Everything You Need to Know About French Terry Fabric

Jersey fabric is one of the most widely used knitted fabrics for T-shirts, tops, dresses, underwear, babywear, kidswear, loungewear and everyday casualwear. It has a smooth knit face, natural fabric flexibility and a comfortable hand feel, making it a practical base fabric for many apparel programs.

For apparel buyers, jersey fabric should not be selected only by composition. GSM, yarn type, stretch level, width, shrinkage, spirality, surface cleanness and colour development route all affect how the final garment looks, fits and performs after washing.

This guide explains how to choose single jersey fabric from a sourcing and production point of view, including fabric structure, GSM selection, common compositions, printing suitability, quality checkpoints, MOQ logic and what information buyers should prepare before asking for swatches or quotation.

What Is Jersey Fabric?

Jersey fabric is a weft knitted fabric made with interlocking loops of yarn. In apparel sourcing, “jersey” usually refers to single jersey knit unless another construction is specified. It has a smooth face side and a different reverse side, which makes it lighter and more flexible than many double-knit structures.

Single jersey is commonly used when the garment needs softness, drape and everyday comfort. It is especially suitable for T-shirts, fashion tops, lightweight dresses, underwear, kidswear and close-to-skin garments. However, because of its single-knit structure, buyers should pay attention to curling, shrinkage and spirality before bulk production.

Fabric Type	Single jersey knit fabric
Fabric Face	Smooth knitted surface for T-shirts, tops and daily apparel
Reverse Side	Different loop appearance from the face side
Common Fibres	Cotton, polyester, bamboo, modal, lyocell and spandex blends
Typical Weight Range	Around 130gsm to 270gsm, depending on garment use and required body
Common Garments	T-shirts, tops, dresses, underwear, babywear, kidswear, loungewear and casual basics

Single Jersey Structure and Why It Matters

Single jersey fabric is lightweight, flexible and comfortable because it is made with a single-knit structure. This gives the fabric a softer drape than many heavier knit constructions, but it also means buyers should check the fabric carefully before garment production.

Compared with interlock or double-knit fabrics, single jersey normally has less structure and more natural edge curling. This is not a defect by itself, but it affects cutting, sewing and garment handling. For T-shirts, underwear and lightweight tops, this flexibility is often an advantage. For structured garments, buyers may need heavier jersey, interlock, rib, French terry or another knit base.

Smooth Face	Good for clean T-shirt surfaces, simple tops, printing and everyday casual styles.
Natural Flexibility	Useful for comfortable daily wear, kidswear and close-to-skin garments.
Edge Curling	Needs attention during cutting and sewing, especially for lightweight jersey.
Spirality Risk	Side seam twisting may appear after washing if yarn, knitting and finishing are not controlled.

Jersey vs Interlock vs Rib Fabric

Jersey is often compared with interlock and rib because all three are common knit fabrics. For apparel development, the difference is not only surface appearance. Each structure gives a different garment result.

Fabric	Structure Direction	Best Use
Single Jersey	Lightweight single-knit structure with smooth face and natural drape	T-shirts, tops, dresses, underwear, babywear, kidswear and lightweight casualwear
Interlock	Double-knit structure with a smoother, more stable hand feel	Structured T-shirts, babywear, uniforms, polos and garments needing more stability
Rib Fabric	Vertical rib structure with stronger stretch and recovery	Fitted tops, cuffs, neckbands, waistbands, tanks, leggings and stretch garments

For a standard T-shirt or soft daily top, jersey is usually the first option. For more stability and less curling, interlock may be better. For fitted garments or trims that need strong recovery, rib fabric is usually more suitable.

How to Choose Jersey Fabric GSM

GSM affects garment thickness, drape, opacity, season and price. For jersey fabric, the right GSM should be selected according to garment type, target market and fit. A lightweight jersey may feel soft and easy to wear, but it may not give enough coverage for some garments. A heavyweight jersey gives more body but may not suit soft draped tops.

