Polyester Fabric
India's highest-volume synthetic fabric - versatile, durable, and cost-effective polyester for every garment category from fashion to sportswear to uniforms.
What is Polyester Fabric?
Polyester is a synthetic fabric made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer fibres. It is the world's most widely produced textile fibre and India's highest-volume fabric category by weight. Polyester comes in dozens of constructions - woven polyester (for fashion fabric), polyester knit (for activewear and casualwear), polyester satin, polyester georgette, polyester chiffon, and more. Its key advantages are durability, wrinkle resistance, low cost, and consistent quality. Modern polyester fabrics can be made to closely mimic silk, cotton, and other natural fibres.
Key Properties
Key properties: highly durable and wrinkle-resistant, low moisture absorbency (quick-dry), holds shape well, colourfast (resistant to fading), easy care and machine washable, lightweight to heavy depending on construction, cost-effective. Polyester's low absorbency makes it less breathable than cotton, but this also means prints stay bright longer as colours don't bleed during washing.
Origin & History
Polyester was developed by DuPont in the USA in the 1940s and became commercially dominant in the 1960s and 1970s as affordable fashion fabric. In India, polyester production is centred in Surat, Gujarat - which is the world's largest polyester fabric manufacturing hub, producing billions of metres of polyester fabric annually. Reliance Industries and other Indian companies are among the world's largest polyester producers. Surat's polyester weaving industry supports India's entire fashion and export ecosystem.
Why Brands Choose Polyester
Polyester is the cost and volume backbone of Indian textile wholesale. For garment manufacturers needing consistent quality at scale, polyester delivers predictable performance across all production runs. For exporters, polyester fabric in sarees, dress material, and fashion fabric is a staple export category. Its durability and low care requirements make it popular for uniforms, workwear, and institutional fabric. Modern recycled polyester (rPET) is increasingly used by export brands with sustainability requirements.
Print Types for Polyester
Polyester requires disperse dye or digital printing with sublimation-capable inks. Best prints at Clothwala:
Sublimation Print
Full-colour photographic print permanently bonded to polyester fibres
Screen Print
Cost-effective screen printing for large-volume polyester production
Digital Print
High-detail digital prints for fashion polyester fabric
Foil Print
Metallic foil effects on polyester for party and occasion wear
Transfer Print
Heat transfer printing for sportswear and activewear polyester
From Our Warehouse - Sahil Luthra, Clothwala
Written by Sahil Luthra, Founder - Clothwala.com | Based in Surat, India
At Clothwala, we have been in the textile wholesale business since 2018, operating from Surat - India's largest synthetic fabric hub. We work directly with 40+ mills, which means our buyers get factory-level pricing without middleman markup. Every fabric we list has been tested by our team for wash durability, colour fastness, and drape quality before it goes on the website. We ship to garment units, boutiques, and exporters across India with a minimum order of 200 meters.
Buying Tips for Polyester
Tip 1: If you are exporting garments, ask for Oeko-Tex or GOTS certification. We can arrange certified fabric for export orders.
Tip 2: Do not judge fabric quality only by price. Rs 10 cheaper per meter often means 20% less durability.
Surat mills specialize in polyester and blended fabrics. For pure cotton, we source from Ahmedabad and Bhilwara.
Common Questions About Polyester
Q: Can I get custom printing done?
Yes. We offer digital, screen, and rotary printing. Digital printing MOQ is 200 meters. Share your design files and we will send a printed sample before bulk production.
Q: What is the minimum order quantity?
Our MOQ is 200 meters per colour per fabric type. For sample orders, we accept 5-10 meter cuts at slightly higher per-meter pricing.
Q: What is the delivery time?
Stock fabrics ship within 24-48 hours. Custom dyeing or printing orders take 7-12 working days depending on quantity and mill capacity.
Last updated: April 2026 | Reviewed by Sahil Luthra, Clothwala Textile Exports | Surat, Gujarat, India
Uses & Applications
Saree Fabric
Polyester sarees are the most affordable saree category in India
Uniform Fabric
School, corporate, and industrial uniforms in polyester twill and plain
Sportswear
Polyester knit for activewear, gym wear, and sports jerseys
Lining Fabric
Polyester lining for garments across all categories
Fashion Fabric
Polyester woven for fast-fashion and mass-market garment production
Home Textiles
Polyester for curtains, cushions, and institutional bedding
Source Polyester Fabric in Bulk
Talk to Clothwala for wholesale pricing, samples, and custom print options on Polyester fabric.
WhatsApp for Bulk Inquiry