When I first started as a French Terry fabric supplier five years ago, I fielded a lot of confused questions: “Is that the soft towel material for loungewear? Why would it work for skiing?” At the time, most ski apparel brands relied on technical fleece, nylon, or polyester blends designed for extreme wind and rain, with little consideration for the comfort of the person wearing it during long, cold days on the mountain. But over the last few seasons, I’ve watched as skiers, resort gear managers, and even a few pro freestyle athletes have started reaching out to test our French Terry fabric for their ski layers, and the results have changed the conversation entirely. Today, I want to break down exactly why French Terry works for ski wear, the science behind its performance, and why it’s a choice worth considering for anyone who spends time on the slopes—from casual weekend skiers to brand managers looking for a more comfortable technical option. French Terry
Let’s start with the basics, because not everyone knows what makes French Terry unique. Unlike smooth fleece or tightly woven polyester, French Terry is a knit fabric with a looped inner side and a smooth, polished outer surface. The loops are non-pilled, which means they won’t fuzz up after multiple washes or rub against your neck through the collar of your jacket or base layer. What makes this structure game-changing for ski conditions is how it handles moisture, which is the biggest enemy of ski wear. If your base layer gets wet from sweat, that moisture can pull heat away from your body, leading to hypothermia even in temperatures above freezing. Traditional technical fabrics often wick moisture away from the skin, but they leave it sitting on the outer surface, where it can take hours to evaporate—especially when it’s cold and humid on the mountain.
French Terry solves this by trapping small pockets of air within its inner loops, which acts as an insulator first. Those same loops also have a natural ability to absorb and hold moisture, so when you sweat while hiking up a black diamond run or waiting in a lift line, the liquid gets pulled into the fabric instead of sitting against your skin. The smooth outer layer then releases that moisture into the air much faster than bulkier fleece because it doesn’t have extra lint or loose fibers blocking evaporation. I tested this last winter when a local ski team borrowed 20 yards of our 280-gram mid-weight French Terry to make custom base layers for their training runs. By the end of a 3-hour practice, every skier commented that they didn’t feel clammy or chilled after stopping, which is a huge win—most technical fabrics leave you shivering within 10 minutes of sitting still on a chairlift.
Temperature regulation is another key point, and it’s something I’ve talked to ski product engineers about for years. French Terry’s insulating air pockets are just the right size for ski conditions: not so big that they let cold wind seep in, and not so tight that they restrict movement. For casual skiers who go up and down the mountain, stopping for hot cocoa, and walking around the resort, a mid-weight French Terry works perfectly as a base layer or mid-layer under a waterproof shell. It’s not too bulky, so it doesn’t feel like you’re wrapped in a sleeping bag, but it retains heat when the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. I’ve also noticed that many cross-country skiers prefer French Terry over traditional technical fabrics because of its stretch—we weave our French Terry with a 5% spandex blend, so it moves with your body as you pole or stride, no tight seams digging into your shoulders or arms.
Of course, I know some purists will push back and say “waterproofing is non-negotiable for ski wear,” and that’s true—no fabric can replace a high-quality waterproof shell for deep powder days or heavy snowfall. But French Terry works great as a layer under that shell, or even as a standalone outer layer for milder days when you don’t need full waterproofing. Last season, a small ski apparel brand contacted me about making lightweight French Terry jackets for their “spring ski” line, where temperatures are in the 40s during the day and drop to the 30s at night. Their testers reported that the French Terry jacket kept them warm enough for evening apres-ski, and it dried completely in an hour after a light snowfall, which was impossible with their old polyester mid-layers. We also did a test with water resistance, and when we applied a light spray to the outer surface of our French Terry, the water beaded up instead of absorbing—something most people don’t expect from a fabric that looks so soft. That’s because the smooth outer weave has a subtle tightness that repels light moisture, even without a special DWR (durable water repellent) coating, though we do offer water-repellent treatments as an option for brands that want extra protection.
