Polyester Mesh & Pin-Dot Mesh Fabric for Jerseys
- 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
Three mesh fabrics ZipaSports runs
ZipaSports runs three polyester mesh constructions, and the difference between them is hole size: smaller holes print sharper, larger holes move more air.
| Mesh type | Hole size | GSM | Airflow | Sublimation detail | Typical garments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin-dot / micro mesh | Pinhead-sized, visible only close up | 140–180 | Good | Close to interlock sharpness | Football jerseys, basketball jerseys, training tees, side panels |
| Jersey mesh (standard sports mesh) | Small to medium, visible at arm's length | 140–180 | High | Good for logos and numbers; avoid fine text | Basketball jerseys, hot-climate football, netball, training bibs |
| Open-hole / ventilated mesh | Large, clearly open | 150–180 | Highest | Bold shapes and colour blocks only | Motocross and enduro jerseys, vent panels, scrimmage bibs |
All three are 100% polyester with a moisture-wicking finish, so they sublimate in the same print run as interlock and match colour across panels. Pin-dot mesh is the usual answer when a buyer wants both a sharp all-over print and more airflow than interlock gives; open-hole mesh is chosen only where cooling outranks print detail, which in practice means motocross and training bibs.
How sports mesh is knitted
Sports mesh is a knitted fabric, not a woven one, and the holes are formed by the stitch pattern rather than cut or punched. Most jersey and ventilated mesh is warp-knitted on tricot or raschel machines, where each yarn runs lengthwise and interlocks with its neighbours; this locks every hole in place, so a snag does not ladder the way it would on a weft-knit T-shirt fabric.
Pin-dot mesh can be either warp-knitted or made on a circular weft-knit machine using tuck stitches that leave a tiny opening at regular intervals. Either way the openings are small enough that the fabric behaves like a light interlock in cutting and sewing.
Because the yarn is polyester filament, the fabric absorbs almost no water, and the wicking finish applied at the mill spreads sweat along the yarns to the outer face. Mesh dries faster than interlock of the same GSM because there is less fibre to hold moisture and more surface open to the air. The factory specifies mesh by hole size, GSM and finish on the tech pack so that a reorder matches the first run.
Airflow against print sharpness: the trade-off
Every hole in a mesh fabric is a place where there is no polyester for the sublimation dye to bond to, so the larger the holes, the more of the design is missing. On pin-dot mesh the missing area is negligible and fine text stays legible. On standard jersey mesh, thin lines and small lettering start to break up; on open-hole mesh only bold shapes, number blocks and large logos read cleanly.
Mesh also changes how colour appears. A dark design on open mesh looks lighter when worn, because skin or an undershirt shows through the holes; a white base layer under a navy mesh jersey reads as a paler blue at a distance. Basketball jerseys, worn without an undershirt, are less affected than motocross jerseys worn over body armour.
The practical rule applied at mockup stage: put sponsor text, crests and fine detail on interlock or pin-dot panels, and use standard or open mesh for the body, sides, underarms and back, where airflow matters and the design is a solid colour or a bold block. The studio flags any element that will not print cleanly on the chosen mesh before you approve the mockup.
Sublimation behaviour on mesh
Mesh sublimates in the same calender pass as interlock, at around 200 °C, and the colour bonds inside the fibre so it does not fade, crack or peel. Five things differ from printing on a closed fabric, and each has a standard fix in production.
| Issue | Why it happens on mesh | Production handling |
|---|---|---|
| Ghosting and bleed-through | Dye gas passes through the holes onto the press bed or the panel beneath | Protective paper above and below every panel; panels printed singly, never stacked |
| Stretch distortion | Mesh stretches more than interlock under calender tension, skewing the artwork | Fabric fed at low tension; printed panels checked against the pattern piece before cutting |
| Broken fine detail | Holes remove parts of thin lines and small text | Fine elements moved to pin-dot or interlock panels at mockup stage |
| Lighter colour appearance | Whatever is worn underneath shows through the holes | Darker or more saturated shade chosen on the mockup; sample checked worn, not laid flat |
| Edge fraying at cut lines | The open structure has fewer yarns holding a cut edge | Seam allowances overlocked; hems and armholes bound or coverstitched |
Wash-fastness and colour-fastness checks are run on sublimated mesh fabric, and pre-shipment photos of the finished garments are available on request.
