Silicone Sherpa Fabric for Sportswear — Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Silicone Sherpa Fabric for Sportswear: Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Silicone Sherpa Fabric is the version buyers specify for sportswear when the base material is fixed by performance rather than by price. This entry sets out what the material actually changes, which specification to write into the tech pack, and where the cost sits — the three questions that decide whether the item passes bulk approval.
What it is
Silicone gives sherpa fabric its strength and surface character. In practice that means the fabric behaves differently in cutting, in finishing and in wear: tighter tolerance is needed on the finished dimension. Buyers who specify the material up front avoid the most common failure — an item that looks right on the sample card and behaves differently in bulk.
Typical specification
| Item | Sherpa Fabric |
|---|---|
| Base material | Silicone |
| Standard size | 320 gsm |
| Common finishes | Pearlescent Coating, Silicone Wash Finish, Nickel-Free Electroplating |
| Processes | Embossing, Anti-Bacterial Finishing, Weaving |
| Typical application | Sportswear |
| Related applications | Kidswear, Blazers, Bras, Trousers |
| Test standard | EN 71-3 |
| Usual packing | 500 pieces per polybag, 5000 per carton |
Properties that matter in buying
- Dimensional stability — 3% allowance is built into the spec before cutting.
- Colour fastness — tested to EN 71-3 on the actual base material, not on a substitute.
- Mechanical performance — abrasion resistance after 10 cycles or washes.
- Compliance — EN 71-3 documentation issued with the shipment.
- Consistency — the approved counter sample becomes the reference for every reorder.
Common uses
- Shirts
- Jackets
- Evening Wear
- Sportswear
- Bedding Sets
- Trousers
How to specify it
- Name the base material in the tech pack, not just the item.
- Fix the size and tolerance in writing before sampling starts.
- Approve a counter sample made from the actual bulk base material.
- Order the test report against the standard your market requires.
- Retain a golden sample at the factory and a second one with you.
Related reading
Related specifications on this site cover cotton label, d-ring, nylon fabric, nylon zipper, and the processes most often paired with sherpa fabric include mercerising, piece dyeing, heat setting.
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