Microfiber
Fabric — one of 56 in the glossary
Fabric woven or knitted from extremely fine synthetic filaments — conventionally under one denier per filament, finer than a strand of silk. Packing many more filaments into the same yarn gives a fabric that is dense, smooth, light and unusually good at both repelling water from the outside and moving it along the surface, which is why microfiber turns up in both outerwear shells and cleaning cloths.
Fineness is the whole definition
Microfiber is not a material. It is a fineness: filaments under one denier, which is to say under one gram per 9,000 metres. The polymer is usually polyester, sometimes a polyester and polyamide blend.
Because the filaments are so fine, a yarn of a given weight contains far more of them, and the fabric has vastly more surface area and far smaller gaps between yarns.
That single change is what produces the properties. It is dense enough to shed water from outside, and has enough surface channelling to move moisture along it.
Apparel, not cleaning cloths
Most people meet the word on a cleaning cloth, where split filaments trap dust. That is a related but distinct product, and it is worth saying because searches for microfiber are dominated by it.
In apparel, microfiber is a shell and lining fabric: light windbreakers, golf outerwear, jacket linings and some performance polos. It is chosen for a smooth, dense hand at a very low weight.
It is often finished with a sueded or peached face, which is where the soft, slightly matte feel of a microfiber jacket comes from.
Decorating it
It is polyester, so the polyester rules apply: dye migration under heat, scorching at temperatures cotton tolerates, and no water-based or discharge ink.
The density is an additional problem for embroidery. Fine, tightly woven synthetics show needle holes, so a design with dense stitching can perforate the fabric — backing and a smaller needle are the usual answers.
Many microfiber shells also carry a water-repellent or polyurethane coating, which can stop adhesives and inks bonding at all. Test before committing.
Common questions
- What is microfiber fabric?
- Fabric made from synthetic filaments finer than one denier — finer than silk. The fineness makes it dense, smooth and light, and good at both repelling water and moving it along the surface.
- Is microfiber the same as the cleaning cloths?
- Related but not the same product. Cleaning cloths use split filaments that trap dust. Apparel microfiber is a dense shell or lining fabric, usually with a sueded face.
- Is microfiber waterproof?
- Water-resistant by construction rather than waterproof. The gaps between filaments are very small, which sheds light rain. Real waterproofing comes from a coating or membrane added on top.
- Can you embroider on microfiber?
- Yes, with backing and care. Because the weave is fine and dense, heavy stitching can leave visible needle holes, and any water-repellent coating can interfere with adhesion.
See also
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