Polyester fabric is one of the most popular textiles for its durability and high-strength features. Which type of polyester fabric is best for you? Find out below!

Polyester fabrics play a crucial role in various aspects of our lives, from the clothes we wear to the materials used in packaging and engineering. This article delves into the different types of polyester fabric you can utilize in your next clothing project.

Understanding Polyester Fabrics

Polyester fabrics, often called polyethylene terephthalate (PET), are synthetic textiles known for their remarkable versatility. These fabrics possess a unique blend of characteristics that make them stand out, including durability, wrinkle resistance, and breathability. This section will explore what makes polyester fabrics distinct.

1. Durability: Polyester textiles are renowned for their robustness and resilience, making them a favored choice for products designed to withstand regular wear and tear.
2. Wrinkle Resistance: Polyester’s inherent wrinkle-resistant nature ensures that your clothing remains crisp and presentable even during hectic days, reducing the need for frequent ironing.
3. Breathability: Despite their synthetic origins, polyester fabrics offer good breathability, allowing air to circulate through the material. This enhances comfort by helping to regulate temperature and moisture levels.
4. Quick Drying: Polyester fabrics often have quick-drying properties, making them ideal for activewear and outdoor clothing, especially in wet or humid conditions.
5. Dimensional Stability: Many polyester fabrics exhibit excellent dimensional stability, meaning they retain their shape and structural integrity, even under challenging conditions.
6. Sustainability: With the advent of recycled polyester (rPET), polyester fabrics have become a sustainable option that helps reduce environmental impact by repurposing plastic waste into new textiles.

Types of Polyester Fabrics

1. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

Polyethylene Terephthalate, or PET, is the superstar of the polyester fabric family. Known for its exceptional versatility, it finds its way into an array of applications, from fashion to engineering.

PET fabrics are celebrated for their outstanding durability, making them a popular choice for clothing items that need to withstand regular wear and tear.

Their wrinkle-resistant nature ensures that your clothes stay crisp and presentable even on the busiest of days.

PET’s inherent breathability makes it a comfortable choice for clothing, as it allows air to circulate, keeping you cool and fresh.

The versatility of PET extends beyond clothing; it is a go-to option for packaging materials due to its strength and resilience.

2. Plant-Based Polyester

Plant-based polyester is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional polyester, offering a sustainable option for conscious consumers.

Sourced from renewable plant materials, this polyester reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and minimizes the environmental impact.

Despite its eco-friendly origins, plant-based polyester retains the durability and versatility that polyester fabrics are known for.

It serves as a testament to the possibilities of sustainable textiles and the positive impact they can have on our planet.

3. PCDT Polyester

PCDT polyester, scientifically known as poly-1,4-cyclohexylene-dimethylene terephthalate, is a specialty polyester with remarkable qualities.

One of its standout features is its exceptional heat resistance, making it a valuable choice in applications where exposure to high temperatures is a concern. This type of polyester is often used in heavy-duty applications like upholstery and curtains.

Moreover, PCDT polyester exhibits impressive dimensional stability, ensuring that it retains its shape and performance even under challenging conditions.

Virgin Polyester vs. Recycled Polyester

Polyester can also be categorized as original (virgin) or recycled. As the name implies, recycled polyester represents a sustainable type of polyester and it’s environmentally friendly.

To compare virgin polyester and recycled polyester, the latter has the following advantages:

• Slashes energy consumption by 50%.
• Mitigates CO2 emissions by an impressive 75%.
• Drastically curtails water usage by up to 90%.
• Contributes to the reduction of plastic waste, with every kilogram of recycled polyester preserving the equivalent of 60 plastic bottles.

Moreover, when it comes to quality, recycled polyester fabric is the same as 100% virgin polyester. This ensures that you don’t compromise on performance when choosing an eco-friendly option.

Recycled polyester fabric is a champion of sustainability, proudly holding the GRS Certificate, a national guarantee standard for recycled materials. It’s made post-consumer plastics, unlike virgin polyester which is manufactured from scratch using fossil fuels.

Choosing the Right Polyester Fabric

The application of polyester knit fabric from circular knitting machines represents a versatile and crucial aspect of textile manufacturing.

Polyester knit fabric encompasses a plethora of styles, all sharing exceptional qualities like plush softness, unyielding durability, wrinkle resistance, and superior breathability.

These inherent characteristics render polyester knit fabric the ultimate choice for crafting an extensive range of clothing items, tailored to diverse needs and preferences.

