What is Mesh Fabric?

Mesh fabric is the general name for fabrics with regular openings (holes) that give the surface a net-like, porous look. The name describes appearance, not a fiber or a single structure: open, net-like structures can be made by knitting, weaving or netting (TextileGlossary). Turkish suppliers call it file, or file kumaş. This entry focuses on knitted mesh.

What does “mesh” mean?

TextileGlossary describes mesh as an open, porous structure formed by an interlocking network of yarns. Because the word covers so many constructions, it points to an open-weave look rather than to a standard or a particular structure.

In Turkish, the dictionary meaning of file is a net: a net of knots made from yarns such as wool or cotton, a net bag of loops for carrying shopping, or a net-like braid used to keep hair in place (TDK). The dictionary gives no fabric sense; file kumaş is a name used in the trade and in everyday speech. That is one more reason to ask a supplier for the structure and not only the name.

How knitted mesh is made

Two routes stand out.

• Warp knitting: Every needle is fed a separate lengthwise yarn, and warp knitting machines typically make tricot, raschel and crochet fabrics (CottonWorks). The knitting module of the Turkish Ministry of National Education (MEB) shows net-structured warp knits as a separate example (figure 1.17). Warp-knit fabric cut across the width does not curl or fray (CottonWorks); if you try to unravel it, it either does not unravel at all or unravels slightly in the lengthwise direction (MEB, 2011).
• Weft knitting and tuck stitches: Tuck stitches can give a fabric a cellular look, which some people call mesh (CottonWorks). The same tuck structures are the basis of piqué, used in golf and tennis shirts; CottonWorks introduces single piqué as known for its visible micro-mesh structure (holes).

Names mesh is confused with

Properties and weight

No standard weight range for mesh fabric was found; weight varies with yarn, structure and density. An open structure tends to ease the passage of air and water vapor: Suganthi et al. (2024) report that low weight, low thickness and an open structure increase water-vapor permeability. In warp knits, stretch is greater in the lengthwise direction; CottonWorks writes that this makes warp knits suited to swimwear and activewear.

Uses

TextileGlossary says mesh fabrics are used in apparel, sportswear, industrial products and home furnishings. MEB lists these uses for warp knits, a family that includes net-structured fabrics: women's lingerie, swimwear, sportswear and lining fabrics; tulle curtains, tablecloths and lace; and technical products such as filters, greenhouse covers, shoe uppers, bags and fishing nets (MEB, 2011).

What to check when sourcing mesh fabric

1. State the structure: warp knit or weft knit? Have the size and density of the openings approved on a sample.
2. Ask for the composition as percentages, including the elastane percentage, if any.
3. Test the edge behavior: warp knits do not curl or fray when cut across; in weft knits the ends curl and a stitch can run (CottonWorks).
4. Ask for weight and width with their condition: greige or finished? To work out g/m² from a sample, use the fabric GSM calculator; to convert between kilograms and meters, use the fabric meter to kg calculator.
5. Ask for post-wash dimensional change on mesh: the ISO 5077 method and ISO 6330 procedures should be stated in the report.

To find Turkish knitters and mills, see fabric suppliers in Turkey and the Knitted Fabrics category.

Frequently asked questions

Is mesh fabric breathable?

Mesh is a structure name; an open, porous structure can help air and water vapor pass (Suganthi et al., 2024). But the fiber matters too: the EU fiber labeling regulation (1007/2011, Annex IX) accepts moisture allowances, the values used when calculating fiber content, of 8.5% for cotton and 1.5% for polyester, so polyester mesh absorbs little moisture. For your own fabric, ask for air permeability (EN ISO 9237) and water-vapor resistance (EN ISO 11092). More in breathable fabrics for summer.

Is mesh fabric knitted or woven?

It can be either: TextileGlossary says mesh structures are made by knitting, weaving or netting. This entry covers knitted mesh: net-structured warp knits (MEB) and mesh-like weft knits made with tuck stitches (CottonWorks).

Is mesh the same as piqué?

No. Piqué is a single-bed weft knit whose tuck stitches create a micro-mesh (perforated) texture (CottonWorks); mesh is the general name for a net-like, open look.