Did you know? A fleece jacket is much more than just a fabric, it’s a veritable technology highly recognised in the textile world. In fact, the synthetic fibres of which it is made have the particularity of being hollow. And it’s precisely this characteristic that gives fleeces their unique texture, making them insulating, light and warm at the same time, while also reducing pilling. In short, a fleece jacket is one of the most effective clothes for conserving body heat, which has been winning over professionals, sportsmen and women for decades… and fans of fashion too! Maybe you think fleece jackets are a touch old fashioned? Not at all! At a time when comfortable casual clothing is in fashion, the fleece jacket is making a comeback on our streets. Oversized, sleeveless, in trendy colours… fleece jackets are gaining in popularity thanks to their soft, cocooning feel that’s as comfortable as it is stylish. In this article, we show you how TopTex, with the invaluable help of our partner brands, is bringing one of the greatest classics in clothing back into fashion, with a wide choice of shapes, colours and thicknesses!
Focus on fleece, this ultra-efficient technology
Let’s go into a little more detail about the fleece technology which offers so many advantages in terms of warmth and comfort. We saw in the introduction that fleece is actually made from synthetic fibres. In fact, it’s a blend of P.E.T. or *Polyethylene Terephthalate fibres that are hollow and other synthetic fibres such as polyester. As you may have guessed, it’s the fact that the fibres are hollow that makes the fabric so interesting: they can store air to insulate the body while allowing the garment to remain breathable.
Knitted together and then brushed, this fibre mix results in a cosy fabric that’s great to wear in cooler weather.
It should be noted that fleece can be given a number of specific treatments, such as anti-pilling, which prevents the fibres from separating. This makes the fabric more resistant to washing and repeated use. In fact, if you follow the care instructions attentively, fleece garments are among the longest lasting items of clothing!
Other important plus points: fleece jackets are unisex, easy to put on and take off, and quick-drying. Hence their intensive use in many professional sectors.
Finally, what makes fleece jackets ideal for workwear, sportswear or as a basic wardrobe essential is their eco-friendly aspect. In fact, more and more models are made from recycled plastic bottles, and above all, it’s a fabric that’s infinitely recyclable! So a great way to reduce your environmental impact by choosing eco-responsible models.
Our advice on choosing the right fleece jacket
Gone are the shapeless, unflattering fleece jackets: at TopTex, we make sure we offer you models that are technical, well cut, comfortable and stylish.
With or without sleeves, fitted or loose-fitting, combined with other technical fabrics, in bright or pastel colours… you’ll be spoilt for choice! The starting point, as with all customisable clothing, remains the questions you need to ask yourself to narrow down your selection:
- How will the fleece jacket be used? Is it for a professional, to give to members of a sports club, or for a ready-to-wear store?
- In which environment will it be worn, in the warehouse or outdoors, as a fashion statement?
- Is there a technical need related to use (visibility, waterproofing)?
- What will the message be? Will the fleece jacket have to display a logo, and will the marking be identical on all the items?
- What quantities are planned (including possible restocking during the year)?
- What total budget is planned, including the customisation of each item of clothing?
With this information, you should be able to prepare the right initial selection that meets your customers’ needs and constraints.
What’s more, to help your customers plan ahead, feel free to give them a few examples of models and combinations with other garments:
For ready-to-wear, a sleeveless model in a pastel colour is perfect for a casual outfit with jeans and a printed scarf. This fleece jacket can also be paired with a lightweight, long-sleeved t-shirt for mid-season hikes. One garment, 2 uses!
”K906″
”Mélodie
WK904
Unisex eco-friendly two-tone microfleece jacket
For warehouse workers and other professionals employed in a warehouse, consider a colourful and practical model. Pen holder, multi-pockets, as well as a high collar and bright colours for greater visibility: the perfect garment that is both warm and lightweight, and does not impede movement. Wear over a short- or long-sleeved T-shirt, depending on the season, and pair with black work trousers.
Customising fleece jackets is always a good idea!
Whether it’s for a company’s employees, a sports association or to add to a fashion store’s autumn-winter selection, the customised fleece jacket is bound to make an impact! For example, suggest to your customers that they offer their staff a snug and comfortable fleece jacket displaying their brand’s logo. Their staff will be delighted to work without suffering from the cold, while helping to raise the brand’s profile. At the end of the year, or during a tournament, football or rugby players will be delighted to have a fleece jacket in their club colours. Worn before and after training sessions and matches, they’ll be warm and proud to wear their team name. In fact, you’re sure to find the perfect shade for all your customers’ projects in our catalogue. Take a look at the KARIBAN brand, which offers the widest choice of colours for fleece jackets in Europe, with its “Hautes en couleurs” range. Over 30 shades available, in 100% OEKO-TEX® polyester with anti-pilling treatment, in long-sleeve or fleece bodywarmer versions!
We’ve come back to it many times in this article: the fabric of the fleece clothing to customise is highly specific. Thick, dense and sometimes specially treated, fleeces require particular attention when it comes to marking. But don’t panic, there are plenty of customisation techniques applicable to fleece garments. As always, you’ll need to think about the design to be printed, the degree of detail, and how the garment will be used (intensively or otherwise, with lots of washing, etc.).
- For smooth fleeces (micro fleece) and smaller budgets, screen printing: will be the least expensive technique. The ink is transferred directly onto the textile, and is hard-wearing and wash-resistant. This is a good alternative for customising large production runs, while keeping costs down.
- If the motifs to be printed include small details, it’s better to opt for digital printing. This technique will give a clean and long-lasting smooth finish.
- Of course, the most sophisticated technique, and the most resistant to time and washing (particularly industrial washing), is undoubtedly embroidery. The cost will be higher, but this is the most recommended option for a perfect fit and a professional, high-quality look.
The different types of fleece jackets
Finally, to round off this article and give you a more general idea of what’s on offer at TopTex, here’s a quick overview of the different types of fleece jackets:
Lightweight fleece jackets
For cool evenings, for autumn wear when temperatures cool down or for lightly air-conditioned warehouses, lightweight fleece jackets are perfect. Of course, even if the fabric is thin, it’s still insulating and will retain heat effectively.
”K907
”Maureen
WK9105
Men's fleece jacket with detachable sleeves
Intermediate fleece jackets
A little warmer but not too heavy, the intermediate fleece jackets are a good compromise. They are particularly recommended for professionals who work both indoors and outdoors, and therefore need an extra layer of clothing that is easy to put on and take off. Models with detachable sleeves will be even more versatile and adapted to temperature variations.
Warm fleece jackets
Finally, there are of course fleeces that are thicker and therefore much warmer. An option to consider for tradesmen who work mainly outdoors, or for sports enthusiasts in winter.
NS604
Unisex eco-friendly sherpa jacket
WK903
Men's microfleece zipped jacket
Now you know the secrets of the renowned fleece jackets, those timeless items that are everywhere, and which are constantly being reinvented to adapt to new uses. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the TopTex selection, which is evolving rapidly, with more and more new eco-responsible products, forms and trendy colours … and some of them feature innovative, high-performance textile technologies. One thing’s for sure: fleece jackets will always be a workwear staple for your customers, just as they’ll continue to be a staple for sportsmen and women, and those of us who tend to feel the cold, for a long time to come!
