When shopping for clothes or athletic wear, you'll often find two popular synthetic fabrics: spandex and polyester. Both materials play important roles in modern clothing. But they have unique characteristics that make them suitable for different uses.
Qicai Product Page
Understanding the key differences between these fabrics will help you make smarter choices for your wardrobe needs. Let's compare these versatile materials in terms of performance, comfort, and practical uses.
Understanding Spandex is crucial before you look at how it stacks up against polyester.
In the late s, a synthetic fiber called spandex became a groundbreaking alternative to rubber in the textile industry.
This innovative material was derived from long-chain polymer polyurethane. It quickly transformed clothing manufacturing with its superior elasticity and comfort.
Throughout the s and s, spandex gained significant popularity in fashion. It became essential for form-fitting garments.
The material can stretch up to five times its original length while keeping its shape. This makes it especially useful for athletic wear and swimsuits.
Manufacturers create spandex fibers using long-chain polymer polyurethane as the main material.
You'll find that spandex fibers are fundamentally different from polyester fabric. Because they're specifically engineered for maximum elasticity and recovery.
The material's unique composition allows it to stretch up to 100% beyond its original length. Meanwhile, it can maintain its ability to return to its initial shape.
Three main uses highlight the versatility of this stretchy fabric in modern clothing and accessories.
Spandex is extensively used in activewear. It's often blended with polyester to create comfortable, snug garments. These garments support movement during exercise and sports activities.
The second primary application is in swimwear. Spandex's stretchy properties allow for a snug fit while maintaining shape in water.
Finally, you'll see spandex in shapewear and compression garments. It provides support and contouring effects.
Proper care and maintenance of spandex garments will extend their lifespan.
Wash your spandex items in cool water with mild detergents. This will prevent fiber breakdown and maintain elasticity.
Unlike polyester, spandex requires special attention to heat exposure during washing and drying. You should avoid high temperatures, which can damage the elastic fibers.
During storage, keep your spandex garments away from direct sunlight and harsh chemicals.
Regularly check for pilling on your spandex clothing. Use proper storage methods to keep it in good condition and keep its shape and stretch.
1. Benefits of Spandex Fabric:
2. Drawbacks of Spandex Fabric:
Spandex is made from petroleum-based polyurethane. Its production involves toxic chemicals that can harm ecosystems. The material's manufacturing process generates greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.
While both fabrics are synthetic, spandex presents extra environmental challenges. It breaks down faster than polyester, releasing microplastics during washing.
Spandex has limited recycling options. This makes it less sustainable since it often ends up in landfills after use.
With a clear understanding of Spandex, it’s important to consider polyester and its unique attributes.
Since it was created in the s by British scientists, polyester has changed the textile industry with its special qualities.
Polyester became popular in the s when manufacturers recognized its durability and versatility as a synthetic fabric.
Made from petroleum products, polyester quickly gained use in fashion and industry.
Its arrival marked a big change from natural fibers. This versatile fabric offers strength, color retention, and easy care, which were not features of fabrics before.
The molecular structure of PET is the basis of what you know as polyester fabric in your everyday clothing.
Manufacturers mix ethylene glycol with terephthalic acid. This creates long polymer chains that give the fabric its unique properties.
This synthetic fabric's composition results in remarkable durability and wrinkle resistance. It maintains its shape well and keeps colors vibrant even after multiple washes.
The fabric effectively wicks moisture away from your skin. But you'll notice it's less breathable than natural materials.
Today's versatile clothing and home furnishings often incorporate PET fibers. You'll commonly find it in athletic wear, outdoor gear, and household textiles.
When looking for activewear, polyester, and spandex blends are common in sportswear. This is due to their moisture-wicking properties and strength.
You'll find this fabric in curtains, upholstery, and outdoor equipment. Because it resists fading and maintains its shape.
Polyester-spandex blends are used in athletic applications. You'll find them in compression wear, swimsuits, and performance clothing.
Understanding polyester's unique composition helps explain its care requirements. You'll find polyester easy to manage with minimal effort.
Always wash your polyester garments in cold water. This will preserve their shape and color vibrancy. Avoid using bleach, as it can damage the fabric's structure.
Polyester resists wrinkles and shrinking. But you should manage static and pilling with proper washing techniques. Regular care includes using appropriate detergents and following garment care labels.
1. Advantages of Polyester:
2. Disadvantages of Polyester:
You might encounter polyester in many everyday products. But this fabric carries significant environmental consequences throughout its lifecycle.
