs. It is soft to touch and also highly breathable. It is much cheaper than wool.

c.Coral Fleece
Polar fleece and coral fleece are pretty much similar and are often confused witheach other. Coral Fleece is thicker and has a higher "pile" than polar fleece. It is furrier, which makes it perfect for blankets and pajamas.

3.French Terry Fleece
French Terry Fabric is a soft and comfortable fabric that is often almost completely cotton or a blend of it. The French Terry Fleece is made by using a specialized machine that grabs the loops from the bottom of the French Terry Fabric that gives it a fleece effect. This technique gives it a unique texture; the upper side has a smooth texture, the same as a single jersey fabric, while the bottom is much furrier. The fabric is warm, comfortable, and absorbent. It is particularly used in sweatshirts, hoodies, pants, and kid's wear.

To wrap it up, fleece is a really comfortable fabric to wear. People prefer fleece fabric for graphic sweatshirts and t-shirts. Another reason was the popularity of fleece becauseit is very easy to print over it.