What Is Microfiber?
What is microfiber? It is a fabric spun from filaments that are finer than a single denier, which is thinner than most natural fibres. Because the filaments are so fine, the fabric is soft, light and dense. The most common types are polyester and nylon microfiber, and blends of the two are also used. Microfiber can be woven or knitted and finished in many ways.
For a clothing buyer, microfiber is a family rather than a single product. A peach-skin shirt, a jacket shell, a cleaning cloth and a towel may all be called microfiber, yet they differ widely in weight, structure and finish. Knowing what is microfiber in each case lets you specify fabric properly, compare quotes fairly and avoid a sample that feels good but fails in use.
If you are comparing synthetic options, our guides to polyester fabric and nylon vs polyester are useful companions.
How Microfiber Is Made and Why It Feels Different
Microfiber is produced by extruding polymer through very fine openings, then drawing the filaments into thin strands. Some are split during processing into even finer fibres. These filaments are twisted into yarn and woven or knitted into cloth. Finishes such as brushing or sanding raise a soft surface, giving the peach-skin or suede-like feel found in many garments.
Because the fibres are fine and packed tightly, the cloth is dense. That density gives wind resistance, light weight and a smooth drape. It also affects breathability, which depends on construction and finish. The same raw fibre can behave very differently in a lightweight shirt and in a coated shell, so always judge the finished fabric, not the fibre name alone.
Common microfiber fabric uses in clothing and what a buyer should check
| Use | Typical build | What a buyer should check |
|---|---|---|
| Peach-skin shirts and dresses | Fine woven polyester with brushed surface | Hand feel, shade and seam slippage |
| Jacket shells | Dense woven nylon or polyester | Wind resistance, coating and breathability |
| Linings | Light smooth woven | Static, slip and seam strength |
| Activewear | Knitted microfibre with stretch | Moisture handling, pilling and recovery |
| Sleepwear and loungewear | Soft brushed knit | Warmth, hand feel and shrinkage |
| Accessories and cloths | Dense knit or woven for cleaning | Absorbency and lint |
A general reference. Always confirm exact construction and finish on the supplier spec.
Strengths of Microfiber in Garments
Microfiber is light, strong and resists creasing, which is useful for travel clothing, workwear and activewear. It dries quickly and holds its shape after washing, so it suits garments that are washed often. The surface can be made very soft, so customers enjoy the hand feel, and the dense structure helps block wind.
It also offers good colour range and print quality. Dyes take well to polyester and nylon, and sublimation printing works especially well on polyester. Our guide to sportswear and activewear manufacturing shows where these advantages matter most.
How microfiber compares with other common fabrics
1 dot = low, 5 dots = high
| Softness | Quick drying | Breathability | Crease resistance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester microfiber | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Nylon microfiber | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Cotton jersey | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Viscose woven | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Standard polyester | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
Indicative ratings based on how each fabric usually behaves, not laboratory results.
Limits and Concerns With Microfiber
Microfiber is not ideal for every product. Dense synthetic cloth can feel warm and hold odour if not treated. Static cling can be a problem in dry conditions, particularly on linings. Fine fibres can pill if the construction is poor, and some finishes wear off with washing, so the soft feel may fade.
Environmental concerns are significant. Synthetic fabrics can shed tiny fibres in washing, which enter waterways. Recycled polyester can reduce use of virgin material, and Textile Exchange publishes recycled content standards that help check claims. Our guide to sustainable fabrics for clothing brands discusses how to compare options fairly.
Where microfiber-related quality complaints tend to come from (worked example)
Worked example, not an industry average
- Pilling and surface wear24%
- Static and cling18%
- Shade or print variation20%
- Seam slippage22%
- Hand feel fading after wash16%
An illustrative split for explanation only. Real complaints vary by fabric, construction and use, so treat it as a prompt to check your own data.
Specifying Microfiber Fabric Properly
Because the word covers so much, a spec needs detail. State fibre content, construction (woven or knit), weight in gsm, width, finish, colour and any coatings. Ask for a swatch and compare it with your reference. A weight range alone is not enough: two microfiber fabrics at the same gsm can feel and perform very differently.
Request test data on shrinkage, colour fastness, pilling and seam slippage, which is a common weakness in fine woven synthetics. Standards from ISO provide test methods for many of these. Our guide to garment testing explains the main checks.
Typical microfiber fabric weight by use, in grams per square metre (illustrative ranges)
Fabric weight by common use
Illustrative ranges for explanation only. Real weight depends on construction and finish, so set your own target on a swatch.
Making Garments in Microfiber
Fine synthetic fabrics are sensitive in sewing. Needles that are too large leave visible holes, thread tension affects puckering, and slippery wovens need careful handling during cutting. Seam slippage, where threads pull out at stress points, is a known risk in dense fine wovens. Seam allowance, stitch density and reinforcement should be set with this in mind.