Garments made in polyester mesh
Mesh is chosen wherever the wearer builds heat faster than a closed fabric can shed it, which is why it dominates basketball and motocross and appears as panels in almost every other kit.
| Garment | Mesh type | GSM | Design notes | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basketball jerseys and shorts | Jersey mesh or pin-dot | 140–180 | Large numbers front and back; contrasting side panels | Basketball uniforms |
| Football jerseys (hot climate) and side panels | Pin-dot body; jersey mesh sides and underarms | 140–180 | Sponsor logos on the pin-dot or interlock front panel | Football kits |
| Motocross and enduro jerseys | Open-hole ventilated mesh | 150–180 | Bold number blocks; pairs with 600D pants with reinforced seat and knee | Motocross jerseys |
| Training bibs and pinnies | Open-hole or jersey mesh | 140–180, light end | Numbered sets in team colours, worn over kit | Training wear |
| American football practice jerseys | Jersey mesh body | 140–180 | Cut to fit over shoulder pads | American football |
| Netball and volleyball tops | Pin-dot mesh | 140–180 | Position bibs and numbers sublimated in | Netball |
Motocross is the one discipline where the factory specifies open-hole mesh for the whole jersey rather than for panels: riders wear armour underneath, the print is bold by convention, and airflow through the jersey is the main function of the garment.
Mesh vs interlock: which jersey fabric to choose
Mesh and interlock are both 100% polyester at 140–180 GSM and print in the same sublimation run; the choice is about airflow against print detail and opacity.
| Property | Polyester mesh / pin-dot mesh | Polyester interlock |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Knit with holes formed by the stitch; mostly warp-knit | Double-knit, closed smooth face on both sides |
| Airflow | High to highest, straight through the holes | Moderate, by wicking and evaporation |
| Drying speed | Fastest: less fibre and more open area | Fast |
| Print sharpness | Pin-dot close to sharp; jersey mesh good; open mesh bold only | Sharpest: fine text, gradients, photo panels |
| Opacity | Lower; undershirt or skin shows through open mesh | High; suitable for white kit |
| Snag and abrasion | More exposed yarns; warp-knit resists laddering | Smooth face, better abrasion resistance |
| Shape retention | Moderate | High; flat edges, no curl |
| Hand at the same GSM | Feels lighter and more open | Denser, fuller |
| Typical choice | Basketball, motocross, hot-climate football, bibs | Football, cricket, esports, shorts |
Rule of thumb from the studio: interlock when the design carries fine detail or the kit must be opaque; pin-dot mesh when you want both; jersey or open mesh when heat is the problem to solve. See the polyester interlock guide for the closed-face option in detail.
Choosing mesh for your climate and sport
Choose the mesh by how much heat the wearer builds up and how the kit will be seen, in that order.
- Hot-climate leagues (GCC, South Asia, Australian summer, US summer camps): jersey mesh at 140–160 GSM for the body with pin-dot panels for logos, or full pin-dot at the light end of the range.
- Indoor sports (basketball, netball, volleyball, futsal): jersey mesh or pin-dot at 150–170 GSM; halls trap heat, and mesh dries between quarters.
- Temperate-season football: interlock body with mesh side and underarm panels; full mesh only for summer training.
- Motocross and enduro: open-hole ventilated mesh at 150–180 GSM, long-sleeved and cut loose over armour.
- Training bibs and scrimmage vests: open-hole mesh at the light end of 140–180 GSM; the design is a solid colour and a number, so print detail is irrelevant.
If the kit must be white or pale, specify pin-dot mesh at 170–180 GSM or move to interlock; standard and open mesh in white show whatever is worn underneath. Send the sport, playing climate and a reference photo, and the ZipaSports studio will propose a mesh type and GSM with the free 24-hour mockup. The fabric GSM chart lists every garment range side by side.
Caring for sublimated mesh jerseys
Sublimated mesh needs the same care as any polyester kit, with one extra point: the open structure snags on hook-and-loop, zips and rough surfaces, so wash it away from them.
- Wash at 30 °C or cold, inside out, in a mesh laundry bag if the load includes zips or hook-and-loop shin-pad straps.
- No fabric softener; it coats the yarn and reduces wicking.
- No bleach. The colour is inside the fibre and will not lift, but chlorine weakens polyester and any heat-transfer numbers.
- Line dry. Mesh dries in a fraction of the time interlock does; a dryer is unnecessary and high heat can set creases.
- Do not iron over mesh or over vinyl numbers; if a crease matters, use a low synthetic setting through a cloth on interlock panels only.
