Polyester Softshell Fabric for Bags — Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Polyester Softshell Fabric for Bags: Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Polyester Softshell Fabric is the version buyers specify for bags 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
Polyester gives softshell 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 | Softshell Fabric |
|---|---|
| Base material | Polyester |
| Standard size | 80 gsm |
| Common finishes | Soft-Touch Rubber Coating, Rainbow Iridescent Finish, Yarn-Dyed Finish |
| Processes | Calendering, Heat Transfer Printing, Enamel Filling |
| Typical application | Bags |
| Related applications | Bedding Sets, Lingerie, Bags, Underwear |
| Test standard | Sedex SMETA |
| Usual packing | 200 pieces per polybag, 2000 per carton |
Properties that matter in buying
- Dimensional stability — 2% 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 — elastic recovery after 50 cycles or washes.
- Compliance — Sedex SMETA documentation issued with the shipment.
- Consistency — the approved counter sample becomes the reference for every reorder.
Common uses
- Uniforms
- Dresses
- Suits
- Home Curtains
- Jeans
- Sneakers
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 snap button, seat belt webbing, organza ribbon, two-way separating zipper, and the processes most often paired with softshell fabric include pu coating, rotary printing, enzyme washing.
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