Winter offers one of the more interesting apparel seasons, especially in the north. The colder weather brings demand for the thickest, warmest fabrics for winter that still allow flexibility in work and play. It’s a great opportunity for apparel brands to expand their selection and experiment with some new fabrics! Here are some of the warmest fabrics for winter coats and weather this season.
Warmest Fabrics for Winter Coats & Sweaters
Experimenting with new fabrics means finding different manufacturers and materials to work with. If you’re looking to create new designs from scratch, check out Shirtual’s premium collection of fabric and sewing services for more ideas.
Fleece
Fleece is an especially popular option among backpackers and hikers due to its warmth and comfort. Despite its furry exterior, though, it is almost entirely synthetic! It’s one of the best examples of why high-quality fabric can come from any source or trade.
As for its merits, there’s almost too much to say. It’s lightweight, warm, and very water resistant due to its petroleum-based material. Better yet, it looks sleek and fine on any occasion and has a lot of interesting variations for apparel brands and designers to try.
For your next collections, look for fleece blends that give more warmth or interesting texture to your apparel. Polar fleece is arguably the original and most commonly found form of fleece, renowned for its thickness and quick-drying capabilities. Sherpa fleece is especially popular for its ability to mimic authentic wool. However, if you’re looking for something more casual and less heavy-duty, consider the thinner microfleece for your sweaters this holiday season.
Wool
While definitely more expensive than fleece and other cotton-based materials, wool is popular in cold-weather regions for a reason. It has fantastic insulation, traps a lot of body heat inside, and can even create heat of its own.
The key to this magical heat creation is actually in how it interacts with moisture. Wool also resists water very well but in a different way from fleece. It actually has the fascinating ability to trap water rather than repel it, condensing water to the point that it releases energy.
This is all very technical, but the core of it is that wool is a great premium material for higher-end apparel brands. Consider Merino wool or Shetland wool as some options.
Canvas
It’s not surprising seeing canvas here, since it’s a popular material for backpacks and other insulating merchandise. That being said, while it is one of the warmest fabrics for winter, it’s better suited as outerwear due to its rougher texture.
Canvas jackets and coats are particularly popular for outdoorsy types given their strength and resistance to grime. Most canvas comes from blends with either cotton or linen, which add a layer of breathability to the fabric. Canvas made from synthetic materials like polyester or nylon are better for durability.
Nylon
Silk is a popular and fashionable fabric for clothes and the synthetic alternative of nylon shares some of its benefits. It’s strong, stays warm, and has a smooth texture that makes it unique for winter wear.
Unlike some of the other fabric options on this list, nylon can take on more vibrant and saturated colors. It gives you more room to explore different shading options for your collection while still being one of the warmest fabrics for winter. Crinkle nylon and Oxford nylon are interesting options for this winter season.
Corduroy
Corduroy is stereotypically a very ‘1970s-university-professor-wear’ fabric, with elegance written in every ridge and curve. It’s been making a very big, nostalgic comeback as fashionable comfort wear for years now, being especially popular for jackets and vests.
The material, of course, doubles as one of the warmest fabrics for winter thanks to its tight knitting patterns and special ridges. They come in all types of blends, from cotton to wool to even polyester, but their signature look and texture make them universally loved. Variations come with the stretchy spandex corduroy, the tiny-ridged pinwheel corduroy, and the big-ridged elephant corduroy, etc.
Flannel
A worldwide favorite for both workmen and hipsters, flannel is a great material for any weather or condition. To make flannel one of the warmest fabrics for winter, you’ll want to request a tighter flannel weave with thicker materials. Cotton blends are the most popular flannel options here.
Typically, flannel is best used in button-up shirts due to its comforting and warm texture. While it’s possible to make flannel jackets, they’re often layered with a warmer underside (usually made of wool or fleece).
Cashmere
One of the most expensive but warmest fabrics for winter, cashmere is famous for its soft texture and alluring appearance. Cashmere is traditionally taken from the wool of a goat in the Kashmir region, making it harder to come by but a very worthwhile premium material.
“Cashmere sweaters” are often used as a synonym for “cozy, comfortable winter wear” in Western countries. While they’re far from restricted to sweaters, the material is admittedly too soft to not be worn over the skin.
They also come in a few variations and, funnily enough, grading systems. Grade A cashmere is the highest and softest of the bunch, while Grade B and C tend to be rougher and more suited for outerwear.
(Side note: Having a grading system for a certain material seems to almost be a guarantee of its quality and demand. Funny how that works!)
How to make winter coats and sweaters that sell
If you’re designing a winter coat or sweater this new year, you’re a little spoiled for options. Looking for something casual that can be worn in and out of home? Oversized sweaters are plenty chill and come in all sorts of textures and fabrics. You also can’t go wrong with a hoodie.
Larger jackets, fleece sweatpants, and coats are also great for this season. Check out Shirtual’s premium and brand collections for an idea of what your next collection will look like soon.
Already have something in mind? Let us in on the details–Shirtual’s one-stop solutions specialize in producing stress-free merchandise for your brand. Worldwide distribution, secure storage, and professional packing; we have everything you need to start your own clothing business in 2025. Focus on your branding–let us help handle the rest.
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