French Terry vs Fleece Hoodies: Which Should Your Brand Choose?

<p>A streetwear founder messaged me on LinkedIn last month asking about French terry vs fleece hoodies: which should your brand choose?. The answer I sent her was three paragraphs long and covered most of what I'd say to anyone. This article is the longer version, with the production-floor details I didn't fit into the DM.</p><p>Updated December 2025: Added a fourth embroidery head to handle the Q4 holiday programme volumes. Capacity now 12,000 pcs/day on embroidered orders.</p># French Terry vs Fleece Hoodies: Brand Decision Guide

French terry and fleece are the two foundational hoodie fabrics. They look similar but feel very different in hand and wear differently across seasons. Here's how to choose between them.

What is French Terry?

French terry is a knit fabric with looped fibres on the inside and a smooth knit face on the outside. The loops aren't brushed (unlike fleece), so they retain their structure and feel firm to the touch.

Typical weights: 240-380 GSM (lightweight to mid-weight)

Common uses: Spring/summer hoodies, cropped pullovers, lightweight streetwear

What is Cotton Fleece?

Cotton fleece is a knit fabric with brushed/raised fibres on the inside (creating the plush, fuzzy interior) and a smooth knit face on the outside. The brushing process raises the loops, creating warmth and softness.

Typical weights: 280-500 GSM (mid-weight to ultra-heavy)

Common uses: Year-round hoodies, premium streetwear, cold-weather pieces

Side-by-Side Comparison

Wearability Windows

French Terry: Optimal at 60-80°F (15-27°C). Works for spring drops, summer evenings, indoor fashion-forward styling, layering pieces.

Cotton Fleece: Optimal at 30-65°F (-1 to 18°C). Works for year-round retail, fall/winter staples, brand-defining heavyweight pieces, cold-climate markets.

Construction Considerations

French Terry hoodies typically have:

Cotton Fleece hoodies typically have:

Which Should Your Brand Choose?

Choose French Terry if: Your brand targets warm-climate markets (US South, Australia, Mediterranean Europe, Middle East), you want lightweight premium positioning, you're launching spring/summer drops, or you produce cropped/lightweight silhouettes.

Choose Cotton Fleece if: Your brand targets temperate-to-cold markets (US North, UK, Northern Europe, Canada), you want year-round wearability, you're targeting premium streetwear ($80-200 retail), or you want maximum warmth/luxury positioning.

Many brands offer both. French terry for spring/summer collections, cotton fleece for fall/winter staples. Same brand identity, different seasonal weights.

How Mughal Apparel Produces Both

We produce French terry hoodies in 280, 320, and 380 GSM, and cotton fleece hoodies in 280-500 GSM. Same MOQ (50 pcs per style/colour), same construction quality Standards, same in-house customisation capabilities.

See French terry hoodie programme → | See fleece hoodie programme → | Contact us for fabric swatches →