GSM Range	Fabric Direction	Suitable Garments
120–140gsm	Lightweight jersey with soft drape and airy hand feel	Babywear, underwear, lightweight T-shirts, summer tops and soft lounge layers
145–170gsm	Regular lightweight to midweight jersey for daily apparel	Basic T-shirts, fashion tops, kidswear, dresses and casual programs
180–220gsm	More coverage and body while still keeping jersey comfort	Premium T-shirts, fitted tops, loungewear, underwear and casual dresses
230–270gsm	Heavyweight jersey with fuller structure	Oversized T-shirts, heavyweight tops, dresses and substantial casualwear

Choosing Jersey Fabric by Composition

Composition changes how jersey fabric feels, stretches, drapes, shrinks and performs in bulk production. Buyers should choose the fibre blend according to garment positioning rather than only following a standard fabric name.

100% Cotton Jersey	Classic natural hand feel for T-shirts, tops, kidswear and daily casualwear. Shrinkage and twisting should be checked carefully.
Cotton Spandex Jersey	Adds stretch and recovery, suitable for fitted T-shirts, dresses, kidswear, loungewear and close-to-body garments.
Bamboo Cotton Jersey	Soft hand feel for babywear, kidswear, underwear, lounge tops and comfort-led basics.
Bamboo Spandex Jersey	Soft touch with light stretch, suitable for underwear, loungewear, fitted tops and close-to-skin apparel.
Polyester Jersey	Suitable for sports T-shirts, linings, active tops and casual programs where easy-care synthetic jersey is required.
Lyocell Cotton Jersey	Smoother drape and more refined hand feel, suitable for premium T-shirts, tops, dresses and elevated basics.

Towin Jersey Fabric Options

Towin Textile supplies jersey fabric for T-shirts, tops, babywear, kidswear, underwear, dresses, loungewear and casual apparel programs. The following options show common directions buyers can use as a starting point for fabric selection.

Jersey Fabric Collection	Main category page for jersey options, including cotton jersey, bamboo jersey, polyester jersey, stretch jersey and premium blended jersey fabrics.
130gsm Bamboo Organic Cotton Single Jersey	70% Bamboo / 30% Organic Cotton, 130gsm, 185cm width. Suitable for T-shirts, babywear, kidswear, underwear, lounge tops and lightweight basics.
145gsm 100% Cotton Twisted Yarn Single Jersey	Lightweight cotton jersey with a cleaner surface and drier hand feel, suitable for T-shirts, fashion tops and lightweight casualwear.
160gsm 100% Polyester Single Jersey	Lightweight polyester jersey for sports T-shirts, linings, active tops and easy-care casual programs.
155gsm 95% Cotton 5% Spandex Single Jersey	Stretch cotton jersey for fitted T-shirts, tops, dresses, kidswear and daily casual garments that need comfort recovery.
160gsm Lyocell Cotton Mercerized Single Jersey	70% Lyocell / 30% Cotton, 160gsm, 175cm width. Suitable for premium T-shirts, refined tops, dresses and elevated daily basics.
190gsm 95% Bamboo 5% Spandex Single Jersey	Soft stretch bamboo jersey for T-shirts, fitted tops, loungewear, underwear and close-to-skin comfort apparel.
230gsm 185cm Single Jersey	A fuller-body single jersey option for heavyweight T-shirts, oversized tops, dresses and more substantial casualwear.

Jersey Fabric for Printing and Surface Development

Jersey fabric is often used for printed T-shirts, fashion tops and placement print garments. Before printing, buyers should check the fabric surface, stretch level and colour base. A clean and stable surface usually gives better print handling than a loose or uneven fabric surface.

For garment printing, fabric stretch can affect print cracking, registration and hand feel. For yardage printing, shrinkage and fabric relaxation should be checked before cutting. Printing method should be confirmed according to artwork, print size, colour count, base colour and order quantity.

Screen Printing	Suitable for many T-shirt and fashion top programs, especially when colour count and artwork are suitable.
Digital Printing	Useful for detailed artwork or lower quantity development, depending on fabric composition and print requirement.
Placement Print	Needs accurate artwork size, panel size and garment position to avoid scale or placement issues.
Base Colour Check	Dark base colours may need different print handling compared with white or light-coloured jersey.

