On cold winter days many people snuggle up in a fleece blanket, or they wear a fleece sweater. Fleece is a beloved fabric because of its’ silky warm texture. Have you every given thought of how fleece is made? It takes about twentyfive recycled plastic bottles to make one piece of fleece clothing. That’s right. Fleece is made from plastic.

The process consists of dividing the bottles by color, sterilizing them, and then liquefying them. This results in a syrupy substance. Then the liquid is pushed through metal discs containing holes. This is called a spinneret. When the liquid and air combine it hardens, and then you have the thread like substance that will be used in the production of fleece.

Then the threads are wound around large spools, and a process is begun that allows for the coloring, cleaning, and durability of the fleece. However it is the pulling of the threads that give it the soft texture. It is pulled using a machine that has several brushes. These brushes move at different speeds, and they literally comb the fabric. It is also called napping because the brushes pull the naps out of the fabric. The end result is a fabric that is not only soft, but has the durability and strength to keep a person warm in the most extreme weather conditions.


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