Fleece in common usage is a fuzzy polyester material that came to prominence in the mid-1990s. (Originally it meant the intact pelt of a sheep, shorn from the skin of the living animal.) Shearling, by the way, is the intact pelt still attached to the (tanned) hide, turned inside out--seen mostly in winter coats.

Flannel is more ambiguous but is basically a thick cloth. A flannel shirt is just a thick, soft, casual cotton twill shirt (often in plaid). In suits, a flannel is a thick wool that is woven so that some fibers show. (It's actually more complicated than that--see this website--but what I said is the gist of the popular meaning.)

But "fleece" always means a polyester outdoorsy material, unless you're working on a sheep farm.

 

Flannel is more ambiguous but is basically a thick cloth. A flannel shirt is just a thick, soft, casual cotton twill shirt (often in plaid).

But what makes a flannel shirt, different from a normal twill shirt? Is it softer? If so, what is it that makes it softer seeing as they are both cotton?

 

A flannel shirt, usually made of cotton, is brushed to give it a softer texture. Flannel can be brushed on one side or both. Chamois cloth is similar, but thicker, at least in my experience.

 

But what makes a flannel shirt, different from a normal twill shirt? Is it softer? If so, what is it that makes it softer seeing as they are both cotton?

You know, I'm not really sure. In popular parlance, "flannel shirt" means "soft cotton-twill plaid shirt"--i.e., what the dad on "The Middle" wears and what Eddie Vedder wore in the early '90s. It's not really any softer than any other twill casual shirt. (Twill is woven in a diagonal and is thicker and thus softer than cotton poplins, which is what many dress shirts are.)

But I think my19 may have come up with the right answer. Now that I think about it, I do have a non-plaid shirt that would certainly be flannel, being of thick cotton twill, with a slightly fuzzy nap.

 

A flannel shirt, usually made of cotton, is brushed to give it a softer texture. Flannel can be brushed on one side or both. Chamois cloth is similar, but thicker, at least in my experience.

Out of curiousity, what weave do they typically use? Is it just an OCBD with a plaid pattern that is then brushed to make it softer? I'm looking at what I think is a Levi's flannel shirt right now from my closet and it looks like it is an oxford weave to me, so I think that's what it is, just an OCBD that's been brushed and has a plaid pattern.

 

Out of curiousity, what weave do they typically use? Is it just an OCBD with a plaid pattern that is then brushed to make it softer?

flannel has nothing to do with the pattern, like plaid, but the way the yarn used for weaving is processed.

 

Biggest difference is that flannel is made from sheep and fleece is made from recycled plastic bottles; other than that they're almost indistinguishable...

 

flannel has nothing to do with the pattern, like plaid, but the way the yarn used for weaving is processed.

I know, but in most cases, not all, they tend to have plaid patterns. My question was in regards to how the fabric is weaved in the shirt and what process is done to it that makes it so soft.

 

Biggest difference is that flannel is made from sheep and fleece is made from recycled plastic bottles; other than that they're almost indistinguishable...

I thought most flannels were cotton

Edit: I thought most **flannel shirts** (not flannels) were cotton.

 

I thought most flannels were cotton

Confusingly, flannel shirts and flannels (as the expression will typically be used here, to refer to a certain form of wool for trousers and jackets) are fundamentally different.

 

I know, but in most cases, not all, they tend to have plaid patterns. My question was in regards to how the fabric is weaved in the shirt and what process is done to it that makes it so soft.

Flannel, wool or cotton, has to do with how the fiber is processed (in this case it is carded), how tightly the yarn is spun, and can be a plain or twill weave. It may or may not be napped and if napped it may be on one or both sides.

I had a vague recollection of this from associating with friends in the fiber dept at SCAD but looked it up to verify.

 

Fleece, wool or cotton, has to do with how the fiber is processed (in this case it is carded), how tightly the yarn is spun, and can be a plain or twill weave. It may or may not be napped and if napped it may be on one or both sides.

I had a vague recollection of this from associating with friends in the fiber dept at SCAD but looked it up to verify.

You mean flannel...Not fleece...right?

What exactly is napping? And if it's not napped what makes it so soft?

 

You mean flannel...Not fleece...right?

What exactly is napping? And if it's not napped what makes it so soft?

yeah, whoops. I'll edit to correct.

Napping adds the fuzzy texture which can contribute to softness I guess.

 

By the way, fleece, whether synthetic like the stuff from Malden Mills or natural fiber is merely a knit fabric that has been heavily napped on one or both sides.

 

By the way, fleece, whether synthetic like the stuff from Malden Mills or natural fiber is merely a knit fabric that has been heavily napped on one or both sides.

Interesting, would that mean that flannel is a type of fleece?

EDIT: on second thought maybe not, since I believe flannels are woven, not knit.

 

Fleece in common usage is a fuzzy polyester material that came to prominence in the mid-1990s..

My Dad was the owner of a robe and duster manufacturing business his entire life. From the time I could walk I was brought to the factory to help out. We were making Fleece robes from as far back as I can remember, certainly by 1964. They were a staple of our summer production runs. There's nothing quite as unpleasant as working in an unventilated sweatshop, with sealed windows and fire exits, while the cutters are filling the air with fleece dust, and the Hoffman presses are bringing the humidity up to 100%.

He never did understand why my brother and I showed no interest in continuing the family business.

 

My Dad was the owner of a robe and duster manufacturing business his entire life. From the time I could walk I was brought to the factory to help out. We were making Fleece robes from as far back as I can remember, certainly by 1964. They were a staple of our summer production runs. There's nothing quite as unpleasant as working in an unventilated sweatshop, with sealed windows and fire exits, while the cutters are filling the air with fleece dust, and the Hoffman presses are bringing the humidity up to 100%.

He never did understand why my brother and I showed no interest in continuing the family business.

Interesting! I thought it didn't exist till the advent of Polartec by Malden Mills. At least I was never aware of it till around 1994 or so.

A fleece robe would be warm and comfy, I think.

 

Interesting! I thought it didn't exist till the advent of Polartec by Malden Mills. At least I was never aware of it till around 1994 or so.

A fleece robe would be warm and comfy, I think.

MM Polar fleece came to be in the 70s.

 

Flannel breathes, fleece not so much.