Quality Checkpoints Before Bulk Production

Single jersey fabric should be reviewed carefully before bulk cutting, especially for T-shirts, fitted tops, dresses and kidswear where garment measurement and seam position are important.

Shrinkage	Important for cotton, bamboo, modal and lyocell blends. Washing test should be confirmed before bulk cutting.
Spirality / Twisting	Side seam twisting can affect T-shirts and dresses after washing, especially in single jersey structures.
Fabric Relaxation	Jersey should be relaxed before cutting to reduce roll tension and improve garment measurement stability.
Stretch Recovery	Important for spandex jersey used in fitted tops, underwear, kidswear and loungewear.
Edge Curling	Lightweight single jersey may curl at the cut edge, which needs attention during cutting and sewing.
Surface Cleanness	Important for plain T-shirts, light colours, printing, embroidery and premium basic garments.

Stock Colour vs Custom Colour Jersey Fabric

For early-stage development or smaller sample programs, stock colour jersey is often the faster and more practical option. It can help buyers review hand feel, GSM, stretch and garment suitability before committing to custom dyeing.

Custom colour jersey is more suitable when the buyer needs a specific Pantone, a brand colour, repeat production shade or colour coordination across several fabric qualities. Custom dyeing normally requires lab dip approval and a higher MOQ because the dyeing process includes machine setup, colour control, fabric loss and finishing adjustments.

Option	Best For	Buyer Should Confirm
Stock Colour	Fast sampling, small yardage, trial production and early garment development	Current stock quantity, shade batch, width, GSM and repeat availability
Custom Colour	Brand colours, Pantone matching, repeat bulk programs and coordinated collections	MOQ per colour, lab dip lead time, bulk lead time, shrinkage and colourfastness requirement

Jersey Fabric Development Process

For B2B apparel development, the fabric direction should be confirmed before garment sampling whenever possible. This helps avoid fit changes caused by switching fabric weight, stretch or composition after the first sample.

Step 1	Confirm garment type, such as T-shirt, fitted top, underwear, babywear, dress, loungewear or active top.
Step 2	Confirm target GSM, composition, stretch requirement, hand feel and fabric width.
Step 3	Review stock colour options or decide whether custom lab dip is required.
Step 4	Check swatch or sample yardage for hand feel, stretch, opacity, shrinkage and surface appearance.
Step 5	Confirm bulk route, including colour approval, testing requirement, quantity and delivery schedule.

Jersey Fabric Buying Checklist

Before requesting a quote, buyers should provide enough information for the supplier to recommend the correct jersey quality. A request that only says “jersey fabric for T-shirts” is usually not enough for accurate sourcing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jersey Fabric

What is jersey fabric mainly used for?

Jersey fabric is mainly used for T-shirts, tops, dresses, underwear, babywear, kidswear, loungewear and everyday casualwear. The final use depends on GSM, composition, stretch and hand feel.

What GSM jersey is suitable for T-shirts?

For regular T-shirts, many buyers start from around 145gsm to 180gsm. Lightweight styles may use 130gsm to 140gsm, while heavyweight oversized T-shirts may use 220gsm to 270gsm depending on the required body.

Is cotton spandex jersey better than 100% cotton jersey?

Not always. Cotton spandex jersey is better when the garment needs stretch and recovery, such as fitted tops, dresses, kidswear and loungewear. 100% cotton jersey is suitable for classic T-shirts and casual tops where natural cotton hand feel is preferred.

Does single jersey fabric curl at the edges?

Yes, single jersey can curl at the cut edges because of its knitted structure. This should be considered during cutting, sewing and sample development, especially for lightweight jersey.

Can jersey fabric be used for printing?

Yes. Jersey is commonly used for printed T-shirts and fashion tops. The printing method should be confirmed according to fabric composition, stretch, base colour, artwork size and order quantity.

Can Towin supply jersey fabric swatches?

Yes. Towin Textile can support jersey fabric swatches, sample yardage and custom colour development according to selected quality, colour, MOQ and production schedule.

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