Polyester is a synthetic material that contributes heavily to greenhouse gas emissions. It produces approximately 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent yearly.
When you wash polyester garments, their hydrophobic fibers release microplastics into water systems. This will harm aquatic ecosystems.
This fabric isn't biodegradable. It creates lasting environmental concerns through pollution and waste accumulation.
Spandex and polyester share common uses in athletic wear and swimwear. But their properties differ markedly in some key areas.
Spandex and polyester have several key characteristics. These make them popular choices for performance clothing.
Spandex and polyester showcase distinct characteristics that set them apart in significant ways. Here’s a comparison table highlighting their key differences:
When choosing between spandex and polyester, consider several key factors that affect their performance.
When choosing between spandex and polyester, you'll need to consider your specific needs. Spandex is your best option if you want high elasticity and snug clothing. If you want durability and moisture-wicking properties, polyester will serve you better.
The company is the world’s best What Are the Pros and Cons of Polyester Spandex? supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
You can also opt for polyester spandex fabric. It blends both materials to get the benefits of stretch and durability in one garment.
Learn more fabric knowledge on the Longan Craft Blog, and dive into the fabric world with Longan Craft!
You'll find neither is universally "better." Your choice depends on your needs. Pick spandex for superior stretch and comfort. Or select polyester for better durability and cost-effectiveness. They're often blended for ideal performance.
While you'll find both materials functional, they aren't ideal for skin health. You might experience irritation, allergic reactions, or discomfort due to poor breathability. It's best to monitor your skin's response when wearing them.
Polyester's thicker fibers will keep you warmer than spandex. It retains more heat and insulates better, especially when it's cold. Spandex isn't designed primarily for warmth but for stretch.
Nylon is generally stronger and more resilient than polyester. But it can absorb more moisture. It's often used in activewear and outdoor gear.
Elastane, Lycra, and spandex are often used interchangeably. But they all refer to the same synthetic fiber known for its excellent elasticity.
When you're shopping for new logo branded clothes for your company, determining the proper fabric type is just as important as choosing the right size and color. With so many different kinds of fabric available it can be hard to know what's best for your team's needs. That's why we made this comprehensive guide to the most popular fabrics used to make custom corporate clothing and accessories. Click on a button below to jump to that fabric type, then click into each fabric type to see branded apparel and products made from that kind of material!
Use the menu below to jump to different fabric types!
There are dozens of different fabrics and blends that are commonly used to make custom apparel and company branded accessories. Each kind of fabric comes with different advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of before you make a decision for your department. Read below for a quick overview of each fabric type for the perfect logo branded piece for your crew!
Cotton is a plant-based natural fiber that has been the go-to choice for custom clothing for thousands of years. There are a few reasons that cotton is the most popular fabric for apparel. Cotton is inexpensive, strong, and easy to clean. Plus, cotton is extremely versatile and can be transformed into many other fabric classifications like Ring-spun Cotton, Cotton Duck, Cotton Canvas, Terry Cloth, Denim, and Flannel.
Polyester might look simple, but it's actually somewhat of a chemistry project! Polyester is a man-made synthetic fiber that's made from a chemical reaction involving air, water, and petroleum. That combination produces an artificial fiber that becomes polyester! Polyester is also thermoplastic, so it can be melted down and reformed shapes, like thread. That thermoplasticity is what makes polyester so stretchy. I bet you didn't come here expecting a science lesson!
The way that polyester is normally made is not sustainable or good for environment because the process requires the use of fossil fuels. However, there are ways that polyester can be extremely sustainable too! It's not the cheapest way to make polyester, but you can actually create it from recycled materials like plastic water bottles. When polyester is made this way it's not only eco-friendly, it also prevents plastic from reaching landfills and oceans!
So if cotton comes from plants and polyester comes from science then where does wool come from? Most people know that wool can come from sheep, but wool can also be made from the coat of goats (known as cashmere), alpacas, llamas, camels, musk oxen (qiviut), and even rabbits (angora wool)! To create wool these living animals coats are sheared, cleaned, scoured, and spun into yarn. That wool yarn can then be weaved into clothing garments, blankets, and more.
