Pick cotton fleece for warmth and a soft, brushed inside, and French terry for a lighter hoodie that suits warmer climates and layering. Every one of our hoodie and sweatshirt styles comes in either fabric, so the fleece vs french terry hoodies decision is about your market, your season and the feel you want buyers to notice first.
From the outside the two fabrics can look very similar. The difference is on the inside, and it changes warmth, weight, drape and how the garment ages.
What each fabric is
Cotton fleece
Fleece starts as a knitted fabric with loops on the reverse. Those loops are brushed, which raises the fibres into a soft, fluffy layer. That layer traps air, which is why fleece feels warm and cosy from the first wear.
French terry
French terry is knitted the same way, but the loops on the reverse are left unbrushed. You can see small, neat loops on the inside. Without the brushed layer it feels lighter, cooler and smoother against the skin, and it lets air move more freely.
How they compare
| Point | Cotton fleece | French terry |
|---|---|---|
| Inside surface | Brushed, soft and fluffy | Small visible loops |
| Warmth | Warmer | Lighter, cooler |
| Feel on first wear | Cosy, plush | Clean, smooth |
| Drape | Fuller, rounder shape | Slightly flatter, more fluid |
| Climate | Cooler markets, winter drops | Warmer climates, layering, spring and autumn |
| Common look | Streetwear, heavy crewnecks | Relaxed basics, lighter sweatshirts |
Neither is better in general. A brand selling in a cold winter market and a brand selling in a warm climate will reasonably choose differently.
Weight and colour
Both fabrics come in more than one weight, and weight changes the feel as much as the fabric type does. A heavier French terry can feel nearly as substantial as a lighter fleece, though it will never have the brushed softness inside. We show you the weights available at quotation, so you can compare them on a sample rather than by description.
Colour behaves slightly differently too. The brushed surface of fleece softens how a colour looks on the inside, while French terry shows the same colour on both faces more evenly. On the outside, both carry solid colours well. Colours come from the fabric options, and the colour split per style is confirmed at quotation.
Matching fabric to style
We manufacture four styles: pullover hoodie, zip hoodie, crewneck sweatshirt and oversized fit. Each comes in cotton fleece or French terry.
- Pullover hoodie. Fleece gives the classic warm hoodie. French terry makes a lighter pullover that works year-round in milder places.
- Zip hoodie. French terry suits a zip hoodie worn open as a layer. Fleece suits one worn closed as a warm outer piece.
- Crewneck sweatshirt. Fleece gives a heavy, substantial crewneck that streetwear buyers like. French terry gives a cleaner, lighter sweatshirt for college and corporate merchandise.
- Oversized fit. Fleece emphasises volume and structure. French terry lets the oversized shape fall more softly.
Print and embroidery on each fabric
Both fabrics take decoration well, but they behave a little differently.
Embroidery suits chest logos and sits well on heavier fabric. On fleece, the brushed backing supports stitching and the logo sits neatly. On lighter French terry, keep embroidery modest in size so the fabric does not pucker around it.
Screen print and heat transfer suit larger front, back and sleeve designs on either fabric. The outer face of both is smooth knit, so print sits cleanly. Very large prints on lighter French terry can stiffen the area a little more noticeably.
Woven patches work well on the chest or hood of either fabric.
Send your artwork and we will suggest the method and size that suit the fabric you choose.
How each fabric ages
Buyers judge a hoodie after a season of wear, not just on the day it arrives.
- Fleece can soften further with washing, and the brushed inside may flatten slightly over time. Care instructions that recommend gentle washing help it keep its feel.
- French terry tends to keep its loop texture and stays consistent in feel. It can be a sensible choice for pieces that are washed often.
Whichever you pick, wash the sample several times before you approve it. That shows you how bulk pieces will look to your customers months later.
Questions to decide quickly
- Where do most of your buyers live, and what is the weather like when you launch?
- Will the hoodie be worn on its own or as a layer?
- Is plush warmth or a clean, lighter feel part of your brand’s appeal?
- Is the decoration mainly embroidery or large print?
- Do you plan one fabric across the range, or fleece for winter and French terry for the rest of the year?
Some brands use both fabrics in the same style for different seasons. Each fabric and colour combination is confirmed at quotation, and the minimum is 100 pieces per style with sizes mixed.
Ask for a sample in the fabric you lean towards. Feel the inside, wear it for a full evening, and wash it. Then use our guide on how to check a hoodie sample and inspect a bulk delivery to go through it properly.
Look at the styles on our white label hoodies page and send us your style, preferred fabric, colours and branding. If you are unsure which fabric fits, tell us your market and season and we will suggest one in the quotation.