French terry is the all-year choice, fleece is the cold-weather choice, and polyester knit is the choice for tracksuits, travel and sport. Climate and use decide most of it: where your buyers live and what they do in the joggers matters more than any fabric label.
Choosing a fabric for joggers brand ranges is often the first real decision a new label makes, and it shapes the price, the branding and the photos. This post explains how our three jogger fabrics differ, which styles each one suits, and what to check when the swatches or sample arrive.
French terry
French terry is a knit with a smooth face and small loops on the inside. The loops give it a soft feel against the skin without the bulk of a brushed fabric.
Feel and weight. Medium weight, soft, with a clean drape. It is not as warm as fleece, which makes it comfortable in warm climates and in heated rooms, and usable most of the year in milder ones.
Styles. Joggers, sweatpants, shorts and tracksuit sets. It is the only one of our three fabrics offered in all four styles.
Branding. Takes embroidery and screen print well on the thigh or hip. A woven or printed waistband label both work.
What to check. Look at the loops on the inside after a wash; they should stay even. Check the face for pilling at the inner thigh.
Fleece
Fleece starts as a similar looped knit, but the inside is brushed so the loops open into a soft, raised surface. That traps more air, so fleece feels warmer and heavier.
Feel and weight. Heavier and warmer than French terry, with a cosy, soft inside. It suits cool markets, winter ranges and lounge buyers.
Styles. Joggers, sweatpants and tracksuit sets. We do not offer fleece shorts.
Branding. Embroidery suits fleece well, as the weight of the fabric supports the stitches. Screen print works on the smooth face. A woven waistband label suits the heavier hand.
What to check. After washing, check that the brushed inside has not matted heavily, and check the face for pilling where the fabric rubs.
Polyester knit
Polyester knit is a smooth, light knit made from polyester yarn. It has a clean surface and a slight sheen, depending on the knit.
Feel and weight. Light and smooth. It holds colour well, so bright and dark colours stay even, and it keeps its shape. It feels sporty rather than cosy.
Styles. Joggers, shorts and tracksuit sets. It is a common choice for academy and club tracksuits and for travel sets.
Branding. Heat transfer suits sharp graphics and crests on polyester knit. Embroidery works for small logos. A printed waistband label suits the light fabric.
What to check. Check that colour matches between top and bottoms of a set, and that heat-transfer graphics sit flat after washing.
We describe these fabrics by feel, weight and fit only. We do not make performance claims for any of them.
Comparing the three
| French terry | Fleece | Polyester knit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside | Small loops | Brushed, raised | Smooth |
| Warmth | Medium | Warmer | Light |
| Look | Casual, soft | Cosy, heavier | Sporty, clean |
| Styles | Joggers, sweatpants, shorts, sets | Joggers, sweatpants, sets | Joggers, shorts, sets |
| Suits | Warm and mild climates, year-round | Cool climates, winter, lounge | Sport, travel, team sets |
| Logo methods | Embroidery, screen print | Embroidery, screen print | Heat transfer, embroidery |
You can see each style with its fabric options on our white label joggers page.
Matching fabric to your market
A few combinations that work well:
- Warm-climate athleisure brand: French terry joggers and shorts in the same colours.
- Streetwear brand selling hoodies: fleece sweatpants to match fleece hoodies, or French terry if your buyers live somewhere warm.
- Academy or club: polyester knit tracksuit sets with a heat-transfer crest.
- Online seller covering many regions: French terry joggers as the core, with fleece added for the cooler months.
- Lounge or gifting range: fleece sets packed together.
If you sell into more than one climate, you do not need to choose one fabric for everything. Each fabric of a style is its own style for the minimum of 100 pieces, with sizes mixed, so a French terry jogger and a fleece jogger are two styles of 100 each.
Colour and fabric
The same colour name can look different in each fabric. Brushed fleece looks softer and slightly lighter; polyester knit looks crisper and may have a sheen. If you want a hoodie and joggers to match, or a top and bottoms in a set, keep them in the same fabric, or tell us so we can check how close the shades will be. The colour split is confirmed in your quotation.
Swatches and the sample
If you are unsure, ask for swatches with your enquiry. When they arrive, feel both sides, stretch them across and lengthwise, and hold them up to daylight. Then check the chosen fabric again on the sample: wear it, wash it once, and look at the inside and the inner thigh. Our post on joggers quality checks lists everything to look at.
Tell us where your buyers live, what they wear the joggers for and the look you want, and we will suggest a fabric and quote it with your branding.