Fleece isn't as much of its own fabric type as it is a classification of the other fabric types that we've addressed at this point. There's cotton fleece, polyester fleece, wool fleece, and other lesser used varieties of fleece. All types of fleeces have a few things in common though; they're soft, fuzzy, warm, and insulating. That's what makes fleece the ideal material for corporate sweaters, custom embroidered vests, company jackets, and logo branded sweatshirts. Fleece also breathes and wicks moisture very well for an insulating material, so it's great as branded outerwear too!
Technically speaking, sherpa and shearling are two entirely different fabrics. Shearling is a form of wool sheared from a lamb that has only had one shearing, while sherpa is actually a blended fabric made from polyester, acrylic, or cotton. Sherpa fabric gets its name from its similarity to the wooled clothing worn by the Sherpa people of Nepal, but it is often called "faux shearling" for its similarity to shearling fabric. For this reason we've combined them into the same fabric category.
Did you know that spandex got its name because it's an anagram for the word "expands"? You learn something new everyday. It makes sense though, the primary benefit of spandex as a fabric is its unparalleled elasticity. Also known as elastane or lycra, spandex is the stretchiest, most flexible corporate apparel fabric around. So much so that a little goes a long way. You usually won't see apparel fabric that's made from more than 15% spandex, even in compression apparel and yoga pants. That's because spandex-heavy fabrics don't let your skin breathe very well.
Aside from wool, leather is the only type of clothing material that comes from mammals. Leather can be made from the hides of many animals including cows, pigs, sheep, goats, alligators, and more. Cow hides are by far the most popular animal hide used to create real leather. To create leather, hides are stripped of hair and flesh, dried, salted, tanned, dyed, and finished with a finishing spray. This process may sound inhumane, but the animal hides are a byproduct of the meat and dairy industries that would otherwise be wasted if not turned into leather. It is extremely rare for cows to be killed only for their hides.
Here's another fabric that comes from nature, although not in the way that you might expect. Silk is a natural protein fiber that is produced by silkworms. Silkworms are actually larvae of silk moths and silk is what they use to make their cocoons. Sounds pretty gross, right? Despite its unpleasant origins, silk is one of the most luxurious and desirable fabrics around. That's because silk is one of the smoothest and softest fabrics on the planet.
If you noticed that we teased the origins of cashmere earlier in the wool section, congratulations, you've been paying close attention! Cashmere is a form of wool that comes specifically from the coat of cashmere goats. Cashmere goats are a rather regal looking breed of goats whose origins trace back to the Himalayan region of Kashmir. Save that one for trivia night. Like wool, cashmere is formed by shearing the coats of the animals and spinning them into yarn that's used to create clothing.
Linen fabric clothing is known for being especially lightweight and breathable, making it the perfect fabric for hot summer days. Like cotton, linen fabric is made from plants. In the case of linen, its fibers from the flax plant called "Linum Usitatissimum" that are spun, combed, and woven into sheets. Linen material is ideal for corporate branded dress shirts, custom company hats, branded journals and notebooks.
French terry, or terry cloth, is a form of cotton fabric that's popular for loungewear and towels. The way that french terry fabric is made causes one side of the fabric to be smooth and soft while the other side features loops and soft piles of yarn. The soft piles are super comfy on your skin, so that side of the fabric is almost always on the inside of the garment. Popular french terry apparel items include corporate french terry sweatshirts, custom french terry pullovers, logo branded robes, and more! Those piles are also very absorbent, so they're great for logo branded towels too.
Here's another synthetic fabric with an interesting history. Up until World War II, Nylon was only used for toothbrush bristles. Then the US military started using nylon for parachutes and it instantly became one of the most popular fabrics in America. The reasons that nylon was a great material for parachutes are the same reasons that nylon works well for custom raincoats, logo branded jackets, corporate backpacks, and duffel bags too - ripstop nylon is extremely tough, durable, and water-resistant.
Yes, hemp is made from cannabis plants. No, hemp is not marijuana. Hemp is a strain of the Cannabis sativa plant that's harvested and spun into yarn. Hemp is actually one of the first plants that were ever spun into fiber for yarn more than 10,000 years ago. Hemp plants are also among the fastest growing plants, making them a great source for fabric. Hemp material creates a perfect backdrop to showcase your company's unique logo on logo branded hats, corporate tote bags, branded t-shirts, and more! However, the perception that hemp is marijuana has prevented it from becoming a more popular fabric for apparel.
Quilted fabric is more of a technique than a fabric type, but it still comes with its own set of pros and cons. Quilting is done by sewing two layers of fabric, usually cotton or blended fabric, together to create a thick and padded material. In between the two layers of fabric there is usually an insulating material like wool or cotton. The material is sewn in a cross-hatch style pattern to prevent the insulating material from sinking to the bottom of the garment.