Durability is another factor that comes up, especially for ski wear, which takes a beating from zippers, lift chairs, and tree branches. French Terry is inherently more durable than people think— the loops are tightly knit, so they don’t snag easily, and the smooth outer layer resists abrasion better than traditional fleece. We’ve had customers who’ve used our French Terry fabric to make ski jackets that have gone through 50+ washes, and they report no pilling, no stretching out, and no loss of insulation. That’s a big plus for rental ski gear, which needs to hold up to hundreds of uses per season. One of my regular clients rents ski jackets made with our French Terry, and they told me last year that the number of jacket returns due to wear and tear dropped by 30% after switching from their old technical fleece. They also said customers commented more often on how comfortable the jackets felt, which is a huge selling point for rental shops.
I should also talk about comfort, because for most skiers, that’s what it all boils down to. There’s nothing worse than a base layer that feels scratchy against your skin, or a mid-layer that rides up when you’re skiing. French Terry is known for its soft, plush feel next to the skin—we use a combed cotton blend for our base weight French Terry, so it’s gentle even for people with sensitive skin. The seams are flexible, and the fabric doesn’t dig in when you bend your arms or legs, which is a big difference from rigid technical fabrics. I’ve worn a French Terry base layer myself on ski trips, and after a full day of skiing, I didn’t have any red marks on my shoulders or waistband, which is something I never got with my old polyester base layers. Even when it’s wet, French Terry doesn’t feel cold and clammy against your skin—it absorbs the moisture so well that it still feels soft, not like a damp towel. Of course, for extremely cold days below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, I recommend pairing a lightweight French Terry base layer with a thicker wool mid-layer, but that’s true for any ski fabric, not just French Terry.
Now, I’m not saying French Terry is a one-size-fits-all solution for ski wear. It’s not going to replace waterproof shells for backcountry skiing in deep powder, and it’s not the best choice for someone who sweats heavily all day without stopping. But for the majority of skiers—casual and intermediate, resort skiers, cross-country skiers, and even backcountry skiers looking for a comfortable mid-layer—it’s a fantastic option that balances performance and comfort in a way that most technical fabrics don’t. What I’ve found working as a French Terry supplier is that a lot of ski brands have been stuck in the same cycle for years: using the same polyester and fleece blends because that’s what everyone has always used. But when they test French Terry, they’re surprised by how well it works, and how much positive feedback they get from customers.
If you’re a ski apparel brand looking to refresh your line, a resort manager in charge of rental gear, or just someone who wants a more comfortable layer for your ski trips, French Terry is worth testing. We offer custom weights and blends, from lightweight 180-gram fabrics for spring ski layers to heavy 320-gram mid-weight fabrics for cold days, and we can add treatments like water repellency or UV protection if you need them. We also work closely with small brands and individual makers, so you don’t have to place a huge bulk order to test the fabric for a new line.
At the end of the day, skiing is about enjoying being outdoors, and the gear you wear shouldn’t get in the way of that. Too often, technical ski gear sacrifices comfort for performance, leaving you miserable after a full day on the mountain. French Terry changes that by combining the insulation, moisture control, and durability you need for ski conditions with the soft, comfortable feel you want when you’re out having fun. I’ve seen first-hand how a well-made French Terry ski layer can make a day on the slopes better, and I’ve had skiers tell me that they no longer dread putting on their base layers before a trip, which is the highest praise a fabric supplier can get.
If you’re interested in learning more about our French Terry fabric for ski wear, want to request a sample, or discuss custom blends or treatments, I’m here to help. We’ve worked with dozens of brands and makers to create ski-specific French Terry fabrics, and we can help you find the right weight and finish for your needs. Don’t settle for generic technical fabrics that don’t balance comfort and performance—give French Terry a try, and see the difference it makes for your gear or your personal ski wear.
French Terry References
- Textile Institute. (2021). Functional Knit Fabrics for Outdoor Apparel. Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management.
- Ski Industry Association. (2022). Consumer Trends in Ski Apparel: Comfort vs. Performance. Outdoor Industry Report.
- International Organization for Standardization. (2019). Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Textiles. ISO 11092:2019.
- Textile Research Journal. (2020). Thermal Regulation Properties of Knit Fabrics for Cold Weather Apparel. Volume 90, Issue 15-16.
- American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. (2021). Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Textile Fabrics. AATCC 93-2021.
Shaoxing Xinlian Dyeing & Weaving Industrial Teade Co., Ltd.
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