Fabric is the choice of your hoodies that makes or breaks the brand image. You need to have the best hoodie material for the durability and comfort of the customers.
This guidebook will help you narrow down your choice to ease the dilemma and confusion. The following pages detail every single fabric, and discusses both its pros and cons.
You would discover what material or fabric best suits your brand’s needs. In the end, make the suitable choice along with your hoodie manufacturer. The right selection of fabric may boost sales and customer retention rates.
Read on for the most in-demand hoodie materials that you should look for.
Table of Contents
7 Best Hoodie Material: Pros and Cons
| Material | Water Resistance | Best for season | Softness | Suitable customization | Color Retention | Cost |
| Cotton | Low | Spring, Summer | Natural Feel | Easy Printing, Embroidery | Moderate | Moderate |
| Polyester | High | Winter, Fall & Spring | Slightly rough | Excellent for sublimation printing | High (resists fading) | Low |
| Rayon | Low | Spring, Summer | Silky and Smooth | Drapes well, Good blending | Moderate | Moderate to High |
| Cotton-Polyester Blends | Depends on the ratio | All Seasons | Balanced softness and durability | Support all sorts of customization | High | Moderate |
| Tri Blends | Low but high depending on the ratio | Mild Climates | Soft and smooth | luxurious prints or embroidery | High | Moderate to High |
| Fleece | Mid to High | Winter and cold climates | Plus, Extremely soft | Good for embroidery | High | Moderate |
| French Terry | Low | Spring, fall, mild winter | Soft and Lightweight | Excellent for printing, embroidery | Moderate | Moderate |
Comfort, durability, appearance, and purpose have to be in proportion. Different kinds of fabric exhibit unique qualities that suit various purposes.
Let’s take a closer look at the most popular hoodie materials.
1. Cotton
Undeniably, Cotton is one of the leading choices due to its breathability. It feels great and soft when users put it on. Cotton is less likely to cause skin irritation, as it doesn’t contain strong chemicals.
It can absorb moisture very well, which is suitable for mild weather conditions. It cannot be the best activewear, though, as it does not have elasticity. You may offer it as a casual wear collection of your brand.
2. Polyester
Polyester is a synthetic material but offers several wonderful advantages. It is lightweight, stretches, and results in fewer wrinkles.
The list doesn’t end here as it is moisture-wicking and long-lasting too. So it will be the perfect fit for athletic hoodies without sweat on the body. Besides, it doesn’t feel soft like the natural fabrics.
Polyester mesh fabric retains colors very well, so it won’t fade. It will hold the color of the hoodie for a long time. Polyester can hold warm air, which could be its best and worst point at the same time. Hence, it could well be the ideal material for your winter hoodie.
The only downside of polyester is it is not biodegradable. You can use recycled polyester to make your private-label brand eco-friendly.
If you are interested in using eco-friendly materials, well, here’s the bad news. Polyester is not biodegradable but can be recycled for reuse.
3. Rayon (Viscose)
People love the drape of rayon, especially in fashion-forward hoodies. It is so soft and light that RAYON feels like wearing silk against the skin.
If you talk about breathability then it also has perfect air circulation. You can use it during your summer collections. Rayon has more strength in texture along with a rather loose fit.
The only weak point is that it shrinks quickly when coming in contact with water. Damage through high temperature will also pose on it and make durability very low. The best scenarios to be put blends with it, specifically cotton or polyester.
Suggested Reading: Hoodie Size Chart: Measure Up for the Perfect Fit
4. Cotton-Polyester Blends
At this point, You must have a clear notion of the cotton & polyester points above.
What if you can combine the best properties of both?
That sounds like magic, but that is the reality of clothing.
You can combine the softness of cotton with the toughness of polyester. Also, polyester has moisture-wicking properties and low maintenance.
So, how do you create one? There are different ratios, such as 50/50, 60/40, or even 80/20 cotton polyester blends.
Polyester is cheaper and far more durable, though not soft. Cotton is expensive, soft, and looks natural. You have to choose a perfect ratio that is suitable for your use.