Not to be confused with suede, which is a form of soft leather with a napped finish, sueded fabric is usually made from cotton or silk. The fabric is then brushed or sanded to give it a smoother finish, similar to suede. Brushed sueded fabric is softer to the touch than unbrushed fabric, making it especially ideal for shirts that make direct contact with the skin.
Did you know that denim is made from 100% cotton? It doesn't seem possible that your blue jeans and t-shirts could come from the same plant, but that's the case! Denim is made by a specific method of twill weaving that creates a diagonal twill line. This method of weaving is what makes denim feel stronger and sturdier than traditional cotton garments. Aside from the classic pair of jeans, denim material is great for custom denim long sleeve shirts, logo branded denim tote bags, corporate denim hats, and more!
Flannel is another form of cotton, but unlike denim, flannel is a soft woven fabric with an extra dash of warmth. Flannel is also often brushed for added softness. This level of softness makes flannel an especially comfortable material, making it ideal for corporate branded shirts, cozy inner linings on custom jackets, and logo branded blankets. Flannel is also made from wool on some occasions, although it tends to be a little scratchier in that case.
Canvas is an extremely strong and durable form of cotton that was originally created for use in boat sails and tents. To create canvas an extremely compact and firm weave of cotton is performed. The term canvas is usually reserved for accessories like corporate canvas totes, logo branded canvas hats, and custom canvas backpacks. Cotton duck is another form of canvas, which typically refers to clothing applications for canvas.
You might not know the difference between standard cotton and ring-spun cotton by just looking at it. The difference is that ring-spun cotton is made from yarn that is spun differently to create longer strands that are softer and more durable than those of regular cotton. You can think of ring-spun cotton as "super cotton" if you'd like. This kind of quality obviously comes at a premium though.
Similar to cotton canvas, cotton duck material is made using an extremely compact weave of cotton. In fact, cotton duck is woven even more tightly than cotton canvas. A tighter weave means added strength and durability. That's what makes cotton duck so ideal for work jackets and industrial workwear. Commonly used by popular workwear brands such as Carhartt, Dri Duck gear, and Drake Waterfowl apparel.
When you read the tags on your clothing it is pretty rare to find just one type of fabric. Sure, you'll come across your fair share of 100% cotton and 100% polyester garments, but most clothing is made from blended fabric. For example, the t-shirt that you see below is made from 95% recycled polyester and 5% spandex. This blend was chosen because this shirt is designed for workouts. The polyester fabric makes the shirt moisture-wicking, while the added spandex makes it more flexible. All fabrics come with advantages and disadvantages and blending them can produce an even better product.
Knowing the names of each fabric type is great, but this isn't a vocabulary test. What's really important to know is what each fabric type does. How does it perform? What is its purpose? Every fabric and material in your clothes is there for a reason. Here are a few of the most sought after fabric features.
Fabrics and materials are deemed eco-friendly and sustainable for a few different reasons. One way that a product can be considered sustainable is if it's made from recycled materials like recycled cotton or polyester made from recycled plastic water bottles. Another way that fabric can be considered sustainable is if it's made from plants that don't require much water or pesticides. Both hemp and flax plants (used to make linen fabric) can be grown using minimal resources.
Moisture-wicking fabric use built-in miniscule capillaries to extract moisture from the surface of your skin and transport it to the exterior of the fabric for easy wicking and quicker evaporation. Sweat-wicking fabric is perfect for logo branded activewear, company sports team uniforms, custom outerwear for hiking and camping, or any other clothing that you work out in. Because no one wants to exercise in a shirt that's drenched in sweat!
Technically speaking, anything that gets between your skin and the sun is protecting you from harmful UV rays. Well, aside from magnifying glasses. However, some fabric features contribute to high UPF protection. For example, dyed fabrics, especially dark colors, increase UPF protection. Dense, tightly woven fabrics also do a better job blocking out the sun's harmful rays than looser fabric. Cotton, linen, and hemp are the least useful in blocking UV rays. Check out some of the custom polo shirts with UV Protection, corporate UV blocking dress shirts, and sun blocking branded jackets to find the perfect bulk company piece to suit your team's style.
Do you ever feel like your clothing is restricting your movements? That's the worst. Luckily, flexible fabrics that stretch as you move are becoming more popular every year. One of the main reasons that polyester and spandex are added to blended fabrics are for a little added stretch.
