Davis Brown
Gone those days of thick, heavy and uncomfortable sweatshirts. Fleece has become a popular fabric as a workout apparel and casual wear. Because of its ultra soft fabric, it becomes a great option as an outer wear as joggers, vests, jackets, etc.
With an increasing demand of stylish apparel, fleece is predominantly at one of the most preferred wear. Fleece fabric is lightweight, and soft, and moreover, it is suitable for all ages.
What is Fleece?
Fleece is a knit fabric that has a raised surface, resulting in a silky and soft feel on the skin. There are two types of fleece predominant in the apparel decoration industry. They are cotton and polyester fleece.
Cotton fleece is mostly used for sweatpants and sweatshirts. Fleece made from cotton are mostly smooth and silky
This opportunity hasn’t been hidden from the product decorators. The small business and corporate markets have also seen a rise in fleece wear. In addition to being lightweight, fleece can be moisture-wicking too. As a result, such features of fleece make it an excellent choice for activewear.
If you are a apparel decorator, then modern fleece is the go-to fabric which is available in a variety of styles, textures and finishes. As it is an all season wear, its demand drive sales throughout the year. Therefore, looking into the market opportunities, customizing fleece one of the top and versatile trends to stay ahead.
Fleecewear Market Trends:
Fleece has always been a popular fabric especially as a workout apparel. As per the current market trends, cotton fleece is mostly in demand due to its lightweight, durable and moisture wicking capabilities.
Cotton fleece is most often used for sweatshirts and sweatpants. The cotton fabric features a smooth outer surface with plush inner-lining. It is a great option for the customers who look something comfortable, stylish and budget friendly. Moreover, it does not wick the moisture. Thus, making it better for fashionable looks as compared to performance wear or athletic apparel.
When you look into the market opportunities, the cotton fleecewear include boutique & loungewear, sweatshirts & hoodies.
If you prefer polyester over cotton, it withstands more wear and tear although, yo may find it to more expensive than cotton fleece. Moreover, it create an opportunity for you offer premium apparel to customers.
Polyester vs Cotton Fleece:
As discussed above, polyester is more durable than cotton. That is to say, it can withstand more wear and tear.
Again, polyester fleece is less prone to peeling. As a result, it is ideal for gym gear and workout wear. It is also moisture wicking and comfortable to wear for those who are in active warmer temperatures.
The polyester fleecewear includes school uniform, corporate & business standard branded merchandise, athleisure, sportswear, etc.
Can you heat press fleece?
Fleece can be a heat sensitive fabric, but that does not mean you can’t do it. That is to say, you can use heat printing to capitalize your profitable trend.
The fastest way to create custom fleece wear is using a heat press. Overall, heat transfer printing is the method to decorate fleece.
Prevent Scorching of Fleece in Heat Press:
Moreover, if you are concerned about scorching, there are quick ways to fix it. And the first method is to:
1. Use the right equipment and heat press materials:
If you have a heat press machine, with an even heating surface, they you have the right equipment setup.
In addition, having the right temperature, time and pressure settings, you have got all the right conditions to decorate fleecewear t-shirt perfectly.
2. Fabric type of fleece:
Cotton is the most preferred fleece material for heat transfer. Moreover, cotton is less sensitive than polyester and more resilient to heat. Specifically, considering the Bella Canvas sponge fleece, contains roughly 50% airlume combed, ring-spun cotton, 50% polyester fleece, resulting in premium soft substrate for apparel.
However, to avoid heat press marks or bruising, use heat transfer that does not require a lot of pressure to apply. When pressure is high and it is applied for a longer time i.e. dwell time, it will result in platen or heat press marks and matted fabric fibers.
Moreover, when you source heat transfers for polyester fleece, be sure to find a product with low application temperature. The ideal temperature for heat transfer is 260 to 300 degrees.
Type of Heat Transfer Best for Fleece:
The traditional fleecewear were typically decorated with embroidery. But with the innovation of heat transfers
Fleece is mostly too soft. Therefore, it is important to use heat transfer that has a soft and lightweight feel to embrace sponge fleece features.
Fleece being a thicker garment, it is better to use heat transfers that are raised and dimensional.
Flocked heat transfer vinyl, single and full color twill, embossed emblems, and 3D patches are superior heat transfers that can be seen and applied only with heat press.
Is Heat Transfer Printing on Fleece a Profitable Business?
It is important to offer customer with a number of apparel options. Yet thick like sweatshirts and workout wear.
Fleece garments, in addition to having a trending popularity can be applied to a variety of looks and finishes. Its blends are comfort and stylish.
Fleece is ideal for product decoration because it is both budget-friendly and economical. It allows you to provide multiple product quality options to customers for a better ordering experience.
Moreover, you may offer different garment choices that will enable your to set various pricing levels, and promote buying experience of users. If you are an apparel decorator, then adding fleece to your product catalog shall take your print business to the next level.
Final Words:
Fleece wear is one such opportunity that continues to grow without any signs to slowing down. Even the fleece garment market sales more than have doubled. So, this is a great product decorators for who want to expand their product customization capabilities.
