Review the collar with the body
A body swatch cannot show whether the finished collar curls, the cuff grips correctly or the placket lies flat. Approve these parts together on the selected fit.
Fabric 04 / 12 · Knit essentials
Cotton Piqué
A familiar starting point for a smart polo range. Assess the textured body alongside its collar, sleeve rib and placket to achieve a consistent finished appearance.
Polo shirts · Textured face
Custom apparel · OEM, ODM and private label
01 — In short
What is cotton piqué?
Cotton piqué for polo shirts is a textured knitted fabric, often recognised by its small raised or cellular surface. It gives a polo a different hand from smooth jersey. Specify the body fabric, collar and cuff construction together, then check fit, embroidery and washing behaviour in the finished sample.
02 — Garment applications
Start with what you are making.
These are starting points for fabric selection. The chosen quality is approved for the specific garment.
Polo shirts
Match body piqué, collars and sleeve bands for a coherent polo range.
Corporate and staff uniforms
Select a hand and care specification appropriate to the staff role.
Training wear
Consider polos for team travel or off-field use, with performance needs specified separately.
03 — Fabric specification
Agree the details before cutting.
GSM is fabric mass per square metre. It helps compare weight, but does not alone establish quality, coverage or performance.
- Construction
- Textured piqué knit for polo-shirt applications.
- Fibre composition
- Cotton or a specified cotton blend; confirm the approved composition.
- Hand and drape
- Textured face with a more defined polo-shirt appearance than smooth jersey.
- Weight / GSM
- Select against the garment and reference hand; confirm the approved GSM and tolerance.
- Stretch and recovery
- Knit give; fitted styles may need a selected stretch blend.
- Sample checks
- Collar shape, placket stability, embroidery puckering and washed dimensions.
- Colour and finish
- Approve a physical shade reference, finish and any required performance evidence.
- Minimum and supply
- Confirmed in your quote as part of the garment order; fabric colours shown are references.
04 — Sample decisions
Three things to approve.
Test the chest logo
Small lettering can sink into a textured surface. Review stitch definition, backing and placement on a real sample rather than relying only on an embroidery file.
Match the wardrobe
For a corporate programme, review how the shade sits beside trousers, jackets and the brand artwork. Keep an approved shade reference for repeat orders.
05 — Branding and construction
Your mark, on the right base.
Artwork and fabric should be approved together. Explore our decoration services for the wider process.
Embroidery
A common polo finish; approve small lettering and edge clarity against the textured knit.
Screen printing
Review coverage and legibility on the texture, especially for thin lines or small text.
Private label trims
Coordinate buttons, neck tape, woven labels and collar details with the intended brand presentation.
06 — Care and maintenance
Care starts with the finished garment.
Follow the complete polo care label. Reshape the collar and placket gently after washing, and use only the permitted drying and ironing process. Avoid pressing directly onto embroidery or a printed logo.
For staffwear, tell us whether the polo is intended for home laundering or a specified commercial laundry process. A cotton piqué construction alone does not establish suitability for industrial washing.
07 — Compare fabrics
When another fabric may fit better.
08 — Questions, answered
10 questions about Cotton Piqué.
Practical answers for choosing, decorating and caring for the fabric in your garment range.
Is cotton piqué a good fabric for polo shirts?
Yes. The textured knit is closely associated with classic polos. The final result also depends on the collar, cuff, placket and fit, so approve a complete shirt rather than only a fabric swatch.
How is piqué different from jersey?
Piqué has a more textured surface, while single jersey has a smoother face. Compare the actual samples for body and drape; the names do not establish an identical weight or softness.
Does cotton piqué wrinkle?
It can crease. Packing, moisture, blend and finishing affect the appearance. Remove it from the wash promptly and follow the garment label for reshaping, drying and any ironing.
Does a cotton piqué polo shrink?
It may change size after laundering. Check body length, width and collar dimensions on a washed sample, and agree the tolerance on the approved specification.
Is embroidery better than printing on a piqué polo?
It depends on the artwork and the desired finish. Embroidery is popular for chest logos; a print can work too. Approve the actual decoration for clarity, comfort and wash appearance.
Why can a polo collar curl?
Collar construction, finishing and care can influence its shape. Review the collar after washing and drying the sample, with the proposed neck tape, placket and buttons in place.
Can piqué be used for a fitted polo?
Yes, with an appropriate pattern and fabric recovery. If the design needs stretch, specify the blend and assess movement, rather than simply reducing the pattern dimensions.
How do I maintain a piqué polo shirt?
Use the labelled wash and drying method, reshape the collar gently and protect the logo from direct pressing. Store the garment dry, with the collar and placket sitting naturally.
Is cotton piqué suitable for staff uniforms?
It can suit many customer-facing roles. Tell us the working environment, laundering requirements and expected wear frequency so the fabric and trims are selected for that programme.
What should I approve before ordering branded polos?
Approve the fabric hand, shade, collar and cuff, fit, buttons, chest artwork and washed measurements. Confirm care labels, quantities and packing in the written order specification.
09 — From swatch to order
Approve the fabric in a garment.
Send the design, intended fit, colours, artwork, size range and quantity. If you have a reference garment, use it to communicate the hand and finish you want. We discuss the fabric, make the sample and record the approved construction before bulk production.
Review dimensions, shade, decoration and the care result together. Keep the signed-off sample and written specification as the reference for the order.
See how sampling worksMade to your mark · Sialkot, Pakistan
Choose the fabric. Then make it yours.
Tell us the garment, fit, colour, artwork and quantity. We will discuss the fabric as part of your custom apparel order, with the selected specification, sample and minimum confirmed in writing.