Polar fleece (Polartec)
Forro polar (Polartec)
- Date
- 1979-1981 · confidence medium
- Place
- Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States
- Credited to
- Malden Mills (Aaron Feuerstein) with Patagonia
- Field
- Tools
What it is
A light, warm brushed polyester fabric that insulates even when wet and dries very quickly. It replaced wool in mountain and sports clothing.
Malden Mills developed the fabric in 1979; the first commercial garment is Patagonia's Synchilla (1981). Malden Mills did not patent fleece, which made it easy to imitate.
What it led to
- lightweight mid-layers in technical mountain clothing
- cheap warm clothing from recycled PET bottles (1993)
- plastic microfibres released in washing