What is teddy fleece?

What is Teddy Fleece?

Teddy fleece is a synthetic textile material with a particularly soft, plush surface. The feel is reminiscent of real sheepskin, but it is entirely man-made. It belongs to the group of fleece fabrics and is mostly used for warming clothing or home textiles.

Materials and Composition

The fabric consists predominantly of polyester. Mixtures with cotton or polyacrylic are less common. The fibers are very fine and are mechanically brushed to create the characteristic fluffy structure. The high density and length of the pile fibers create the typical volume.

Manufacturing

Teddy fleece is usually knitted, not woven. After knitting, it is brushed with brush rollers or needle drums. This process loosens, raises, and compacts the fibers. The back can be smooth or also brushed. Industrial production usually involves several process steps, including heat setting and dyeing.

Properties of Teddy Fleece

Teddy fleece is soft, elastic, dimensionally stable, and insulating. It traps air in the pile structures, allowing for high thermal performance with low weight. The fabric is breathable, quick-drying, and easy to care for. It hardly pills, is wrinkle-resistant, and retains its structure even after frequent wear.

Advantages and Areas of Use

Teddy fleece is preferred for jackets, hoodies, vests, blankets, stuffed animals, and linings of winter clothing. The material is also popular in baby and children's clothing due to its soft surface. It offers high wearing comfort and a pleasant feel on the skin without scratching.

Care Instructions

Teddy fleece is usually washable at 30 to 40 degrees Celsius. Fabric softener should be avoided as it can gum up the fibers. Ironing is not necessary and not recommended. The dryer can damage the structure. The best way to dry the fabric is to lay it flat to air dry.

Also interesting: What is Sherpa Fleece?

Sustainability of Teddy Fleece

Conventional teddy fleece is based on petroleum-based synthetic fibers and is not biodegradable. Microplastic particles can be released during washing. More environmentally friendly variants are made from recycled polyester and carry GRS or OEKO-TEX certificates. Recyclability depends on the material's purity.

Teddy Fleece vs. Other Fleece Types

Property	Teddy Fleece	Microfleece	Sherpa Fleece	Cotton Fleece
Structure	Long pile, soft, plush	Fine, smooth, thin	Curly, lambskin-like	Dense, heavy, cottony
Material basis	Mostly polyester	100% polyester	Polyester	Cotton or blend
Warmth property	Very warm, insulating	Medium warm	Very warm, cozy	Low thermal performance
Breathability	Good	High	Medium	Low
Use	Outerwear, blankets, lining	Functional clothing, sports	Jackets, hoodies	Casual wear, loungewear
Care effort	Low	Very low	Medium	Medium to high
Sustainability (conventional)	Low	Low	Low	Better with organic cotton