What is polyester?
Polyester is a synthetic fibre that wicks moisture, dries quickly, resists shrinking and holds colour through hot washing. It is the fibre of performance sportswear, and blended with cotton it makes the easy-care fabric of most uniforms. It takes sublimation and DTF; it does not take DTG.
Why it matters
The fibre decides the decoration. Anything with polyester in it rules out DTG and enables sublimation. It also decides the laundry: poly-cotton survives 75°C hospital washing; pure cotton is gentler and softer.
On our floor
100% poly interlock and mesh for kits; poly-spandex for fitted performance wear; 65/35 and 80/20 poly-cotton for scrubs, tunics and uniforms.
Common questions
- Can polyester be printed?
- By sublimation — the best method on it — and by DTF. Not by DTG.
- Is polyester breathable?
- Modern knitted polyester wicks and breathes well; it is what athletes wear. Woven polyester less so.
- Why are uniforms poly-cotton?
- Less shrinkage, faster drying, better colour-fastness at high wash temperatures.
- Does polyester pill?
- Low-quality polyester can. Good interlock and blends resist it.
Related terms
cotton
Cotton is the natural fibre behind tees, hoodies, polos and most everyday garments — soft, breathable, absorbent, and the fibre DTG and…
interlock
Interlock is a double-knit fabric — two layers of jersey knitted together so both faces are smooth. It is heavier, more stable and less…
sublimation
Sublimation prints dye onto transfer paper, then presses it against polyester at around 200°C, where the dye turns to gas and bonds inside…
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…
Where this applies
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