Tricot is one of the most widely used fabrics in swimwear, dancewear, activewear and lingerie. It’s smooth, flexible and durable, and it comes in many fibers, weights and finishes. This guide explains what tricot fabric is, the main types, what it’s used for, and how to choose the right tricot for your project.
What Is Tricot Fabric?
Tricot is a warp-knitted fabric known for its smooth surface, fine construction, flexibility and durability. It can be made from polyester, nylon and spandex, depending on how it will be used. Common uses include swimwear, sportswear, activewear, dancewear, lingerie, garment linings and printed apparel.
What Does Tricot Mean?
“Tricot” describes how the fabric is made, not what it’s made from. It’s a warp knit: the yarns run mainly along the length of the fabric. This creates a smooth face with good stability and flexibility. Because tricot is a construction, it can be made from polyester, nylon, spandex blends and other fibers.
What Is Tricot Material Made Of?
Polyester Tricot
Polyester tricot is popular for swimwear, sportswear and printed apparel. Depending on the fabric, it can offer durability, shape retention, chlorine resistance, UV protection and compatibility with sublimation printing.
Nylon Tricot
Nylon tricot is chosen for its smooth, soft feel and flexibility. It’s common in swimwear, dancewear, lingerie, linings and stretch apparel.
Polyester-Spandex and Nylon-Spandex Tricot
Adding spandex increases stretch and recovery, which is why these blends are used for fitted garments that need to move with the body, like swimwear, leotards, leggings and activewear.
Main Types of Tricot Fabric
- Shiny tricot: a smooth surface with a noticeable sheen, popular for swimwear, dancewear, costumes and fashion.
- Matte tricot: less reflective, for a softer, less glossy look.
- Stretch tricot: contains spandex for flexibility, recovery and a close fit.
- Lining tricot: lightweight tricot used for smooth garment linings.
- Recycled polyester tricot: tricot made with recycled polyester fibers.
What Is Tricot Fabric Used For?
- Swimwear and swimsuits
- Dancewear, leotards and costumes
- Sportswear and activewear, including cycling shorts
- Leggings
- Lingerie and garment linings
- Printed apparel
Is Tricot Fabric Good for Swimwear?
Tricot can be an excellent swimwear fabric when the specific fabric has the right fiber blend and performance features. Not every tricot is made for swimming, so check the stretch, recovery, chlorine resistance, seawater resistance, UV protection and weight before you buy.
Can Tricot Fabric Be Sublimation Printed?
Polyester tricot that’s prepared for printing can be sublimation printed, because sublimation dye bonds with polyester fibers. Nylon tricots usually aren’t used for sublimation. Before production, check the polyester content, whether the fabric is prepared for print (PFP), and test a sample.
How to Choose the Right Tricot Fabric
- Start with the end use: swimwear, sportswear, dancewear, lingerie, linings or printing.
- Check the fiber content: polyester, nylon and spandex blends behave differently.
- Check the weight: a lightweight lining tricot and a 250 GSM heavyweight tricot are made for very different jobs.
- Consider stretch: more spandex usually means more stretch and recovery.
- Consider the environment: for swimwear, look for chlorine and seawater resistance and UV protection.
- Consider printing: make sure the fabric suits your printing method.
Tricot Fabrics From Spandex Warehouse
- Recycled Poly Shiny Tricot 190 GSM: 82% recycled polyester (REPREVE®) / 18% spandex, 61/62″ wide, with chlorine-resistant spandex, UPF 50+ protection and a PFP White version for sublimation printing.
- Shiny Tricot Milliskin 200 GSM: 80% nylon / 20% spandex with 4-way stretch and a slight sheen. Latex-free, chlorine and seawater safe and UV 50+ rated, for swimwear, leotards, leggings and activewear.
- Matte Tricot Milliskin 200 GSM: 80% nylon / 20% spandex with 4-way stretch, UV rated 50, latex-free, and chlorine and seawater safe, for swimwear, leotards and leggings.
- Nylon Spandex Matte Tricot Heavy 250 GSM: 84% nylon / 16% spandex, a heavyweight tricot for cycling shorts and other active and sportswear.
Explore our swimwear and swimsuit fabrics
Explore our fabrics for printing and sublimation
Where Can You Buy Tricot Fabric?
Look for a supplier that lists the fiber content, weight, width, stretch, intended uses and printing compatibility, and that offers samples before you order production quantities.
Want to see the fabric first? Order swatch cards right on our website. To buy by the yard or wholesale by the roll, fill out our order form or email us at spandexwarehouse@sbcglobal.net, and we’ll send you an invoice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tricot Fabric
What is tricot fabric?
Tricot is a warp-knit fabric with a smooth surface, made from fibers like polyester, nylon and spandex. It’s used for swimwear, sportswear, dancewear, lingerie, linings and performance apparel.
Is tricot a polyester fabric?
Not necessarily. Tricot describes the knit construction, not the fiber. It can be polyester, nylon or a spandex blend.
Is tricot stretchy?
Tricot with spandex has good stretch and recovery. Tricot without spandex is more stable. Always check the fabric’s specifications.
Is tricot fabric suitable for swimwear?
Many tricots are made for swimwear. Look for the right stretch, recovery, chlorine resistance, UV protection, weight and fiber blend.
Can tricot fabric be sublimation printed?
Polyester tricot that’s prepared for printing can be. PFP White polyester tricots are commonly used for custom printed swimwear and sportswear.
What is recycled tricot fabric?
It’s tricot made with recycled fibers, such as recycled polyester. Its performance depends on the specific blend and specifications.