Are you tired of buying wholesale sweatshirts and hoodies only to find out that your customer won’t touch them? It’s all in the fabric.
Fabric choice is more important than ever before as buyers become more demanding about comfort, quality, and sustainability.
Here’s the thing:
Customers buy with their fingers. They’ll know whether your garments feel good or fall apart after a few washes. But most wholesalers completely ignore the fabric when they’re sourcing.
In this guide, I’m going to share everything you need to know about fabric choices in wholesale sweatshirts and hoodies.
Let’s get started.
What you’re about to discover:
- Why Fabric Choice Matters More Than You Think
- The Top Fabric Options For Sweatshirts & Hoodies
- How To Choose The Right Fabric For Your Customers
- Fabric Weight & What It Means
Why Fabric Choice Matters More Than You Think
Picking the right fabric for wholesale sweatshirts and hoodies is more than just a matter of comfort.
It’s a direct reflection on your bottom line.
Put simply, when you stock your blank sweatshirt inventory with quality fabrics, you’ll notice a difference. Customers can sense it. They know when they’re touching cheap poly blends as opposed to high-quality cotton fleece.
And here’s the kicker…
Quality fabrics result in less returns, more positive reviews, and repeat purchases. Nobody is going to write you a five-star review because their sweatshirt pills after one wash or loses its shape after a couple of uses.
The wholesale market is huge. The cotton industry leads all other apparel fabrics, coming in at around 39% market share. This is a huge indicator of exactly what the market is looking for. There are, of course, a ton of other options to consider depending on who your target audience is.
The Top Fabric Options For Sweatshirts & Hoodies
The most common and popular fabric types have their own set of pros and cons.
Cotton Fleece
Cotton fleece is the industry standard. Period.
Why is it the most popular choice for sweatshirts and hoodies?
Because it is soft, breathable, and the most comfortable to wear of any other fabric. Cotton fleece has a brushed interior that traps heat without making the wearer feel like they are wrapped in a sleeping bag.
The benefits speak for themselves:
- Super soft on the skin
- Ideal for screen printing and embroidery work
- Retains shape and quality after multiple washes
- Natural and sustainable
The downfalls are relatively minor. The primary problem is if the material is not pre-shrunk it has the potential to shrink. It also takes longer to dry as compared to synthetic options.
At the end of the day, cotton fleece remains the number one choice in the industry. Customers love it and won’t hesitate to pay the price for it.
Polyester Blends
Polyester blends are a step down from cotton fleece in terms of quality.
However, they have their uses and advantages. Polyester blends are typically going to be 50-80% cotton mixed with polyester. The resulting fabric is a sweatshirt that has a lower price point but will not shrink like cotton does.
Synthetic fibers have a 67.9% share of the market. Durability and ease of maintenance are huge boons in the industry.
Polyester blends are ideal for:
- Lower pricing
- Better shape retention after multiple washes
- Faster drying times
- Little to no shrinkage
The trade-off is that the breathability of synthetic materials is significantly lower. If you are looking to manufacture sweatshirts for all-day wear you will not have as much of a positive response.
French Terry
French terry is the dark horse of sweatshirt fabrics.
French terry features loops on one side of the material and a smooth surface on the other. It is much lighter than traditional fleece but is still warm. French terry is great for transitional seasons like spring and fall.
French terry is also super soft and has excellent drape. If you are looking to capture a more fashion-forward demographic of customers that are also focused on comfort without the bulk, this is a great option.
Tri-Blend Fabrics
One of the most unique and interesting types of materials is a Tri-blend fabric.
This is a material that blends cotton, polyester, and rayon. The result is a material that feels unbelievably soft to the touch. Think vintage throw-back tees, that worn-in feeling without the wear and tear.
Tri-blends are perfect for retail brands that want to market their products as premium. The main downfall is cost, as these materials will always be more expensive.
How To Choose The Right Fabric For Your Customers
Choosing the right fabric is not complicated but there are things to consider.
Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself:
- What’s their budget?
- What climate do they live in?
- What’s the end use?
Price-conscious customers will obviously love a polyester blend. Premium customers will pay top dollar for that perfect cotton blend.
If the garment is being sold in a colder region, then the thicker fleece materials are going to be your go-to choice. However, more tropical locations are going to appreciate lighter, more breathable materials.
The type of use is also a major factor. Screen printers need fabrics that hold ink well and embroiderers need materials that can hold up to thread without puckering.
Match the materials to your customer’s needs and you will see a huge increase in sales. It’s really that simple.
Fabric Weight & What It Means
A few things you might not know about fabric choice:
Fabric weight is just as important as the type of fabric you choose.
Weight is typically measured in ounces per square yard or grams per square meter.
- Lightweight: 4-6 oz (ideal for layering or warmer climates)
- Midweight: 7-9 oz (versatile, year-round use)
- Heavyweight: 10+ oz (premium quality, very warm)
Midweight is the perfect place to land for the majority of wholesale buyers because it hits the sweet spot of comfort, durability, and cost-effectiveness.
Heavyweight sweatshirts feel more luxurious and have a longer lifespan. However, they also cost more to produce and transport. Lightweight fabrics are better for promotional products or seasonal garments.
Understanding Sustainability In Fabric Choices
Something that is becoming more important each year:
Sixty-six percent of consumers are willing to spend more on sustainable clothing. This is a large majority of your market that cares about the source of the products they are purchasing.
Organic cotton has seen increased growth. This is a material that is grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. This farming process takes up less water and creates healthier soil.
Recycled polyester is another sustainable choice. Recycled polyester is made using plastic bottles, reducing waste. The performance is indistinguishable from virgin polyester.
If you are buying wholesale sweatshirts and hoodies, offer sustainable options to your customers. More and more brands are taking this into consideration each year.
Caring For Different Fabric Types
Keep in mind that different materials need to be cared for in different ways.
Cotton fleece can stand up to hot water and high-heat drying. However, it is better to wash in cold water to prevent shrinkage. Polyester blends are more forgiving with hot water but are likely to pill if dried with high heat.
French terry and tri-blends should be washed in cold water at all times. This will preserve the softness and increase the lifespan.
Include clear care instructions with your wholesale orders, and your customers will thank you.
Wrapping Things Up
Fabric choice in wholesale sweatshirts and hoodies all comes down to knowing your market.
Cotton remains king when it comes to comfort and breathability. Polyester blends have more uses as a lower-cost, high-durability option. Specialty fabrics like French terry and tri-blend work well for premium customers.
The key is pairing the right fabric with the customer’s needs.
Things to consider:
- Budget
- Climate and seasonal differences
- End use and decoration methods
- Sustainability
- Care instructions
Take action now. Go back to your current inventory and look for gaps. Are you losing out on customers that demand premium cotton? Can you capture price-conscious customers with quality blends?
The type of fabric you are buying impacts your business in wholesale. Make it count.