Cotton-Polyester Fleece for Hoodies, Joggers & Tracksuits
- Est. 2005 · Sialkot, Pakistan
- MOQ 20–25 pcs per design · no limit for brands
- Free 24h digital mockup
- Sample 5–7 days, credited on bulk
- Bulk 15–25 business days · express 7–12
- DHL/FedEx/UPS 5–10 days
- 🛡️ Free remake within 3 days
What cotton-polyester fleece is
Cotton-polyester fleece is a knitted fabric with a smooth jersey face and a back that has been brushed to raise a soft, insulating pile. It is the standard fabric for hoodies, joggers and tracksuit tops, and ZipaSports runs it at 280–350 GSM in Sialkot, Pakistan.
The fabric starts as a three-thread fleece knit: a face yarn, a tie-in yarn and a heavier loop yarn on the back. Brushing the loop yarn on a napping machine breaks it into a pile that traps still air, which is where the warmth comes from. The cotton content gives the face its soft, matte cotton hand; the polyester content adds strength, shape retention and faster drying.
Common blend ratios in the trade are 80/20, 65/35, 60/40 and 50/50 cotton to polyester. The higher the cotton share, the softer and more absorbent the fabric, and the more it shrinks if it is not stabilised at the mill. The higher the polyester share, the better the fabric holds its shape through repeated washing. For most club and gym hoodies a cotton-rich blend between 60/40 and 80/20 is the usual choice.
GSM options: 280, 300 and 320–350
Cotton-polyester fleece for hoodies and joggers is specified between 280 and 350 GSM, and the weight you choose sets the warmth, drape and cost band of the finished garment. Heavier is not automatically better: a 350 GSM hoodie is a winter garment, while 280 GSM suits year-round gym and studio use.
| Weight | Hand feel | Suited to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 280 GSM | Light-to-mid fleece, soft drape | Gym hoodies, studio warm-ups, summer-league club hoodies, work sweats | Lightest in the range; dries quickest of the three |
| 300 GSM | Standard mid-weight | Club hoodies, joggers, presentation tracksuits, retail hoodies for startup brands | Mid-point of the range; balances warmth and cost |
| 320–350 GSM | Heavy, structured, boxy drape | Winter club hoodies, heavyweight streetwear-style brand hoodies, touchline wear | Holds embroidery and puff print flat; slowest to dry |
If you are unsure, order a 300 GSM sample first. A physical sample takes 5–7 days, is charged at sample cost, and the cost is credited against your bulk order. For a lighter, quicker-drying alternative that can also be sublimated, see performance polyester fleece at 240–300 GSM. The weight reference for every garment group is in the fabric GSM chart.
Loopback (French terry) vs brushed-back fleece
Loopback and brushed-back fleece are the same knit at two stages of finishing: loopback leaves the back loops intact, brushed-back naps them into a pile. The choice changes the warmth, the feel against the skin and how the garment behaves in a warm gym.
| Property | Loopback (French terry) | Brushed-back fleece |
|---|---|---|
| Back surface | Visible uncut loops | Raised soft pile |
| Warmth | Lower; loops let air move | Higher; pile traps still air |
| Moisture handling | Loops pull sweat off the skin; dries faster | Pile holds moisture longer |
| Typical weight | Lighter end of 280–350 GSM | Mid to heavy end of 280–350 GSM |
| Suited to | Hoodies worn during training, warm climates, spring and autumn club wear | Winter hoodies, touchline and travel tracksuits, dance warm-ups between sets |
| Decoration | Embroidery, screen print, DTF | Embroidery, screen print, DTF, puff print |
Both versions are cut, sewn and decorated on the same production lines. State which back you want on the tech pack: brushed-back is the usual choice for anything sold as a hoodie or tracksuit, loopback for training-floor garments. Ribbing for cuffs, hem and neck is knitted separately, usually a matching cotton-polyester 1x1 or 2x2 rib with elastane so it recovers after stretching.
