What Is Fleece Good For?

Fleece is a product made using sheep̵7;s wool or a synthetic fiber made to mimic wool fleece. Sheep, and the wool that they produce, have been a part of human culture for centuries and are, in part, credited with allowing humans to leave the warm climate of Mesopotamia and spread to cooler areas. Today, sheep provide humans with wool that is used to create an astonishing array of products. Fleece is a generic term for one of the soft fabrics that can be made from wool or synthetic fibers, and it too can be used in a number of ways.

  1. Clothing

    • Fleece is most commonly used to make clothing. It can be produced as an organic product and, because of this, natural wool fleece clothing is a good option for people looking to purchase organic goods. As clothing, fleece can be made into pants, shirts, jackets, hats, gloves, socks and even underwear. Woolen fleece is considered hypoallergenic, meaning that it is good for allergy sufferers. In 1981, Malden Mills invented a synthetic fleece called Polar Fleece, or Polartec. Polar Fleece is unique because it wicks moisture away from the body, unlike wool or other natural clothing materials, which created an entirely new market of clothing for cold weather dressing. Today this material is used for coats, jackets, pant linings and sports wear, among other things.

    Sporting Equipment

    • Synthetic fleece such as Polar Fleece is used to create outdoor sporting equipment. Sleeping bags for camping can be made entirely out of fleece or can have a lining or outer shell made from fleece. Thin wetsuits used for diving are made out of fleece as well. For skydiving, jumpers often wear Polar Fleece suits and gloves.

    Pet Products

    • Because natural fleece is made using wool, it has natural water and stain repellent characteristics, making it a good choice for animal products because it is easy to clean. Fleece is used to create numerous pet products. Dog beds are often made with a soft fleece cover. Pet blankets and many stuffed toys for dogs are made using fleece. Fleece is also used for small animals, such a guinea pigs, to create a nesting area in pet cages.

    In the Home

    • Fleece is used throughout the modern home and was a common fixture in homes throughout history as well. Blankets have historically been made out of fleece and continue to be today. Fleece can be spun into yarn and used in the house as pot holders, afghans or towels. Because of its ease of cleaning, fleece is also used to make rugs in a variety of styles. Rag rugs, fur rugs and yarn rugs are all made using woolen and synthetic fleece.