Anti-pilling fleece is polar fleece whose raised surface has been sheared and finished so that loose fibre ends cannot migrate, tangle and roll into balls. It is not a different fibre — it is the same 100% polyester knit, taken through extra shearing and a finishing step that locks the pile. The practical difference shows up after twenty washes, not on the shelf.
What pilling actually is
A pill is a small ball of tangled fibre held to the fabric surface by a few anchor fibres. It forms when short fibre ends work their way out of the yarn under abrasion — sleeve against desk, jacket against seat belt — and then twist together. Polyester makes this worse than cotton for a counter-intuitive reason: polyester fibres are strong, so the pill does not break off and fall away. It stays attached and the garment looks worn out while the fabric itself is still sound.
How the anti-pilling treatment works
Two things are done, usually together:
- Mechanical shearing — the pile is cut to an even height in repeated passes, removing the long loose ends that would otherwise become pills. This is the step Turkish mills call traşlama, which is why our main polar is sold as traşlı polar (sheared polar).
- Chemical finishing — a resin or enzyme finish binds the remaining surface fibres so they resist being pulled out.
Neither step is permanent in an absolute sense. Anti-pilling fleece resists pilling far longer than untreated fleece; it does not become immune to it.
How to specify it on a purchase order
"Anti-pilling" on its own is not a specification — every mill will say yes. Ask for a pilling grade against a stated test method. The common one is ISO 12945-2 (Martindale), reported 1 to 5 where 5 is no pilling. For outerwear and blankets, grade 4 or better after 2,000 cycles is a reasonable commercial expectation. Put the grade, the method and the cycle count in writing, and ask for a lab report on the actual dye lot rather than a generic mill certificate.
Our anti-pilling range
| Fabric | GSM | Composition | Width | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheared polar (traşlı polar) | 270–280 | 100% polyester | 175–180 cm | Jackets, blankets, linings |
| Sheared polar, light variant | 210–220 | 100% polyester | 175–180 cm | Mid-layers, children's wear |
| Welsoft (coral fleece) | 240–250 | Polyester | 180 cm | Pyjamas, baby blankets, robes |
| Sherpa / plush | 290–310 | 100% polyester | 160–170 cm | Jacket lining, hooded wear |
The one fabric where this matters most
Intersoft is a three-thread sweatshirt fabric at 310–320 g/m² (40% cotton / 60% polyester, 180–185 cm). What makes it different from ordinary brushed three-thread is the inner face: instead of a brushed nap, it is built in an anti-pilling polar / sherpa structure. A brushed inner face pills, mats and sheds after repeated washing; this one does not. That is the actual reason buyers move to it — not softness or weight, which are similar either way.
Testing a sample before you commit
- Wash the sample five times at the care label temperature, tumble dry if the garment will be.
- Rub the surface firmly with a dry sponge or the sleeve of a wool jumper, thirty strokes in one spot.
- Look across the surface at a low angle in daylight. Isolated fuzz is normal; distinct balls that resist brushing off are pilling.
Do this on the fabric you were actually quoted, from the dye lot you will receive. Anti-pilling performance varies between lots more than most buyers expect.
Ordering
Minimum order is 50 kg per colour, with 2–5 business days for stock colours. GOTS, BCI and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Class I (the baby-safe class) documentation is available on request through the dyehouse we work with.