Sherpa, "fleece" and coral fleece are three names that get used almost interchangeably by buyers — but they are three different constructions, and the difference shows up in warmth, hand feel, shedding and what you can print on the surface. They are all knitted polyester, and all brushed to raise a soft pile. What separates them is how that pile is made and finished.
How each one is built
Every synthetic fleece starts the same way: polyester yarn is knitted into a flat jersey, then run through brushing (napping) machines that tear fibre ends out of the surface to stand them up. From there the three diverge.
- Polar fleece (摇粒绒) is brushed on both faces and then sheared level, so the nap is even and pebbly. It is the original fleece — tough, double-sided, and the construction most people picture when they say "fleece." Typical weight runs about 200–400 gsm.
- Coral fleece (珊瑚绒) is brushed to a shorter, denser, silkier pile using ultra-fine micro-denier yarn. It feels almost like velvet and absorbs water well, which is why it shows up in robes, baby blankets and home textiles.
- Sherpa (仿羊羔绒) is brushed and then curled or crimped so the raised layer imitates the curly wool of a shearling lining — one bumpy, woolly face, one smooth flat knit back. It is polyester, not sheepskin, and its whole reason for existing is warmth per gram at a fraction of wool's cost.
GSM bands and why they lie
GSM (grams per square meter, measured by a standard like ASTM D3776) is the number buyers quote, but it does not tell you warmth on its own. The pile traps air, and a deeper, denser pile traps more air per square meter than a smooth one. So a 300 gsm coral or sherpa will feel thicker and warmer than a 300 gsm single-sided polar fleece, even though the number is identical. As a practical rule of thumb from suppliers: polar runs roughly 200–400 gsm, sherpa about 280–400 gsm, and coral about 280–380 gsm for home textiles. For lightweight throws and kids' blankets you can drop coral to around 180–250 gsm.
What this means for blankets and pet beds
- Pick polar fleece for something tough and washable that has to take friction — outdoor throws, pet crate liners, promotional blankets. It resists pilling better and is the cheapest of the three.
- Pick coral fleece for maximum softness to the touch — gift blankets, robes, baby and kids' products, and pet blankets where "super soft" is the selling point. It is also your only choice here if you want to sublimate-print a pattern on the face.
- Pick sherpa for a wool-look, high-warmth product that photographs well — premium throws, reversible blankets (sherpa one side, smooth other), pet beds that need that cosy den feel. The curled face does not take printing, so plan for solid colours or a reversed smooth side.
Shedding, pilling and care — the part buyers miss
The longer and more curled the pile, the more prone it is to shedding loose fibres, especially in the first wash. This is a function of the construction, not automatically a quality defect — but it is why a premium sherpa or coral blanket is singed or heat-set to stabilise the pile, and why you should ask the mill whether the lot has been pile-stabilised and whether they run a shedding test. For pet products, shedding matters more than for adult throws because animals ingest the lint. Ask for a pilling-resistance grade (tested to methods in the ASTM D3512 family) if the product will rub against itself.
For care, all three want cold, gentle washing with no fabric softener — softener coats the fibres and mats the nap. Sherpa specifically should be air-dried: heat permanently mats the curl. Coral and polar fleece tolerate low-heat drying. A care note on the label is not a nice-to-have; it is what keeps a wholesale reorder from coming back with a hand-feel complaint.
Still not sure? Send us the product, not the name
When you quote the fabric type alone, the mill guesses. Send us what you are making — pet blanket, throw, robe — plus GSM target, width, colour or pattern, end use and quantity, and we will recommend the construction. Sherpa, polar and coral are all regular lines at our Changshu mill, so a swatch decision is fast.
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References
- Fominte — Fleece Product Range: Every Fleece Type and Who It's For (GSM bands, construction and application mapping for polar, sherpa and coral fleece)
- Natuclothes — Types of Fleece Fabric: Weight Bands and Constructions (knit-and-brush construction, ASTM D3776 weight measurement, care guidance)
- FabricAtlas — Sherpa (Knit Pile) Fabric — Properties, Uses & Care (sherpa pile construction, weight and typical applications)