The sublimation Polyester fabric is a man-made fiber that is synthesized from petroleum-based products. Polyester cloth was invented in 1941, so comparing to cotton, this fabric is a fairly new player in the game.

But despite that, polyester is becoming an increasingly popular option in the apparel industry. Polyester is especially valued by those who are looking for a fabric that withstands a lot of wearing and washing.

Feel and wear
Let’s look at what polyester is like when wearing it and more specifically—how polyester fits.

Polyester is lightweight and has a slightly silkier feel to it than cotton does. It’s also perfect for sports. Apparel made from polyester traps the sweat against the skin. This means that polyester shirts may feel slightly clammy in warm weather, but warm in cooler weather.

Polyester shirts are usually light and thin and they may cling to skin a little. For those with extremely sensitive skin, polyester may cause a small irritation, but it isn’t as common when polyester is blended with other fabrics.

Is polyester stretchy? Yes, polyester stretches naturally to ensure comfort for the wearer. Polyester doesn’t naturally shrink and 100% polyester won’t lose its shape even after a good deal of wear and tear and snap back into shape pretty quickly.

Printing suitability
If you own a clothing store, you’re probably wondering what kind of material is polyester when it comes to printing.

For some time, printing on polyester was quite a challenge. But thanks to special dyes and advanced printing technologies, achieving high-quality prints on polyester fabrics is no longer a worry. Printed colors are vibrant and unlikely to fade with time.

However, since printing on polyester garments is more difficult than on cotton or fabric blends, polyester products are usually more expensive.

Durability and care
Polyester is very durable, more so than cotton and most blended fabrics. It’s also difficult to stain permanently because polyester is less absorbent than most fabrics.

Polyester fabrics are also known for their resistance to wrinkling, shrinking and fading when properly taken care of. That said, it’s recommended to machine wash polyester garments in warm water with all-purpose detergent, then follow up with tumble-dry at a low-temperature setting.