Single vs Double Jersey(Interlock) Fabrics: What’s Best for Your Fashion Brand?

In the dynamic world of knitwear, the ultimate fabric face-off often comes down to single vs double jersey fabrics. While both are widely used in fashion and activewear, choosing the right one can make or break your garment’s performance, fit, and longevity. Did you know that over 65% of global T-shirt production uses single jersey fabric due to its lightweight, breathable qualities? Meanwhile, double jersey fabrics are preferred for over 40% of premium babywear and performance apparel because of their durability and buttery-soft feel.

Whether you're launching a fashion startup or scaling your apparel brand, understanding the key differences between single jersey and double jersey knit fabrics is essential. From stretch recovery to printability, each has unique strengths that suit different product lines. Let’s unravel their textures, benefits, and best use cases—so your designs not only look good but wear even better.

What Are Single Jersey Fabrics?

Single jersey fabrics are the most basic and commonly used knitted fabrics. Made with a single set of needles, they feature a smooth surface on the front and a more textured appearance on the back. This construction gives the fabric a soft, lightweight feel and excellent breathability, making it ideal for warm-weather garments.

They stretch well across the width, making them comfortable for casual wear. However, one drawback is that single jersey tends to curl at the edges, especially when cut. It also has less structure and can become transparent at lower GSM (grams per square meter).

Popular Uses:

Single jersey is widely used for t-shirts, tank tops, lightweight dresses, sleepwear, and everyday basics. Because it's cost-effective and easy to print on, it’s a go-to for brands focused on vibrant, trendy, and comfortable pieces.

What Are Double Jersey Fabrics?

Double jerseys are interlock-knit fabrics created using two rows of needles. They are essentially two layers of single jersey knit together, giving them a uniform appearance on both sides and a thicker, more stable structure.

This construction makes double jersey fabric more durable and less prone to curling at the edges. It stretches moderately and recovers well, offering a balance of flexibility and support. Double jersey fabric also feels smoother, denser, and more luxurious against the skin.

Popular Uses:

Double jersey fabrics are commonly used in babywear, yoga pants, leggings, polo shirts, activewear, and winterwear base layers. Their thickness and refined finish make them ideal for premium and performance-focused clothing lines.

Single vs Double Jersey Fabrics: Key Differences Explained

Understanding the difference between single and double jersey fabrics is essential when choosing the right textile for your clothing line. Below is a detailed comparison based on critical performance and design factors:

1. Thickness & Weight

Single Jersey: Single jersey is a lightweight, breathable fabric, typically ranging from 120 to 180 GSM (grams per square meter). Because it’s made using a single row of needles, the resulting fabric is thin and ideal for warm-weather clothing. Its lightweight nature also makes it cost-effective and easy to layer.

Double Fabric: Double jersey is an interlock knit fabric, meaning it is essentially two single jerseys knitted together. As a result, double jersey fabric is thicker and denser, typically falling between 180 to 260 GSM. It offers more warmth and structure, which makes it suitable for transitional or cooler seasons.

🔹 Fact: A 100% cotton double jersey fabric is nearly twice as thick as a comparable single jersey, providing better thermal insulation without adding bulk.

2. Stretch & Recovery

Single Jersey: Single jersey fabric naturally stretches more across the width due to its loose knit structure. However, this stretch lacks strength, and garments made from single jersey may lose shape over time. Blending it with elastane/spandex (like 95% cotton, 5% elastane) can improve recovery, but 100% cotton jerseys will typically sag after prolonged wear.

Double Jersey Fabric: Double jersey has a tighter construction that provides a balanced 2-way stretch—both in width and length—along with better shape recovery. It holds its form even after multiple wears and washes, making it ideal for body-hugging silhouettes like yoga pants or fitted tops.

🔹 Fact: Double jersey fabrics have 25–30% better shape retention than single jersey fabrics, making them preferred for performance wear and baby clothing where consistency in fit matters.

3. Texture & Aesthetic Appearance

Single Jersey: This fabric has an asymmetrical look—smooth and flat on the front, and looped or slightly rough on the reverse side. While it's excellent for casualwear and streetwear, the difference in texture may not be ideal for reversible or luxury pieces.

Double Jersey Fabric: Double jersey fabric has a symmetrical and smooth texture on both sides, giving it a cleaner, more refined look. This uniformity not only feels luxurious but also elevates the visual appeal of the garment, especially for brands targeting a more premium market.

🔹 Fact: Many high-end baby clothing brands prefer double jersey fabric for its buttery-soft feel and reversible surface, which adds comfort and design flexibility.

4. Curling & Handling in Production

Single Jersey: One of the biggest challenges with single jersey is edge curling—when cut, the fabric tends to roll at the sides, complicating the stitching and finishing process. This issue can affect seam accuracy and design lines, especially in beginner-friendly setups.

