When you’re buying branded clothing for your marketing campaigns, it’s essential to choose the right fabric based on your target audience, your brand image and the type of promotional activity you want to run. Once you’ve made that decision, you’ll need to pay attention to the fabric composition. The most common materials are cotton and polyester, or a blend of the two.
The key question is: should you choose polyester or cotton? Are there characteristics that make one material more suitable than the other? And which option works best for your communication strategy?
First, we’ll explore the features and advantages of each material, then compare them to understand the differences, and finally give you practical tips on how to choose based on your needs, along with usage examples for different occasions.
Cotton: Characteristics, Advantages and Disadvantages
Cotton is a natural fibre of plant origin, extracted from the seeds of the cotton plant. It is grown in many countries and is known for its fine, short, white fibres that are easy to dye.
Branded cotton garments generally feel softer and more pleasant to the touch. Cotton is breathable, absorbs moisture well, and is hypoallergenic, meaning it is gentle on the skin. However, it tends to crease easily and often requires ironing.
Cotton is more expensive than other materials, but this reflects its higher quality: growing, harvesting and processing cotton are costlier processes. As a result, cotton garments offer greater comfort, freshness and overall quality.
It’s also possible to choose organic cotton, grown without pesticides or chemical fertilisers and using water more efficiently. Organic cotton is especially recommended for reducing environmental impact, as conventional cotton farming consumes a lot of water and can have negative ecological effects.
In summary, cotton is soft, breathable, hypoallergenic and biodegradable, easy to dye and widely available. Its main drawbacks include high water consumption in non-organic farming, a tendency to crease, potential shrinkage, and lower durability compared to synthetic fibres.
Polyester: Characteristics, Advantages and Disadvantages
Polyester is a synthetic fibre made from plastic resin derived from petroleum. Recycled polyester fabrics (rPET) are also available, reducing environmental impact during production.
One of polyester’s main advantages is its low cost, which makes it an affordable choice for promotional clothing. It is easy to dye, even in vibrant colours that remain bright over time. Polyester is also elastic, lightweight, quick-drying and highly resistant to wear and frequent washing. It doesn’t wrinkle easily and requires little maintenance, making it ideal for sportswear. The downside is that it isn’t very breathable, can feel warm and may retain odours.
In short, polyester is durable, lightweight, crease-resistant, affordable and easy to care for. Its main drawbacks stem from its non-renewable origin, low breathability and less pleasant feel compared to cotton.
Cotton–Polyester Blends
Widely used in textiles, cotton–polyester blends combine the benefits of both materials while reducing their disadvantages. These garments are fresh, lightweight, moisture-resistant, less prone to shrinking and more durable than pure cotton.
Common blends include:
- • 65% polyester / 35% cotton (more robust and lightweight)
- • 50% polyester / 50% cotton (balanced)
- • 80% cotton / 20% polyester (more natural to the touch)
When to Choose Cotton or Polyester for Promotional Clothing
Cotton is perfect for embroidery and screen printing, as it absorbs inks well and delivers an authentic, high-quality result. It’s ideal for T-shirts, sweatshirts, tote bags and for summer campaigns, premium gifting or corporate events where comfort and a premium feel are essential.
Polyester, on the other hand, is excellent for sublimation, maintaining vivid, long-lasting colours even after many washes. It’s recommended for sporting events, outdoor activities, more complex personalisation techniques or when you want to reach a large and varied audience. Bags and other accessories can also be made from polyester or cotton–polyester blends.
Conclusion
The choice between cotton and polyester depends on your needs, your audience and the intended use. Always define your goal clearly (quality, budget, type of event) before selecting the fabric.
Cotton offers comfort, naturalness and high quality, making it ideal for eco-conscious campaigns or brands seeking a premium image. Polyester is durable, lightweight, affordable and perfect for sportswear or outdoor activities, with excellent performance in sublimation printing.