What is Jersey Fabric?

Jersey is a knitted fabric, and the word has two common uses. In English-language technical sources, jersey means a single-knit fabric made on one set of needles; this matches what Turkish suppliers call süprem (single jersey). In Turkish trade usage, jarse is broader: a general name for stretchy knitted fabrics of many fibers, which suppliers also apply to double-bed structures. The name alone therefore does not specify either the fiber or the structure.

What does jersey mean?

The TDK (Turkish Language Association) dictionary defines jarse, from French jersey, as a stretchy fabric of silk or wool and as a garment made of it (our translation). Today’s use is much wider. Boyner Mag (September 25, 2026) describes jersey as a group of fabrics produced by knitting that can be made from different yarns. A wholesaler’s page says the fabric originally made of wool is now also produced from cotton, cotton blends and synthetic fibers (Atilla Tekstil).

Is jersey the same as single jersey (süprem)?

Not always. In English technical sources, jersey describes fabric knitted with one set of needles and one yarn (Pratt Institute). CottonWorks lists jersey among the single knits, and rib and interlock among the double knits. This matches the Turkish süprem; see single jersey.

Turkish supplier pages widen the name. One treats standard jarse as a “single knit” (tek örgü) and also speaks of “interlock jarse” (Atilla Tekstil); another distinguishes single-knit and double-knit jarse and finds the double knit thicker and more durable (İntaşlar). The result: writing only “jarse” or “jersey” in a quotation does not state the structure. Write “single jersey” for a single-bed fabric and “interlock” or “double knit” for a double-bed fabric.

Which fibers is jersey made from?

Boyner Mag lists cotton, viscose, polyester and elastane; TextileGlossary mentions cotton, wool, polyester and viscose jersey separately. Elastane increases stretch, and jersey knitted from fluid fibers such as viscose can drape more on the body (Boyner Mag). Fiber ratio determines the hand, moisture behavior and care of the fabric; have it written as a percentage in the quotation.

Weight and properties

Because jersey is a group name, there is no single weight range. For measured examples, see the single jersey entry for single-bed structures and the interlock entry for double-bed structures; to find the weight of a sample, use the fabric GSM calculator. The knitted structure helps jersey adapt to body movement more easily than woven fabric (Boyner Mag). One wholesaler describes jersey as “light to medium weight” and opaque (Atilla Tekstil).

Uses

CottonWorks calls jersey the most common knitted fabric today, used in T-shirts, underwear and swimwear. Boyner Mag lists T-shirts, dresses, skirts, trousers, sweatshirts and sportswear. Atilla Tekstil adds jersey sheets, sweaters and sweatpants.

What to specify when sourcing jersey

1. State the structure: single-bed (single jersey) or double-bed (interlock). The name “jersey” does not say which.
2. Ask for the fiber as a percentage: the cotton, viscose, polyester and elastane ratio. In jersey with elastane, excessively hot water and high heat can affect the elasticity over time (Boyner Mag); follow the care label.
3. Have shrinkage measured: Atilla Tekstil recommends washing cotton jersey before sewing because of its tendency to shrink. Ask for the width and length change by ISO 5077, with ISO 6330 procedures; the shrinkage calculator helps with the cutting allowance.
4. Ask for the weight and width with their condition: greige or finished; open width or tubular.

For a comparison of knitted fabric families, see the knitted fabric entry; to find suppliers, see knitted fabric manufacturers and suppliers in Turkey.

Frequently asked questions

Is jersey breathable?

Jersey is not a fiber name but a group of fabrics; sweating depends on fiber, weight and structure. EU Regulation 1007/2011 on textile fibre names (Annex IX) uses agreed moisture regains of 8.5% for cotton, 13% for viscose and modal, and 1.5% for polyester; in other words, cotton and viscose jersey absorb moisture well and polyester jersey absorbs little. In one study, 100% modal single jersey showed higher air permeability than cotton, bamboo and Tencel samples; however, the modal single jersey was lighter than the cotton one (120 against 150 g/m²) and the number of samples was limited (Suganthi et al., 2024). For your own fabric, ask for air permeability (EN ISO 9237) and water-vapor resistance (EN ISO 11092) values. Details are in breathable fabrics.

Does jersey shrink?

It depends on the fiber and finishing. One supplier notes that cotton jersey tends to shrink and recommends washing it before sewing (Atilla Tekstil). Before ordering, have the dimensional change after washing measured by ISO 5077.

Is jersey the same as penye?

No. Penye is the Turkish name for yarn spun from combed cotton, while jersey is the name of a fabric. The same jersey can be knitted from penye yarn. See combed cotton yarn (penye).