Double Jersey Fabric: Thanks to its double-knit construction, double jersey fabric lies flat when cut and maintains a stable shape during garment production. This stability reduces fabric wastage and speeds up the cutting and sewing process.

🔹 Fact: Garment manufacturers report up to 20% lower fabric wastage when working with double jersey fabric compared to single jersey, especially in automated cutting environments.

5. Durability & Longevity

Single Jersey: While comfortable, single jersey is more prone to pilling, tearing, and distortion over time—especially in 100% cotton variants. It’s best used for short-term fashion pieces, promotional t-shirts, or items not meant for rugged use.

Double Jersey Fabric: Double jersey fabric is stronger and more durable, designed to withstand repeated washing and wear. It resists pilling better and holds color longer, making it suitable for products with longer life cycles.

🔹 Fact: Double jersey fabric retains over 85% of its original form after 30+ washes, while basic single jersey may retain only 60–70%, depending on quality and GSM.

6. Print Compatibility

Single Jersey: This fabric is well-loved in the fashion industry for its ability to take on bright, detailed prints. Digital printing, screen printing, and even sublimation (in poly-jersey blends) come out sharp and vibrant. That's why graphic tees often use single jersey.

Double Jersey Fabric: While still printable, double’s thicker surface can sometimes absorb ink unevenly, especially in intricate patterns. It’s more suitable for solid colors, embroidery, or heat-transfer logos rather than fine detailed prints.

🔹 Fact: Brands looking for vibrant, colorful graphics on t-shirts typically prefer single jersey because it offers up to 30% better print sharpness than double.

Current Trends in Single and Double Jersey Fabric Usage

Fashion trends continue to evolve, but fabric comfort and function remain top priorities.

Single Jersey Trends:

Brands are moving toward organic cotton single jersey to reduce environmental impact. Bold digital prints on jersey tees remain popular, and stretch blends are being used in bodycon dresses and active-casual hybrids.

Double Jersey Trends:

Premium loungewear is seeing a rise in bamboo and modal double jersey fabrics, which offer both sustainability and softness. Due to their support and comfort, double jersey blends with elastane are being used more in yoga and athleisure collections. Additionally, thermal doubles are trending in cold-weather capsule collections.

By following these trends, your brand can offer fresh, relevant products while staying true to your core fabric strengths.

Which One Should You Choose?

The choice between single jersey fabrics and double jersey fabrics ultimately depends on your product goals and customer expectations.

Choose single jersey if your brand is focused on breathable, lightweight fashion for warm climates. It's budget-friendly and works beautifully for printed casualwear, fashion basics, and fast-moving collections.

Go for double jersey if your garments need structure, durability, and a more polished finish. It’s the ideal fabric for baby wear, premium basics, gym wear, and transitional-season clothing where quality and longevity matter.

Understanding the difference allows you to align your product with your brand’s mission—whether that’s affordability and fashion-forwardness or premium feel and function.

NoName: A Fabric-First Clothing Manufacturer in India

As a fashion brand, it’s crucial to work with a manufacturing partner who not only understands your vision but also helps you make smart fabric decisions from the start.

That’s where NoName stands out. As a top-tier clothing manufacturer in India, NoName combines textile expertise with deep market knowledge. They help fashion brands across the world choose the right fabric—whether it’s single jersey fabrics for a fresh summer drop or double jersey fabrics for a performance wear line.

NoName is known for:

• Strong technical knowledge of fabrics

• Sourcing high-quality and sustainable materials

• Assisting with low to medium order quantities (perfect for growing brands)

• Offering sampling and product development support

• Maintaining strict quality control for every piece produced

They don’t just manufacture garments; they guide fashion entrepreneurs to make confident, fabric-first decisions that add value to their collections.

Conclusion: Know Your Fabric, Know Your Brand

The choice between single vs double jersey fabrics isn’t just a technical one—it’s strategic. Your fabric speaks volumes about your brand’s identity, quality standards, and attention to customer comfort. Single jersey is light, flexible, and great for prints, while double jersey is sturdy, structured, and premium to the touch.

As a fashion brand, making informed fabric decisions helps you design with purpose, produce with efficiency, and deliver garments that resonate with your audience.

Ready to Bring Your Vision to Life? Choose NoName

Whether you need airy single jersey fabrics for a casualwear line or luxurious double jersey fabrics for performance or babywear, NoName is the perfect manufacturing partner. With a commitment to quality, flexibility, and collaboration, they help fashion brands like yours build beautiful collections that customers love.

👉 Connect with NoName – the most trusted clothing manufacturer in India – and take your fabric game to the next level.

WhatsApp: +91-9717 508 508

Email: hello@nonameglobal.com

Website: www.nonameglobal.com  

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