Most performance fabrics are built from just a few base fibers. Understanding how they compare helps you choose the right material for your product line. This library distills the essentials from our full fabric guide: polyester, nylon and recycled polyester — plus how to read fabric specs.
Polyester vs Nylon vs Recycled Polyester
Polyester is strong, quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant and cost-effective. It holds its shape well and takes digital printing with sharp, vivid color — the workhorse of price-sensitive activewear.
Nylon (polyamide) feels softer and smoother with a cooler hand feel, resists abrasion better than polyester, and recovers its shape well. It costs more and dries more slowly — the premium choice for leggings, sports bras and swimwear.
Recycled polyester (rPET) performs nearly identically to virgin polyester while giving your brand a credible sustainability story. It typically adds 10–20% to fabric cost, requires higher MOQs, and needs GRS chain-of-custody documentation — which our GRS-certified supply chain provides.
Head-to-Head: Polyester-Spandex vs Nylon-Spandex
- Hand feel: polyester-spandex feels drier and crisper; nylon-spandex feels softer, smoother and cooler.
- Abrasion resistance: good (polyester) vs excellent (nylon — best for high-wear leggings).
- Digital print: sharpest and most vivid on polyester; good but less vivid on nylon.
- Cost: polyester blends cost less; nylon blends cost more.
- Best use: printed activewear, tops and value lines → polyester; premium leggings, sports bras and swimwear → nylon.
Fabric Spec Table
GSM (grams per square meter) measures fabric weight — higher GSM means more opacity and structure. Spandex/elastane is never used alone; adding roughly 10–25% gives stretch and recovery. A common starting point for performance leggings is 80–87% polyester or nylon base with 13–20% spandex at 220–280 GSM.
| Fabric | Composition | Weight (GSM) | Stretch | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester / spandex | 80–90% polyester, 10–20% spandex | 180–320 | 4-way | Printed leggings, tees, tennis dresses, value activewear |
| Nylon / spandex | 75–85% nylon, 15–25% spandex | 200–300 | 4-way | Premium leggings, sports bras, swimwear |
| Recycled polyester / spandex | 80–90% rPET, 10–20% spandex | 180–320 | 4-way | Eco-positioned activewear brands (GRS chain of custody required) |
| Cotton / spandex | 90–95% cotton, 5–10% spandex | 180–280 | 2-way | Casual athleisure, hoodies |
| Polyester / PBT swim knit | 80–85% polyester, 15–20% PBT | 170–220 | 2-way | Training swimwear (chlorine resistant) |
| Nylon / spandex swim | 80–82% nylon, 18–20% spandex | 190–230 | 4-way | Fashion swimwear (luxe feel; chlorine degrades it faster) |
Need Fabric Advice for Your Line?
Tell us your product, price point and target market — our team will recommend the right fabric and specs. Contact Vista Clothing for a free consultation.
