Choose the hand for the silhouette
A fluid training layer and a structured track jacket do not need the same body. Compare swatches with the intended garment drawing and decide how much drape and firmness are useful.
Fabric 08 / 12 · Performance fabrics
Polyester Tricot
A versatile warp-knit family to consider for tracksuits and warm-up garments. Choose the surface, body and stretch that suit the silhouette instead of treating every tricot as the same fabric.
Tracksuits · Warp knit
Custom apparel · OEM, ODM and private label
01 — In short
What is polyester tricot?
Polyester tricot is a warp-knitted fabric made with polyester yarn. Tricot qualities differ in surface, density, stretch and finishing, so the name is a starting point for selection. For a tracksuit, assess the chosen fabric with its zips, seams and panels in a complete movement-tested 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.
Tracksuits and warm-ups
Review jacket and trouser movement in a matching set.
Training wear
Consider selected tricot qualities for warm-up and training layers.
Corporate and staff uniforms
Discuss a suitable track-style layer where a knit hand fits the programme.
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
- Warp knit; exact lapping and surface selected for the garment.
- Fibre composition
- Polyester, with any additional fibre content specified separately.
- Hand and drape
- Fine knitted surface; can vary from fluid to more structured.
- Weight / GSM
- Select against the garment and reference hand; confirm the approved GSM and tolerance.
- Stretch and recovery
- Depends on the construction and whether elastic yarn is included.
- Sample checks
- Panel stability, snagging, seam pucker, zip appearance and shade matching.
- 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.
Review long seams and zips
A tracksuit has visible seams and zip lines that reveal distortion. Inspect these areas with the garment relaxed, worn and washed, and approve any lining or pocket bag at the same time.
Confirm panels as a system
Contrast panels should work together for stretch, hand and colour. Include rib, elastic, pocket lining and piping in the sample review rather than approving the main cloth in isolation.
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.
Print on suitable polyester
Approve heat compatibility, colour and print hand on the selected tricot base.
Embroidery and badges
Check backing and placement to avoid pulling or stiffening a light panel.
Transfers
Review adhesion and migration on the actual shade, including after the garment care cycle.
06 — Care and maintenance
Care starts with the finished garment.
Follow the tracksuit or warm-up garment label. Keep exposed fastenings and abrasive equipment away from the surface, and avoid any pressing or drying treatment that has not been approved for the complete garment.
A fabric swatch cannot establish how a zip jacket will wash. Check the final sample for rippling, panel distortion and the appearance of printed or embroidered details before bulk approval.
07 — Compare fabrics
When another fabric may fit better.
08 — Questions, answered
10 questions about Polyester Tricot.
Practical answers for choosing, decorating and caring for the fabric in your garment range.
What is polyester tricot fabric?
It is polyester fabric made using a warp-knitting process. The construction can be developed in different weights and finishes, so ask for the actual swatch and specification intended for your garment.
Is tricot suitable for tracksuits?
Selected qualities can work well for track jackets, trousers and warm-ups. Check drape, coverage, seam behaviour and the fit of both pieces in a matching sample.
Is tricot the same as interlock?
No. Tricot is warp knitted; interlock is a double weft-knit construction. Compare the physical fabrics for the surface, stretch and body required by the product.
Is polyester tricot stretchy?
Some versions are more extensible than others. The knit construction and any added elastic yarn matter. Specify the stretch and recovery needed for the garment rather than assuming four-way stretch.
Can tricot be used for a lightweight warm-up jacket?
Yes, with a suitable quality and garment construction. Approve the zip line, pockets, lining if used and overall coverage on a complete jacket sample.
Can polyester tricot be printed?
Suitable versions can be decorated, including by sublimation when the base and heat conditions are appropriate. Review a strike-off for colour and any change to the surface or hand.
Does tricot need a lining?
That is a garment design decision. Consider opacity, pocket construction, hand and the intended season. Review the fabric with and without the proposed lining before fixing the specification.
Will a tricot tracksuit snag?
Snag resistance varies by yarn, construction and finish. If the garment will contact rough surfaces or sports equipment, include that use in the brief and agree an appropriate assessment.
How do I maintain a polyester tricot tracksuit?
Use its care label, protect the surface from abrasive fastenings and avoid unapproved heat. During sampling, check zips, contrast panels and decorations after the same care process.
What should I approve for a custom tricot tracksuit?
Approve the cloth, fit, movement, zip and pocket details, colour panels, rib or elastic, artwork and washed measurements. The written specification should cover both jacket and trousers.
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.