Why cotton-rich fleece cannot be sublimated, and what to use instead
Cotton-rich fleece cannot be dye-sublimated because sublimation ink only bonds to polyester fibre. The disperse dye turns to gas at around 200 °C and locks into polyester; cotton fibre does not accept it, so on a 60/40 or 80/20 fleece the image washes out to a faded, patchy print after the first wash. Full-colour all-over prints on fleece need 100% polyester performance fleece instead.
Cotton-polyester fleece is decorated on top of the fabric rather than into it, and every method below is run in-house by ZipaSports.
| Method | Suited to | Colours and detail | Feel on fleece |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embroidery | Club crests, chest logos, sleeve badges, initials | Fine detail; thread colours matched to your Pantone reference | Raised stitch; sits flat on 300 GSM and above |
| Screen printing | Large back prints, sponsor blocks, event runs | Solid spot colours, one screen per colour | Soft ink film |
| DTF transfer | Photographic or multi-colour artwork, small runs, mixed designs | Full colour, no colour limit | Thin film, slightly firmer than screen print |
| Puff print | Bold wordmarks, 3D lettering, streetwear-style brand hoodies | Raised dome effect; solid colours | Noticeably raised, soft |
| Heat transfer vinyl | Names, numbers, single-colour logos | Cut vinyl, solid colours | Smooth, slightly glossy |
Method pages: embroidery, screen printing, DTF transfer and puff print. To compare them side by side, read sublimation vs DTF vs embroidery.
Shrinkage control
Cotton-rich fleece shrinks after washing unless it is stabilised before cutting, so shrinkage control is a factory process, not something the buyer can fix afterwards. Polyester fibre is dimensionally stable; cotton fibre swells and relaxes when wet, and a fleece knit that was stretched during finishing pulls back to its relaxed length in the first wash.
Shrinkage is controlled in four steps. First, the fabric is specified as compacted or pre-shrunk from the mill, which mechanically relaxes the knit before it reaches the cutting table. Second, rolls are opened and laid flat to rest before cutting so tension from the roll is released. Third, the pattern carries a shrinkage allowance set for the specific blend and GSM, built into the computerised pattern and size grading rather than added by eye. Fourth, finished garments are measured against your approved size specification before packing.
The higher the cotton share, the more allowance is needed, which is one reason 60/40 and 65/35 blends are popular for retail hoodies: they keep the cotton hand but move less. A cool wash and low tumble dry on the care label keeps the garment inside the size chart tolerance of ±1–1.5 cm through normal use.
Garments made from cotton-polyester fleece
Cotton-polyester fleece at 280–350 GSM is the fabric behind five garment groups that ZipaSports manufactures for clubs, gyms, brands, dance schools and corporate buyers.
| Garment | Typical specification | Who orders it | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym and brand hoodies | 300–350 GSM brushed-back, 60/40 to 80/20 blend, kangaroo pocket, lined hood, flat drawcord | Startup activewear brands, gyms, CrossFit boxes | Hoodies & jackets |
| Club hoodies and joggers | 300 GSM brushed-back, embroidered crest, sponsor print on back, tapered joggers with ribbed cuffs | Football, rugby, cricket and netball clubs, universities | Football, Rugby |
| Presentation tracksuits | 280–300 GSM, full-zip top with contrast panels, matching joggers | Clubs, academies, tournament squads | Cricket |
| Dance warm-ups | 280 GSM loopback or brushed-back, cropped or oversized cuts, rhinestone or puff logos | Dance schools, cheer programmes, competition teams | Tops, jackets & warm-ups |
| Work sweats | 300–320 GSM brushed-back, embroidered company logo, crew-neck or hooded | Corporate buyers, trades, hospitality, event staff | Work polos & tees |
All five are sewn on overlock and coverstitch lines, with lockstitch for pockets and facings, and finished with your own woven neck label, printed size tag and hang tag. Sizes run adult XS–5XL and women's XS–4XL, with youth sizes and fully custom size charts for men, women and youth available.