- Motocross jerseys: rinse mud out before it dries, and check hem and cuff seams after a season of abrasion against armour.
Care instructions are printed on the size tag or a separate care label as part of the private-label service, so the end wearer sees them on every garment.
Ordering mesh jerseys from ZipaSports
ZipaSports manufactures mesh and pin-dot mesh jerseys in Sialkot, Pakistan, for clubs, academies, motocross teams, sportswear brands and teamwear distributors, from 20–25 pieces per design.
- Minimum order 20–25 pieces per design; lower quantities on request; no MOQ limit for sportswear brands and companies.
- Free digital mockup within 24 hours, with unlimited free revisions before approval.
- Physical sample in 5–7 days, charged at sample cost and credited against the bulk order.
- Bulk production 15–25 business days after design approval; express production 7–12 days at additional cost.
- Air freight by DHL, FedEx or UPS in 5–10 days worldwide; sea freight 3–6 weeks for bulk.
- Own woven neck labels, printed size tags, hang tags and branded polybags available on every order.
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. A print fault, an open seam or a wrong size against the approved specification all count; minor shade tolerance between dye lots and ±1–1.5 cm measurement tolerance do not. Send photos and the order reference on WhatsApp or email within 7 days of delivery. Full terms are on the quality guarantee page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is polyester mesh good for basketball jerseys?
Jersey mesh or pin-dot mesh at 140–180 GSM is the standard basketball jersey fabric: it moves air directly through the holes, dries between quarters, and prints large numbers and side panels cleanly by sublimation. ZipaSports makes basketball jerseys in both mesh types in Sialkot, Pakistan.
What is pin-dot mesh?
Pin-dot mesh, also called micro mesh, is a polyester knit with pinhead-sized holes spaced in a regular grid. It breathes better than interlock but prints almost as sharply, because the holes are too small to break up text or logos. It is the usual choice when a buyer wants airflow and a detailed all-over print.
What GSM is a mesh jersey?
A mesh jersey is 140–180 GSM for jersey mesh and pin-dot mesh, and 150–180 GSM for open-hole ventilated motocross mesh. Lighter weights suit hot climates and training bibs; 170–180 GSM gives more opacity for pale colourways. GSM is the fabric weight per square metre, not a measure of hole size.
Does sublimation print clearly on mesh?
Sublimation prints clearly on pin-dot mesh, and well enough for logos and numbers on standard jersey mesh. Open-hole mesh prints only bold shapes and blocks, because the holes remove parts of thin lines and small text. Fine detail is moved to pin-dot or interlock panels at mockup stage so nothing is lost.
Is polyester mesh see-through?
Open-hole and standard jersey mesh show skin or an undershirt through the holes, especially in white and pale colours. Pin-dot mesh at 170–180 GSM is close to opaque. If a kit must be white, specify pin-dot mesh or an interlock front panel rather than open mesh.
Why do motocross jerseys use open-hole mesh?
Motocross jerseys use open-hole mesh because airflow is the jersey's main job. Riders wear body armour underneath, build heat fast and cannot remove layers mid-race, so motocross jerseys are made in open-hole ventilated polyester mesh at 150–180 GSM, long-sleeved and cut loose, paired with 600D pants with a reinforced seat and knee.
Does mesh snag or ladder?
Mesh snags more readily than interlock because the yarns around each hole are exposed, but warp-knitted sports mesh does not ladder from a snag the way a weft-knit does. Wash it away from zips and hook-and-loop straps, and keep sponsor crests on interlock panels where abrasion is highest.
Can mesh and interlock be combined in one jersey?
Mesh and interlock can be combined in one jersey, and most football kits are built that way: an interlock front and back for sponsor detail and opacity, with mesh side panels and underarms for airflow. Both fabrics are 100% polyester, so they sublimate in the same run and colours match at the seams.
What is the minimum order for mesh jerseys?
The minimum order for mesh jerseys is 20–25 pieces per design, lower on request, with no MOQ limit for sportswear brands. A basketball team can order one set of home jerseys, a motocross club a single race kit, and an established brand any quantity. A free digital mockup within 24 hours comes before any commitment.
How long does a mesh jersey order take?
A mesh jersey order takes a digital mockup within 24 hours, a physical sample in 5–7 days, then bulk production in 15–25 business days after design approval. Express production takes 7–12 days at additional cost, and air freight by DHL, FedEx or UPS adds 5–10 days to anywhere in the world.