What is poly-cotton?
Poly-cotton is a blend of polyester and cotton — 65/35 and 80/20 are the common ratios — that combines polyester's shrink resistance, fast drying and colour-fastness with some of cotton's softness. It is the standard fabric for uniforms, scrubs and workwear.
Why it matters
It survives industrial laundry at 60–75°C, which pure cotton does not, and it costs less than either premium cotton or performance polyester. For anything washed daily by a laundry, it is the right choice.
On our floor
65/35 poplin and twill for scrubs, tunics and housekeeping wear; 80/20 fleece for uniform hoodies. Dyed to Pantone for colour-coded departments.
Common questions
- Which ratio should I choose?
- 65/35 for hot-wash uniforms and scrubs; 80/20 where feel matters more than laundry.
- Can poly-cotton be printed?
- DTF and screen print, yes. Sublimation gives a faded result; DTG is poor.
- Does poly-cotton shrink?
- Very little — one of its main advantages over cotton.
- Is it comfortable?
- Less soft than pure cotton, more so than pure polyester woven. Fine for long shifts.
Related terms
polyester
Polyester is a synthetic fibre that wicks moisture, dries quickly, resists shrinking and holds colour through hot washing. It is the fibre…
cotton
Cotton is the natural fibre behind tees, hoodies, polos and most everyday garments — soft, breathable, absorbent, and the fibre DTG and…
twill
Twill is a woven fabric with a visible diagonal rib, made by passing the weft over two or more warp threads in a stepped pattern. It is…
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…
Where this applies
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