Selection Advice: The more cotton blend you have, the more premium it will be. The higher the polyester you opt for, the cheaper and more durable it will be. Design your hoodie based on what you’ll be offering.
Sevgi E., Textile business administrator
5. Tri-Blend (Cotton, Polyester, and Rayon)
Tri-blend fabric is a combination of cotton, polyester, and rayon. Cotton & Rayon make it smooth and luxurious but Polyester extends its durability. The ratio of their blend determines their softness, breathability, durability, and drape.
Common tri-blend ratios include:
50% Cotton/25% Polyester/25% Rayon
60% Cotton/30% Polyester/10% Rayon
40% Cotton/40% Polyester/20% Rayon
25% Cotton/50% Polyester/25% Rayon
Tri-blends maintain color, shape, and glow even after multiple washes. Choose the best hoodie colors that appeal to the wearers.
Rayon is so delicate to the breath that it adds surreal lightness to this material. Combining Cotton with Rayon promises perfect fitting. They also provide great moisture regulation in a soft form.
They come versatile by the proportions fitting different usages. They fit casual activewear hoodies very well. They look very cool and drape well.
Experts’ opinion: The long wear resistance gets down with the presence of Rayon. Choose a good combination, which has durable strength.
Umesh Sharma, Fabric Sourcing
6. Fleece
The fleece is known to be warm and soft. If your target customers are people in cold climatic regions, then this would be a good choice. It traps the body’s inner heat very well but is lightweight and easy to put on.
Synthetic fleece will not wet easily and dries faster than cotton garments. However, there is a visual downgrade with the overtime use.
Fleece is lightweight with good insulation properties. It comes in different weights and can be used according to requirements.
Suggested Reading: Best Hoodie Manufacturers in Portugal
7. French Terry
French Terry has a loop weaving smooth texture, and it feels soft to the touch. Its lightweight versatility makes it excellent for wear all year round. You can also use it in sportswear, as it perfectly absorbs sweat.
Not only this but it is intrinsically stretchy, assisting in effortless mobility. Use different sorts of screen printing & sublimation printing due to its print-friendly nature.
Sustainable Options for Best Hoodie Material
The fashion industry gradually demands sustainability. So, here are Some of the sustainable material alternatives for hoodies:
1. Organic Cotton
Organic cotton happens to be first on the green label brand of any kind. It grows without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Sustainable practices are also a costly affair therefore they become costlier.
It is soft, breathable, and hypoallergenic, thus safe for the sensitive skin user. Its impact on the environment is also minimal because it is biodegradable. You can also use recycled cotton coming from post-consumer waste.
Recommended Reading:
Coolmax Fabric: Your Go-To Choice for Performance Apparel
The Secret Behind Gabardine Fabric
Discover the Magic of Pima Cotton Fabric2. Recycled Polyester
It is made from post-consumer plastic bottles or textile waste, reducing pollution. Recycling operation Consumes less resources compared to new polyester production. Durable and moisture-wicking.
It would not be biodegradable like organic cotton. It would be a less natural feeling to users compared to organic materials.
Important Point: Verify if your supplier is GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified. Make sure it’s recycled.
3. Tencel™ (Lyocell)
Tencel™ is a semi-synthetic that has been recognized to be sustainable. It comes from renewable wood pulp sources in a closed loop. The production uses more nontoxic solvents that can be recycled.
What’s cool about these is that they’re fully biodegradable, meaning low impact.
They have less thickness, so some blending will be needed for fuller hoodies.
4. Wool (Ethically Sourced)
How can one forget wool in the context of talking about hoodies? Well, something you would need to ensure is that it will be ethically sourced. It is renewable and its raw material of sheep wool replenishes every year.
It takes much less energy to produce than synthetic fibers. The best thing is it is warm yet simultaneously breathable, and biodegradable. So choosing a merino wool fabric is a win-win for you. If it can be sourced ethically, then it can fit into your luxury hoodie collection.
Suggested Reading: Twill Fabric for Durable and Versatile Apparel
Key Considerations When Choosing Hoodie Material
There is a fabric criteria difference in the sweater vs sweatshirt vs hoodie. Every hoodie material has different functionality, comfort, aesthetics, and cost.