Heat also matters. Pressing at too high a temperature can melt or flatten the surface, so pressing instructions need to be exact. Our guide to ripstop fabric shows how a related synthetic woven is handled for strength, and mesh fabric shows a contrasting open structure.
A route for developing a microfiber garment
- 1Choose the fabricSwatch compared with the reference
- 2Test the fabricShrinkage, fastness and slippage checked
- 3Make a sampleNeedle, thread and pressing settings agreed
- 4Wash and wearSample washed and worn to check hand feel
- 5Approve for bulkStandard signed with allowed variation
A simplified sequence. Real routes vary by garment and fabric.
Common Mistakes When Buying Microfiber
The first mistake is buying by name. A quote for microfiber without weight, construction and finish leaves too much open, and the result may feel different from the sample. Always attach a swatch and a written spec.
The second mistake is ignoring care. Fabric softener, high heat and rough washing can damage the finish and reduce performance. Test the garment under the care routine you will print on the label, and adjust the label if the sample fails.
The third mistake is making unsupported claims. Words such as eco or breathable need evidence, and recycled content should be backed by certificates. Certification such as OEKO-TEX can support claims about tested textiles, but the scope must match your fabric. Keep documents with the order file.
Microfiber vs cotton for an everyday garment
Strengths
- Microfiber: light, durable and quick drying
- Microfiber: resists creasing and shrinking
- Cotton: natural feel and good breathability
- Cotton: familiar and easy to recycle in some systems
Limits
- Microfiber: can feel warm and hold odour
- Microfiber: sheds fibres in washing
- Cotton: slower drying and prone to creasing
- Cotton: can shrink and lose shape
A general comparison. Blends can combine strengths of both.
Questions to Ask a Fabric Supplier About Microfiber
Ask the supplier to define the product clearly: fibre content, construction, weight, finish and coating. Ask what tests exist and what values they achieved. Specific answers show that the supplier knows the fabric and can repeat it in bulk.
Ask also about recycled content, traceability and chemical management. Many buyers now expect documents to support claims. A supplier that keeps records and answers clearly is generally more reliable than one that uses only marketing terms.
What to confirm before ordering microfiber fabric
- Fibre content with percentages
- Construction, weight and width
- Finish, coating and hand feel target
- Shrinkage and colour fastness results
- Pilling and seam slippage results
- Care routine tested on a sample
- Recycled content documents if claimed
- Certificates, with scope and date
A general checklist. Add anything your retailer or sales channel requires.
Questions that help you judge a microfiber supplier
| Question | Why it matters | A good answer sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| What exactly is the construction and finish? | Names alone are vague | Written spec with a matching swatch |
| What are the pilling and slippage results? | These are common weak points | Test reports with values |
| How do you control shade between lots? | Colour variation causes rejections | Approved standard and lot checks |
| Is any recycled content documented? | Claims need evidence | Certificates and traceable records |
| What care routine is the fabric tested for? | Care affects performance | Test routine matching your label |
A general question list. Adapt it to your own fabric and market.
A Practical Example: Choosing Fabric for a Travel Jacket
Imagine a brand planning a lightweight travel jacket. The customer wants something that packs small, resists wrinkles, dries fast after rain and feels soft against the skin. A fine nylon or polyester microfiber shell with a light water-repellent finish suits that brief well, because the dense weave blocks wind and the fibres shed water quickly. Cotton would feel natural but would stay damp, crease and take up more space in a bag.
The trade-offs are still real. The jacket will feel warmer in mild weather, the lining may attract static, and the brand must decide how to describe the fabric accurately. When customers ask what is microfiber and whether it is a good choice, a clear product page with the fibre content, weight and care advice builds trust and reduces returns.
Test the idea on a sample before committing. Wash it several times, wear it, check the seams for slippage and compare the hand feel with your reference. If one point fails, change the finish, the stitch density or the fabric weight and test again. This disciplined approach turns a general fabric name into a product that performs the way your customer expects.
Finally, write the lessons down. A short internal sheet that records the fabric spec, the tests run and the problems found becomes valuable when you reorder, add colours or move to another supplier. Brands that keep these records repeat success faster and repeat mistakes less often.
How Ruhrose Helps You Choose Between Fabrics
Ruhrose develops jersey, fleece, denim and woven casualwear with production in Bangladesh and buyer support in the UK. If you are weighing microfiber against cotton or other fabrics, we can help you compare swatches, plan tests and confirm the spec before bulk. We do not publish prices or minimums here, because they depend on fabric and quantity. To start a conversation, visit Ruhrose and tell us what you plan to make.