What is fleece?
Fleece, in knitwear, is a fabric with a smooth knitted face and a back that has been brushed to raise a soft, insulating nap. It is the fabric of hoodies, sweatshirts and joggers. Cotton or cotton-polyester; 280–350 gsm is light, 400–450 standard, 500 and above heavyweight.
Why it matters
Fleece weight is the hoodie decision. A 500 gsm brushed-back cotton fleece is the streetwear standard and feels like a different product from a 320 gsm promotional hoodie.
On our floor
Brushed-back cotton fleece at 500 gsm is our Classic Hoodie fabric, relaxed for 24 hours before cutting so it does not shrink after. 80/20 cotton-poly at 400–450 is the uniform and everyday option.
Common questions
- What is the difference between fleece and French terry?
- French terry has loops on the back rather than a brushed nap — lighter, smoother, less insulating. Fleece is brushed and warmer.
- Is 100% cotton fleece better?
- Softer and heavier; 80/20 cotton-poly shrinks less and dries faster. Both have their place.
- Does fleece shrink?
- Knitted fleece will if cut before it has relaxed. We rest every roll before cutting.
- What GSM is a heavyweight hoodie?
- 500 and above.
Related terms
French terry
French terry has the smooth face of a sweatshirt fabric but an unbrushed back of small yarn loops, which makes it lighter, more breathable…
GSM
GSM is grams per square metre — how much a square metre of the fabric weighs. It is the single number that predicts most about how a…
brushed-back
Brushed-back describes a fleece whose inner face has been passed over rotating wire brushes to raise the fibres into a soft, fluffy,…
cotton
Cotton is the natural fibre behind tees, hoodies, polos and most everyday garments — soft, breathable, absorbent, and the fibre DTG and…
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