Ordering cotton-polyester fleece garments from ZipaSports
Minimum order is 20–25 pieces per design, lower quantities are possible on request, and there is no MOQ limit for sportswear brands and companies. Send a logo, sketch or reference photo and the in-house design studio returns a free digital mockup within 24 hours, with unlimited free revisions before approval.
Timeline from Sialkot: physical sample in 5–7 days, charged at sample cost and credited against the bulk order; bulk production in 15–25 business days after design approval; express production in 7–12 days at additional cost. Air freight by DHL, FedEx or UPS takes 5–10 days worldwide. Sea freight takes 3–6 weeks and is worth pricing for large fleece orders, because fleece is bulky and courier freight is charged on volume as well as weight.
Quality Guarantee: if any garment arrives with a manufacturing defect, we remake it free of charge — the remake goes into production within 3 days of your report. Manufacturing defects include print faults, open seams or skipped stitches, and wrong sizes against the approved size specification. Send photos and your order reference on WhatsApp or email within 7 days of delivery. Pricing depends on blend, GSM, quantity and decoration; a full quotation is confirmed with your enquiry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cotton-polyester fleece good for gym hoodies?
Yes. Cotton-polyester fleece at 280–300 GSM is the standard choice for gym hoodies because the cotton face feels soft and the polyester share keeps the shape through frequent washing. For hoodies worn during training rather than before and after it, specify loopback or move to lighter performance polyester fleece.
What GSM should a hoodie be?
A hoodie should be 280–350 GSM in cotton-polyester fleece. 280 GSM suits year-round gym and studio wear, 300 GSM is the standard club and retail weight, and 320–350 GSM is for winter and heavyweight streetwear-style hoodies. Performance polyester fleece runs lighter at 240–300 GSM.
Can cotton-polyester fleece be sublimated?
No. Sublimation dye only bonds to polyester fibre, so on a cotton-rich fleece the print comes out faded and patchy and washes out further. Cotton-polyester fleece is decorated with embroidery, screen printing, DTF transfer, puff print or heat transfer vinyl. For all-over sublimated fleece, use 100% polyester performance fleece.
Does cotton-polyester fleece shrink?
It can, because cotton fibre relaxes when wet. The factory specifies compacted fabric, rests rolls before cutting, builds a shrinkage allowance into the pattern for each blend and GSM, and measures finished garments against the approved size specification. A cool wash and low tumble dry keeps garments inside the ±1–1.5 cm size tolerance.
What is the difference between loopback and brushed fleece?
Loopback, also called French terry, leaves the back loops of the knit intact; brushed-back fleece naps those loops into a soft pile. Loopback is cooler and dries faster, so it suits training-floor hoodies; brushed-back is warmer and suits winter hoodies, tracksuits and warm-ups worn between activity.
Which blend is better for hoodies, 80/20 or 50/50?
80/20 cotton-polyester feels softer and more like pure cotton but shrinks more and dries slower; 50/50 holds shape better, dries faster and takes prints more evenly. Most club and gym hoodies sit between the two at 60/40 or 65/35. Choose 80/20 for a retail hand feel, 50/50 for durability.
Does cotton-polyester fleece pill?
It can pill on the face where short cotton fibres work loose with abrasion, especially under bag straps and on cuffs. Higher polyester content, combed yarns and a tighter face knit reduce pilling. Brushed-back pile inside the garment is not an issue because it is not abraded in wear.
What is the minimum order for custom fleece hoodies?
Minimum order is 20–25 pieces per design, lower quantities are possible on request, and there is no MOQ limit for sportswear brands and companies. Send your size breakdown with the enquiry and ZipaSports confirms the quantity per design. ZipaSports supplies a free digital mockup within 24 hours before any commitment.
How long does a custom hoodie or tracksuit order take?
Bulk production takes 15–25 business days after design approval, with express production in 7–12 days at additional cost. Add 5–7 days if you want a physical sample first, and 5–10 days for air freight from Sialkot, Pakistan by DHL, FedEx or UPS. Sea freight takes 3–6 weeks.