Piqué, Cotton, or Jersey?: Everything You Need To Know About Polo Shirt Fabrics

Style, comfort, look and feel. These are what we would call the most important factors that make a polo shirt wearable. Especially if they are meant to outfit a team. All of these factors except style are tied to the polo’s fabric. 

Have you ever had the jersey polo vs. polo polo dilemma? A lot of people aren’t clear about the differences. Poly polo is obviously polo shirts made of polyester. But what makes them different from jerseys or poly blends?

The right fabric for your polo shirts are what makes them meet your specific requirements. YouApparel’s blank polo shirt collection includes different types of polo shirts built with a variety of fabrics and blends. Each style in the selection serves specific needs and preferences, like performance polo shirts to equip sports teams, Dri Fit polo shirts for blue-collar workforce, polo shirts with stain release for restaurant staff and automotive workers, and more. Understanding polo fabrics helps a lot with your purchase being right for you in every way.

100% Cotton Polo Shirts

 The most popular fabric preference, 100% cotton polos come in a lot of styles from a lot of brands. The difference is in the quality of cotton. YouApparel’s polo collection comes from established names in the wholesale market, known for good quality materials like Under Armour, Core 365, Devon & Jones, and more. We curated a fine selection of 100% cotton polos that deliver the best value to our customers who prefer complete cotton garments. Also known as 100 cotton polo shirts, these styles offer superior natural breathability and a soft feel due to cotton being the only material. There is a little amount of moisture absorption, but if the polos get wet, they stay wet for a while. When it comes to customization, 100 cotton polos make excellent canvases for embroidery and good for printing.

Devon & Jones D100 Pima Piqué Short-Sleeve Polo

Harriton M200 6 oz. Ringspun Cotton Piqué Short-Sleeve Polo 

100% Polyester Polo Shirts

Arguably the most common fabric among polos. You can find full polyester polos almost anywhere. A complete polyester build generally makes these polo shirts more affordable than 100% cotton counterparts. Additionally, polyester’s inherent traits carry over to the garments as well; traits like durability, moisture-wicking, and sleek looks. Certain brands also add unique traits like stain-release, snag-protection etc. to their 100% poly polo shirts. Dri-fit polo shirts or similar ones belong to this category.

Team 365 TT21 Command Snag Protection Polo 

Core 365 CE101 Balance Colorblock Performance Piqué Polo 

UltraClub 8405 Cool & Dry Sport Polo 

Core 365 88181 Origin Performance Piqué Polo 

Cotton-Poly Blend Polo Shirts 

As the name suggests, blends combine two or more fabrics to give the garment the best traits from each material. There are cotton-polyester blends that combine more cotton and a little polyester. It can be in any proportion as long as the cotton is more. 60% or more cotton polos are softer and more comfortable compared to 50% cotton and 50% polyester polo shirts. Then there are poly-cotton blends where the polyester content is more. Polos made of these blends are durable, breathable, come with moisture wicking and better shape retention. They make the best uniform polos. There are more blends like Poly-Spandex Jersey, Cotton-Poly-Spandex etc. 

Harriton M265 Easy Blend™ Polo 

North End NE100 Jaq Snap-Up Stretch Performance Polo 

Performance Fabrics

Modern performance polo options feature advanced synthetic materials that add almost every feature one would expect from a performance wear like moisture-wicking, quick dry, wrinkle resistance, shape retention and durability. Performance fabrics will definitely have polyester in the blend or can be 100% polyester also. You can find performance polo shirts in YouApparel that also come with anti-microbial properties, making them solid options for Healthcare professionals.

Dri Fit polo shirts are among the best in moisture control, making them perfect for:

• Athletic activities
• Outdoor events
• High-energy work environments

• Different fabrics offer varying levels of durability.
• Polyester blends resist fading.
• Cotton-poly combinations minimize shrinkage
• Performance fabrics maintain their shape

• Each fabric type handles temperature differently.
• Cotton breathes naturally
• Performance fabrics regulate body heat
• Blended materials balance comfort and function

These fabrics are built to resist snags and offer exceptional resistance to ripping and threading. Harriton offers some of the finest snag-resistant polo shirts in the market, and we have them all in our collection.

• Very durable and ideal for repeated wear
• Generally made of polyester or poly blends
• Great for workers coming in contact with rough surfaces

There are a few polo styles that come with top-notch UV protection. They get a UPF rating for the same. 

• UPF 50+ is the maximum rating blocking around 98% of UV radiation
• Great for outdoor workers
• Complemented by moisture-wicking 

• Cotton and cotton blends
• Professional appeal
• All-day comfort

• Performance fabrics
• Moisture-wicking properties
• Freedom of movement

• Durable fabrics
• Easy care
• Professional appeal

Pick the perfect fabric for your needs. Browse our collection today and discover the difference quality materials make.