The two main classifications of stretchy fabric are 2-way stretch and 4-way stretch fabrics. 4-way stretch fabric is the best type for fitness apparel because it can extend in both directions and return to its original shape without permanently stretching out. Jersey knit fabrics get their stretchiness due to the simple fact that they're knitted rather than woven.
Water resistance means that a fabric is resistant to water molecules penetrating its surface, therefore the fabric doesn't get wet. Water-resistant (hydrophobic) fabrics can either be inherently water resistant or can be treated to become water repellant. Fabrics like nylon and micro suede polyester can be woven tightly enough so that water has a difficult time penetrating it.
Fabrics can also be treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish. The DWR coating is typically fluoropolymer based. DWR treatments can wear off over time and should be reapplied for your garment to retain its water resistance. An ideal choice for companies that often work outside or host outdoor charity events, custom water-resistant jackets, corporate water-resistant bags, and logo branded water-resistant vests are ready to complete your team look.
There are a few factors that can increase a fabric's resistance to wrinkling, namely the weave, weight, and composition of the fabric. Denser and more complex weaves, like the weaves seen in thicker dress shirts, tend to be more wrinkle-resistant than simpler and more lightweight weaves. Synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, and spandex are extremely wrinkle-resistant, while natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and hemp wrinkle easily. One natural fabric that does stay wrinkle free is wool, especially merino wool.
Wool is widely considered the most flame resistant natural fabric. Tightly woven cotton types like cotton duck and cotton twill are also effective as flame resistant fabric. There are some fabrics that are technically flame resistant, as in they won't burn, but are still not safe to wear around heat sources because they will melt. These include synthetic fabrics like acrylic, polyester, and nylon. Extensive research should always be done before ordering FRC. Check out our safety apparel guide for more information.
The term hi-vis really applies more to the bright colors of the clothes rather than fabric types. Hi-vis fabrics are typically fluorescent yellow, green, or orange. These vibrant shades help draw attention to those out along the road whether they're working hard or just working out! On the other hand, fabrics CAN have reflective qualities. Sometimes thin layers of metals like aluminized mylar are even added to increase the reflectivity of the material. Check out some of the most popular hi-vis clothing items such as custom hi-vis vests, bright and durable hi-vis jackets, and corporate hi-vis polo shirts to keep your crew safe!
Ever since humans started weaving fabrics into clothing they've been looking for ways to make their garments unique. There's no better way to differentiate your apparel from the rest than by adding your corporate logo or custom design. Luckily, that's what we're all about here at Merchology. Our in-house team of fabric decoration experts can add your logo to a wide range of fabrics using over 10 customization techniques. Let's take a look at which popular decoration methods work best for each fabric type.
Silk screen printing is one of the oldest decoration methods around. Screen printing is performed by applying ink to fabric through a mesh screen. Everyone in the screen printing industry will tell you that silkscreen printing works the best on cotton fabric by far. You can screen print on polyester, but it does require special inks and additives.
Embroidered designs are made by applying layers of thread to fabric with an embroidery machine. Custom embroidery can be performed on just about any fabric that a needle can pass through. One thing to remember with embroidery is that it does put tiny holes in the fabric, so it can compromise the water resistance of waterproof clothing.
Also known as thermal printing, heat transfer takes a pre-printed image and applies it to your fabric. As the name suggests, your image is applied through heat in the heat transfer printing process. That means heat transfer is not suitable for flammable fabrics, like silk, and synthetic fabrics that can melt like polyester and spandex. Heat transfer can be performed on polyester, but should be done on a lower heat setting.
Digital printing is a newer decoration method that is used to achieve a higher level of detail and a larger variety of colors than screen printing. It's also easier to set up and cheaper for smaller order sizes. The downside? DTG printing can ONLY be done on 100% cotton materials.
Dye sublimation is a form of heat transfer in which dye-sub graphics are digitally printed and then heated to transfer your image to your product on a molecular level. A good way to remember what fabric are okay for dye sublimation? Think man-made fabric only. Remember, dye sublimation inks do not work on cotton!
Debossing is essentially an advanced form of heated stamping. Debossing is achieved by laser engraving a metal plate with your logo or design, heating it up, and pressing it into the surface of your product. A debossed logo or design has nice dimensional depth and will never flake off or fade away, making it the most durable decoration method.
For more information, please visit window screens that keep dust out.