French terry in sweat clothing

Short answer: French terry has a smooth right side and small uncut loops on the reverse. The loops make the fabric soft and airy, which is why french terry feels cooler to wear than brushed sweat fabric of the same thickness.

How the fabric is built

In french terry, uncut loops sit on the inside of the fabric, while the outside stays smooth and even. The loops hold air between them and absorb moisture from the skin at the same time, without the fabric becoming thick or heavy to wear. It is this combination of a smooth outside and looped inside that gives the fabric its distinctive feel.

French terry versus brushed sweat fabric

Brushed sweat fabric has raised loops, where the surface has been brushed into an airy, fluffy inside that insulates more. French terry keeps its closed loops instead and is therefore cooler, which makes the fabric better suited to spring and autumn and to indoor wear where you want to avoid sweating unnecessarily under a top.

Why it holds moisture

The loops in french terry work a little like towel fabric, because the large surface absorbs moisture from the skin effectively. That makes the fabric comfortable worn directly against the body, even during light activity during the day. Bamboo viscose strengthens this property further, since the fibre already absorbs moisture well and releases it back into the air.

Where it is used

Sweatshirts, hoodies and jogging trousers in bamboo are often made in french terry, precisely because the combination of softness and cooling suits an indoor everyday routine and light movement. See bamboo sweatshirt for women and bamboo jogging suit for women, where the fabric is used throughout both top and trousers.

Weight and drape

French terry is lighter than brushed sweat fabric at the same thickness, because the loops hold more air and less yarn than a brushed surface. That gives a fabric that drapes softly and does not feel stiff or heavy, which becomes clear when comparing two tops of otherwise the same cut and size.

Caring for french terry

Wash it inside out where possible, so the loops do not rub directly against the drum and drum sides during washing. Avoid fabric softener, which settles around the loops and fills them, so the fabric loses some of its airiness and ability to absorb moisture. See sweatwear, where several styles are sewn in french terry.

How it keeps its shape

Because the loops are not brushed, the yarn works less and therefore twists out of shape less often after many washes. That gives french terry an advantage over time compared with brushed fabrics, whose surface gradually becomes thinner and smoother with every wash it goes through in the machine.

Use in summer

Although french terry belongs to the sweat category, it can be worn in the evening even in warmer months, because it is one of the coolest sweat fabrics available. That makes the fabric a sensible choice for transitional seasons, where you want to avoid both feeling cold and sweating too much in an ordinary sweatshirt.

Snagging and durability

The loops in french terry can pull or form small snags if they catch on something sharp, such as a zipper or a rough surface. Turn the fabric inside out for washing, and avoid storing it together with items that have sharp edges or hooks that can catch on the loops.