Cotton Boiled Wool Fabric for Activewear — Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Cotton Boiled Wool Fabric for Activewear: Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Cotton Boiled Wool Fabric is the version buyers specify for activewear 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
Cotton gives boiled wool fabric its drape and hand feel. In practice that means the fabric behaves differently in cutting, in finishing and in wear: plating and coating adhesion must be tested on the actual base. 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 | Boiled Wool Fabric |
|---|---|
| Base material | Cotton |
| Standard size | 110 gsm |
| Common finishes | Gunmetal Finish, Pearlescent Coating, Yarn-Dyed Finish |
| Processes | Metal Stamping, Sublimation Printing, Ultrasonic Welding |
| Typical application | Activewear |
| Related applications | Coats, Boots, Trousers, Underwear |
| Test standard | Sedex SMETA |
| 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 Sedex SMETA on the actual base material, not on a substitute.
- Mechanical performance — cycle life after 30 cycles or washes.
- Compliance — Sedex SMETA documentation issued with the shipment.
- Consistency — the approved counter sample becomes the reference for every reorder.
Common uses
- Hats
- Evening Wear
- Underwear
- Luggage
- Caps
- Backpacks
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 recycled polyester fabric, cord lock, grommet, silicone gripper tape, and the processes most often paired with boiled wool fabric include anti-pilling finish, digital printing, screen printing.
Tell us the item, the quantity and the delivery window. We will quote it with the sub-processes named, so the lead time you approve is the lead time you get.
