The Birth of Polar Fleece, and other Polyester Wonders
By Michael Frank, Adventure Journal on December 26th, 2011
It’s no wonder that fleece was invented by the outdoor clothing industry, which sought something lighter and more easily modifiable than down or wool. But do you know how it’s made, why it works, its pitfalls as well as advantages? Do you know what happens to it near a campfire, and why? On this public radio segment Sean Cormier, assistant professor in the Textile Design and Marketing Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and Jill Dumain, Director of Environmental Strategy at Patagonia, go through the glory that is polyester fleece. It’s a good 101 for any outdoor geek who wants to better understand not only how this stuff came to be, but when to wear what — why wool stretches out, but doesn’t stink, and so on.
