French Terry Essentials

Perhaps you’ve heard of french terry fabric, but you’re not sure what it is. Maybe you know terry fabric is common in towels, but terry fabric in your everyday apparel sounds a bit strange.

We’re talking about french terry fabric, including what it is, how it differs from other terry fabrics, and why it makes for excellent apparel, especially athleisure.

French Terry: All About the Fabric

French terry, and terry fabric in general, is not a material. It’s a type of construction created from loops of yarn. Just about any material, from bamboo to rayon or lycra, can be woven into terry fabric by looping the yarns in a certain way.

This technique creates a different texture on each side of the fabric: soft piles of yarn on one side and larger yarn loops on the other. This creates a smooth side and a looped side of your clothing, unlike what we see with synthetics like spandex. 

French terry is considered a single knit fabric. Single knit fabrics use only one single yarn to create the loops during the manufacturing process, which means they usually have less natural stretch than double knits or warp knits. 

Why weave a material in this way versus other traditional methods of woven fabrics? Terry weave maximizes whatever absorbance capabilities the material used possesses.

This makes terry cloth a versatile fabric. It's a heavier weight than the lightweight fabrics used in most t-shirts and other casual clothing. Like fleece fabric, single knits thrive in pieces of clothing for cooler weather like sweatpants and pullovers. 

However, french terry is a medium weight fabric and a lighter weight than sweatshirt fleece, so you can get lots of wear layering these pieces in winter, then using them as standalone items in fall and spring. 

Traditional Materials

Traditionally, cotton has been the most common material for french terry fabrics. It’s a low-maintenance fabric with excellent water absorption. 

Tons of fabrics are made with cotton. The problem, especially with apparel, is that cotton dries very slowly. 

Whether for loungewear, activewear, or anything else, your clothes need to be able to wick moisture and dry quickly. You want a comfortable fabric that avoids pilling and dries easily, whether you're buying jackets, towels, or bathrobes. 

Synthetic fabrics like polyester are alternatives that dry more quickly but don’t have the same level of absorption. These fabrics easily trap odors over time and present sustainability concerns.

Modern Materials

Evolving understandings of natural resources have brought superior options to the table. The star of the show is bamboo.

Thanks to bamboo’s all-natural qualities, it has some of the best moisture-wicking properties around. It can already absorb moisture and dry quickly, so working bamboo into terrycloth fabric means your thermoregulatory processes won’t be hindered by sweat. It also reduces fraying and piling of the fabric—and unlike towel terry, it can be used in anything from loungewear to gym clothes. 

Bamboo is also soft, built for breathability, and resistant to odor and wrinkles. Best of all, it’s one of the most sustainable materials in the world. Now, you can enjoy the benefits of french terry any day of the year.

French Terry Styles

French terry bamboo brings the comfort of loungewear and the performance power of activewear to top-trending styles.

One of the best ways to wear french terry is a comfortable sweatshirt, such as our Varsity French Terry Hoodie or Riverwalk French Terry Casual Sweatshirt. An incredibly soft feel paired with excellent temperature regulation makes for the perfect outer layer.

Complete your athleisure look with our Varsity Brushed Lightweight Jogger, available in both women’s and men’s styles.