Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Keeping Yourself Insulated Through Fleece Jacket

By Mike Walters


The yield of wool shorn from a sheep or similar animal is referred to as fleece. It is a man made fabric created from polyester fibers and is available in several finishes or textures. Tagged by Time Magazine as "one of the hundred great things of the 20th Century" in 1999, fleece is today used for a number of applications with fleece jackets among the most popular.

The need for warmth in harsh weather conditions has always been man's goal since the beginning of time. As such, man has invented many a number of things such as fabric to keep him warm. However, until the 1980s, man has used layers upon layers of fabric to keep him warm during the cold weather. These layers of fabric restricted movement and performed miserably when damp. This was significantly changed in 1981. It was during this year when the company Malden Mills invented the Polar Fleece which revolutionized the clothing industry.

Malden Mills' invention is a soft to the touch and extremely light weight fabric. Said fabric also insulates well even when wet. Also, it allows the body to breath unlike the layers of layers of fabric being used before. As such, fleece has become a popular material in the manufacture of outerwear with fleece jackets among the most popular. Throughout the years, Malden Mills' Polar fleece has been modified to improve its disadvantages and increase its advantages. Today, among the varieties of fleece are Berber fleece, Sherpa and Shearling, and Plush fleece.

Among the number of applications of fleece, pieces of outerwear are among the most popular, primarily because of fleece's insulating properties. Items of outerwear manufactured out of fleece include jackets and boots, and hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens. Said insulating property of fleece also makes it the preferred material for sleeping bags and pet beds. Aside from such, certain decor items such as blankets, sheets, and towels are also being produced from said fabric. Also, kids' plush toys made from fleece are becoming popular today due to the soft and durable feel of aforementioned material.

There are a number of significant advantages to using fleece fabric. First is its ability to maintain warmth even under very harsh conditions-i.e., it brings very good insulation. Its longevity is another benefit one can derive from the use of said fabric. That is, it is very durable that it may be used for a very long time. It also is very versatile that one can definitely enjoy great comfort and unhindered movement when using products such as fleece jackets made from said fabric. Moreover, it is easy to sew and launders well, not to mention earth friendly.

The use of fleece fabric for products such as fleece jackets can indeed make a difference in harsh weather conditions. With the number of advantages that can be acquired from the utilization of said fabric, one can definitely use it as an alternative for other types of material used for clothing especially if the type of clothing is to be used in an extremely cold weather.




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