Similar to velvet, the main characteristic of fleece is the napped pile fabric. To create the nap, or raised surface, Malden Mills used a cylindrical wire brush to break the loops produced when ...

Types of Fleece Fabric Polar fleece, previously trademarked as PolarFleece, was the first type of fleece to grace shelves and racks at department stores.

Fleece—sheared from synthetic yarns—was introduced to the outdoors market in the late 1970s by the mountain equipment brand Patagonia and textiles maker Malden Mills (now Polartec).

Polar fleece garments are available in all kinds of thicknesses (the most common being the micro, 100, 200, and 300 variants) and several finishes, ranging from brushed to deep pile.

Originally published on Nov. 11, 2019. Warm and fuzzy polar fleece jackets might be one of the best ways to stay warm in chilly Canadian winters, but the environment would be a lot better off if ...