Let’s dive into some examples that underscore the remarkable versatility of polyester knit fabric:

• Interlock: Renowned for its sumptuous comfort and feather-light weight, interlock polyester knit fabric stands as a prime contender among garment materials. Its suitability extends to creating activewear, including sporty ensembles for the little ones.
• Single Jersey: A timeless classic in the realm of polyester knit fabric, single jersey delivers a wide spectrum of possibilities. Its boundless adaptability makes it a prized selection for fashioning T-shirts, everyday sets, and casual dresses.
• Pique: Pique knit fabric boasts a distinctive textured surface, making it the preferred choice for crafting polo shirts. Its unique texture adds an aura of sophistication to the garment.
• Rib: Ribbed polyester knit fabric is celebrated for its remarkable elasticity and capacity to preserve form. It’s frequently employed for crafting cuffs, collars, and bands on various apparel items.
• Mesh Fabric: Polyester mesh fabric is an oasis of breathability and moisture-wicking prowess, ensuring you stay cool and dry. It’s the favored choice for sculpting sports T-shirts, especially for activities involving vigorous physical exertion.
• Scuba: Scuba knit fabric, with its substantial structure, lends itself to a modern, sleek appearance. It’s a favored pick for creating dresses and skirts, imbuing the attire with a contemporary allure.
• Fleece: Polyester fleece epitomizes warmth and snugness. It’s the go-to for curating pieces designed to keep you cozy during chillier seasons, such as sweaters and outerwear.
• Spandex: Polyester-spandex blends unleash unparalleled stretch and flexibility, catering to the need for comfort and unrestricted movement. These fabrics are a staple in yoga shirts, activewear, and undergarments, ensuring a delightful balance of ease and freedom.

Caring for Your Polyester Items

Caring for your beloved polyester items ensures they stand the test of time and continue to serve you with steadfast durability. These easy-to-follow guidelines will not only prolong the life of your polyester clothing but also contribute to sustainable practices.

1. Hand Wash for Longevity

While woven and knitted polyester fabrics are robust, opting for hand washing whenever feasible can significantly extend the lifespan of your garments. Frequent machine washing can take a toll on clothing, including polyester items.

Instead of rushing to the washing machine after every wear, consider letting your polyester garments breathe by hanging them on a chair or balcony rope for a gentle airing.

For an eco-conscious approach that also prevents pilling, consider using a special microfiber bag for washing synthetic clothes.

2. Embrace the “Don’t Wash Too Often” Rule

Polyester clothing often doesn’t require frequent washing. When your garments only need a touch of freshness, employ a steamer.

This ingenious device unleashes high-pressure steam that effortlessly eradicates wrinkles while effectively purging impurities and accumulated microorganisms from the fabric’s surface.

This approach is particularly advantageous for those with sensitive skin or allergies, as it addresses the root cause of synthetic material allergies—the microorganisms clinging to the fabric.

3. Mastering the Art of Polyester Washing

When the time comes to wash your polyester items, start by checking the manufacturer’s recommendations on the label.

Polyester is typically resilient and can endure washing temperatures of up to 60°C. However, it’s often unnecessary to subject it to such high temperatures.

Opting for a gentler range of 30-40°C is usually sufficient. Should you wish to expedite the drying process, polyester garments can be spun, but avoid overly prolonged spin cycles.

Polyester retains less moisture compared to natural fibers, and even without extended spinning, it dries relatively quickly.

Modern washing machines often feature specialized programs tailored for washing synthetic clothing, which can be a valuable asset.

4. The Forbidden Trio: Bleach, Stain Removers, Strong Detergents

Preserve your polyester’s vibrant life by steering clear of bleach, stain removers, or potent detergents during washing.

These agents, while effective on some materials, can prove destructive to polyester. Protect your garments by opting for milder detergents that safeguard both their color and structural integrity.

Conclusion

To round off our exploration, we ventured into the types of polyester fabric. We also delved into how to care for polyester knitted fabrics. We first understand what makes polyester fabrics unique, including their exceptional durability, resistance to wrinkles, and superior breathability.

These characteristics form the foundation of their widespread utilization in fashion, packaging, and engineering.

Fabknitter is a reliable fabric manufacturer dedicated to providing an extensive array of materials designed to cater to your fabric-specific requirements. We offer a vast collection of fabric for a diverse range of options. Contact us for a free quote!