Performance Fabrics

Over the past few years performance fabrics have become all the rage. Used mostly in sport shirts and t-shirts, these fabrics can vary quite a bit. Most of these fabrics are 100% polyester and in some cases anti-microbial and moisture wicking attributes are added. Be aware that antimicrobial additives are on the surface of the fabrics and after some washes are pretty much gone. One challenge with these fabrics is weight which can range from 3.0 – 5.5 oz. If the fabric is too light weight then embroidery does not take well due to puckering. If you are doing embroidery, hoop the material loose to avoid puckering. In many cases decorators are using heat transfer applications to achieve optimal stretch and print result though it is a more expensive process compared to direct screen printing. Try to stay away from white as a fabric color due to the thickness of the materials. As cotton prices surge polyester fabrics became even more popular, however, these fabric costs are on the rise as well due to oil costs and other factors. China is buying up the world supply of cotton and even polyester so prices will continue to rise. Performance fabrics will continue to be popular because they feel good on the skin, they don’t fade or shrink, and we all want to add performance to our life.

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