Here is how you should decide:
Intended Use: Determine first what you want the hoodie for. Casual wear, athletic wear, or fashion. You have to look for unisex vs gender-specific hoodie fabrics. So first decide the usage and select fabric accordingly.
Seasonality: Each material has different breathability and insulation. First decide in which season you want to launch, either summer or winter. Choose material accordingly.
Comfort: Organic cotton and French terry are the softest fabrics known to man. But elastane or spandex fabric material is super flexible and stretchy. When designing for layers, lighter weights do better.
Durability: A material that will be washed frequently may require polyester or hemp. Although it is a closely woven material it still works well. You can also opt for anti-pilling treatments.
Cost: Natural fibers are costlier than synthetic fibers. Cotton-polyester blends as well as aged cotton are comparatively inexpensive. Cost v/s quality to make economical for mass hoodie manufacturing process.
Which Cotton-poly Blends Make The Best Fabric for Hoodies?
This means that the perfect blend is a factor of the target market. Here are the best cotton-poly blends for hoodies and their respective characteristics:
1. 50% Cotton / 50% Polyester
It is a fabric that balances equal content as polyester to cotton. Balances softness, breathability, and durability. Best for general-use hoodies, holds up well about designs.
Look at the cotton vs polyester hoodie comparison to understand both fabrics. Blends hold the dye effectively, so the color does not easily fade away. It’s used mainly for casual wear, and it costs less.
2. 60% Cotton / 40% Polyester
Higher cotton content means higher softness and breathability. Polyester, which provides durability and wrinkle resistance, is also important.
This type has a more premium feel and is softer compared to the 50/50. Although it costs a bit of a premium itself. It is great for overlaying into transitional weather conditions.
Combinations. Higher polyester composition blends are suitable for custom activewear. Conversely, Higher-cotton blends are suitable for casual, premium styles.
3. 80% Cotton / 20% Polyester
It carries the greatest possible natural softness and air exchange for cotton. The lesser content of polyester helps to further the durability element. This arrives in premium high-end hoodies.
This product wrinkles more easily and is even slightly heavier than others. Moreover, it has higher costs of production and procurement.
Sales advice: It can be sold at the higher end with a high percentage of cotton. The designs can also relate to comfort and luxurious feeling.
4. 65% Polyester / 35% Cotton
It is durable with moisture management and provides a sleek feel. Besides, it’s known as a reverse blend because there is more polyester content in it.
You can use it to extend the hoodie’s longevity also it dries very fast. It is light and moisture-wicking, and it doesn’t wrinkle as easily. Ideal for sport but does not breathe as well as others do.
People Also Ask About Best Hoodie Material
1. Is a 100% cotton hoodie better?
So a natural soft, pure cotton hoodie is made fully from 100 percent cotton. Hence it is appropriate for breathable purposes too. Perfect fit for individuals having sensitive skin & the allergy due to synthetic fibers. However, it does not have much resistance so could limit the durability.
2. Is a 320 GSM hoodie good or bad?
GSM 320 will classify the hoodie as heavyweight. The hoodie will thus be very thick thus would have good insulation. It is good for winter and casual wear because it keeps users warm and is also durable.
3. What makes a hoodie high quality?
It starts with material selection: one that should give a cozy, robust, and warm product. You also need to ensure it has great stitching and finish. Also don’t forget about the backing material like zippers. All of this makes it a high-quality product.
4. Which material hoodie is best for winter?
Use soft, warm material with excellent retention of heat. Fleece, Wool or Wool Blends, Cotton-Polyester blends, or thermal fabrics. Launch collections on synthetic fabrics as they are also great for layering.
What’s Next
No matter what your hoodie’s material choice, its stitching is equally important. It would be a mistake if you chose the premium fabric but not good manufacturing. There must be a clear and experienced manufacturer of hoodies.
JaceApparel oversees the manufacture of hoodies and jackets. It ensures quality fabric and cutting-edge craftsmanship are used.
Let’s join hands and create the best hoodie brand to conquer the market.
Sources
- melengo.com – Best hoodie material that you should choose
- gelato.com – A guide to cotton-polyester blend fabrics