Where does Fleece come from?

Fleece comes from Lawrence, Massachusetts, the United States, first documented in 1979.

Plate No. 125fabric

The brushed, air-trapping nap of the outdoor layer.

First documented: 1979
Origin: Lawrence, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, United States
Fiber: polyester
Weave: napped synthetic knit
Family: manufactured

Plate No. 125 · fabric

Fleece

Fleece, properly polar fleece, is a soft, warm, fast-drying napped fabric knitted from polyester and brushed on both faces to raise a dense pile that traps air like wool but weighs less and dries far faster. It was developed in 1979 by Malden Mills in Massachusetts, which sold it under the Polartec name and chose not to patent it, letting the fabric spread freely through the outdoor-clothing world. Later versions are made from recycled plastic bottles, which made fleece an early icon of recycled cloth, though like all polyester it sheds microplastic fibers in the wash.

Named for

Named for the wool fleece it imitates; commonly called polar fleece.

Also known as

polar fleece

Common questions

What is Fleece made of?: Fleece, properly polar fleece, is a soft, warm, fast-drying napped fabric knitted from polyester and brushed on both faces to raise a dense pile that traps air like wool but weighs less and dries far faster.
Where does Fleece come from?: Fleece comes from Lawrence, Massachusetts, the United States, first documented in 1979.
What is Fleece named after?: Named for the wool fleece it imitates; commonly called polar fleece.