Polyester vs Cotton Fabric in the Fashion Industry

Cotton still has a place, and polyester has downsides worth knowing. Here is a fair comparison for coaches, clubs and team buyers choosing jersey fabric.

Polyester vs cotton at a glance

• Sweat: polyester moves moisture to the surface where it evaporates; cotton absorbs it and holds it.
• Drying time: polyester dries quickly; cotton stays damp much longer.
• Weight when wet: polyester stays light; cotton gets heavy and clingy.
• Shape: polyester resists shrinking and stretching out; cotton can shrink and lose shape after repeated washing.
• Printing: polyester takes sublimation; cotton does not, so cotton relies on screen print, vinyl or embroidery.
• Feel: cotton is soft and familiar; modern performance polyester is light and smooth.
• Odour: polyester can hold odour if not washed promptly; cotton is less prone to this.

What polyester and cotton are

Polyester is a synthetic fibre made from petrochemicals. It can be knitted into many weights and textures, including the mesh and interlock fabrics used for team jerseys. Cotton is a natural plant fibre, soft and absorbent, and the standard fabric for everyday T-shirts.

Why sports jerseys are made from polyester

It handles sweat

Polyester fibres absorb very little water. Sweat moves along and through the fabric to the outside, where it evaporates. Players stay drier, and the jersey does not turn heavy halfway through a game.

It dries fast

For tournaments with several games a day, or teams that wash uniforms overnight, quick drying is a real practical benefit.

It keeps its shape

Polyester resists shrinking and holds its shape through slides, tackles and repeated washing. A size medium stays a size medium all season.

It is the fabric sublimation needs

Sublimation printing turns dye into a gas with heat, and the gas bonds with polyester fibres. This only works on polyester (or fabrics with a high polyester content); cotton fibres do not take the dye in the same way. With sublimation, colours, logos, names and numbers become part of the fabric and do not crack, peel or fade. Learn more on our sublimation printing page.

Where cotton still makes sense

• Casual team wear: fan shirts, travel tees and off-field clothing where comfort matters more than sweat handling.
• Low-intensity use: a shirt worn for an event rather than for running around.
• Personal preference: some people simply like the feel of cotton next to the skin.

For game jerseys and practice jerseys that get sweaty, cotton is the weaker choice.

What about blends?

Poly-cotton blends sit in the middle: softer than polyester, quicker-drying than cotton. The trade-off is printing. The more cotton in the blend, the less colour sublimation can deliver, and the print looks faded on the cotton fibres. For fully sublimated jerseys, choose polyester.

Not all polyester is the same

“Polyester” covers many fabrics. A thin, shiny promotional shirt and a soft performance jersey can both be 100% polyester. What changes is the knit and the weight:

• Mesh and open knits have small holes for airflow. They suit hot, high-sweat sports such as basketball and soccer.
• Smooth, closed knits show fine print detail and feel softer. They suit baseball, softball and volleyball jerseys.
• Heavier, tougher knits stand up to grabbing and contact, which matters in rugby, American football and ice hockey.
• Stretch fabrics with some elastane give a closer fit for volleyball and compression-style pieces.

When you compare suppliers, ask what knit and weight they use for your sport rather than just “polyester”.

Polyester vs cotton by garment

• Game jerseys and shorts: polyester.
• Practice jerseys: polyester, because they get the most sweat and the most washing.
• Warm-up tops worn before games: polyester, so they dry between sessions.
• Fan shirts and casual team tees: cotton or a blend is fine.

Downsides of polyester to know about

• Odour: wash uniforms soon after use, and do not leave them in a closed bag.
• Heat: polyester does not like high heat. Wash cool and avoid hot tumble drying and ironing over printed areas.
• Environment: polyester comes from petrochemicals and does not biodegrade, and cotton farming uses a lot of water and land. Neither is impact-free; buying uniforms that last several seasons is one practical way to reduce waste.

Caring for polyester jerseys

1. Turn jerseys inside out before washing.
2. Wash cool with similar colours.
3. Skip fabric softener, which can reduce wicking.
4. Hang dry or tumble dry on low.

A quick decision rule

Ask two questions. Will players sweat in it? Do you want full-colour graphics, names and numbers that never peel? If the answer to either is yes, choose polyester. If the shirt is for wearing around the clubhouse or in the stands and a simple one- or two-colour print is enough, cotton is a reasonable choice. Many clubs end up with both: polyester for everything worn on the field and cotton for supporters and casual wear.

What we use

Offered Impex makes fully sublimated team uniforms, so our jerseys are made on polyester performance fabric. You can see the options for your sport, for example custom basketball uniforms or custom soccer uniforms. If you want to feel the fabric before you order for the whole team, order a sample. The minimum team order is 10 pieces.

Choose polyester for your next team order

Send your sport, colours and roster through the team uniform order form and we will prepare a free digital proof, or request a call and we will call you back within 1 to 3 hours.