Understanding our Sublimation Fabric Stretch Test
Understanding Fabric Stretch: Our Testing Process
When it comes to custom team apparel, “stretch” isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the difference between a jersey that moves with you and one that holds you back. But explaining stretch can be tricky, especially if you’ve never pulled a tension gauge on fabric. That’s why we built a simple, repeatable experiment to measure it.
Why We Did This
Every fabric feels different in hand. Some are soft and forgiving, others are firm and structured. Our goal was to give players, coaches, and buyers an easy way to compare fabrics without needing a textile lab.
So instead of throwing around vague terms like “stretchy” or “rigid,” we put numbers behind the feel.
The Experiment
- We folded each fabric sample in half (to create a 2-ply layer).
- We clipped the center point, then stabilized the fabric 20 cm away from the test point.
- Ease of Stretch — we pulled the fabric 3 cm and logged how many newtons of force it took.
– This measures how easily the fabric begins to move. - Max Stretch — we applied a constant 20 N force and logged how far the fabric stretched.
– This measures how much total give the fabric has under pressure.
It’s not a university-grade tensile test — but it’s consistent, easy to replicate, and it produces clear, comparable results.
Two Metrics, One Rating
We believe both measures matter:
- Ease of Stretch = comfort, “does it move with you?”
- Max Stretch = performance, “how far can it go before resisting?”
To keep things simple for shoppers, we normalized both metrics to a 1–5 star scale, then averaged them into one Marketing Stretch Rating. Finally, we rounded that score to the nearest 0.5 so it’s easy to read.
Results in Plain English
- Faux Cotton & Poly Spandex (161–200 GSM) → Extremely stretchy, 4.5–5★
- Poly Spandex Midweights (201–240 GSM) → Balanced performance, 2.5–4★
- Heavyweight Scratch-Resistant (241-280 GSM) → Strong and structured, 2.5★
- Poly Interlock (100% Polyester) → Stable but low stretch, 1–1.5★
These ratings make it easier to match the right fabric to the right use case: light and flexible for esports, firm and structured for contact sports, and everything in between.
Why It Matters
Choosing a fabric isn’t just about GSM or fiber content. Stretch affects comfort, mobility, durability, and even how your uniform feels after hours of wear. By translating stretch into an easy rating, we make it simpler for teams to choose the perfect material — without guessing.
Next: Shop Sublimation Products or return to Our Fabric Guide.