What is Acrylic?

Acrylic is a synthetic fibre made from polymers and designed to produce lightweight, soft and warm textiles. It is commonly used in knitwear, jumpers, beanies, scarves and other cold-weather clothing, often as an alternative to wool or blended with other fibres to combine different performance characteristics.|

Acrylic fibres can be manufactured with different textures and finishes, but they're particularly well known for creating soft, wool like yarns that provide warmth without the weight or the care requirements of some natural fibres.

What is acrylic fabric made from?

Unlike wool, cotton or linen, acrylic isn't a natural fibre.

It's manufactured from synthetic polymers, primarily polyacrylonitrile, which are processed into long fibres. These fibres can then be spun into yarn and knitted or woven into fabric.

The finished fibre can be produced in different thicknesses and textures depending on its intended use.

In clothing, acrylic is particularly common in knitted fabrics because it can create the soft, slightly fluffy appearance traditionally associated with wool.

What does acrylic feel like?

Acrylic is generally soft, lightweight and warm.

One of the reasons it became so widely used in clothing is its ability to create a wool like feel at a lower cost and with relatively straightforward care.

However, acrylic doesn't always feel the same. The quality of the fibre, yarn construction and garment finishing can make a considerable difference.

Some acrylic knitwear feels extremely soft and fine, while other acrylic fabrics can feel coarser or more obviously synthetic.

Is acrylic warm?

Yes. Acrylic is a good insulating fibre, which is why you'll find it in so many jumpers, cardigans, beanies, scarves and gloves.

Its fibres can trap air within the fabric, helping reduce heat loss and keep the wearer warm.

Acrylic is also relatively lightweight, so it can provide useful insulation without necessarily creating an especially heavy garment.

This combination makes it particularly useful for winter accessories and uniform knitwear.

Is acrylic the same as wool?

No. They can look and feel similar, but they're fundamentally different fibres.

Wool is a natural animal fibre, most commonly obtained from sheep.

Acrylic is manufactured synthetically and is often engineered to create some of the softness, loft and warmth associated with wool.

Acrylic is generally less expensive and can be easier to care for, while wool has its own natural properties, including excellent moisture vapour management and temperature regulation.

Neither fibre is automatically the better choice, it depends on the garment, budget and how it will be worn.

Why is acrylic used instead of wool?

Cost is certainly one reason, but it isn't the only one.

Acrylic can offer several practical characteristics for everyday clothing:

• Lightweight – it can provide warmth without excessive weight.
• Soft – acrylic can be manufactured to produce soft, comfortable yarns.
• Warm – its construction helps trap insulating air.
• Easy care – many acrylic garments can be washed relatively easily, although the individual care label should always be followed.
• Colourfast – acrylic can hold colour well and is available in an enormous range of shades.
• Quick drying – it absorbs relatively little water compared with fibres such as wool or cotton.
• Cost effective – it can provide a knitted, wool-like appearance at a lower price point.

These characteristics make it particularly useful for clothing that needs to be practical and affordable.

Does acrylic absorb moisture?

Acrylic has low moisture absorbency compared with many natural fibres.

That means it doesn't readily absorb large amounts of moisture into the fibre itself and can dry relatively quickly after becoming wet.

There is a trade-off, though.

Low moisture absorbency can make acrylic less effective at managing perspiration than fibres designed specifically for moisture management. Depending on the garment construction and conditions, it may therefore feel warmer or less breathable against the skin.

This is why fibre composition is only one part of assessing how comfortable a garment will be.

Does acrylic pill?

It can. Pilling is one of the common drawbacks of acrylic, particularly in knitted garments and areas exposed to frequent friction.

Small fibres can work their way to the surface and become tangled into little balls. Because acrylic fibres are relatively strong, those pills may remain attached to the garment rather than simply breaking away.

The amount of pilling varies considerably according to fibre quality, yarn construction, fabric construction and how the garment is worn and washed.

Pilling isn't unique to acrylic, wool, polyester, cotton and blended fabrics can all pill too.

Does acrylic shrink?

Acrylic is generally quite dimensionally stable and is less prone to the felting shrinkage associated with wool.

However, that doesn't mean it can't be damaged.

Acrylic is thermoplastic, which means high temperatures can affect the fibre. Excessive heat during washing, drying or ironing may distort or damage an acrylic garment.

Always follow the garment's care label rather than assuming every acrylic item can be washed and dried the same way.

Is acrylic durable?

Acrylic fibres have good resistance to a number of everyday conditions and can retain their shape and colour well.

However, "durable" depends on what you're asking the garment to withstand.

Acrylic can be vulnerable to pilling, abrasion and excessive heat, so it shouldn't automatically be considered more durable than every natural or synthetic alternative.

In many garments, acrylic is blended with other fibres specifically to balance warmth, softness, durability, cost and ease of care.

What are acrylic blends?

Acrylic is frequently combined with fibres such as wool, cotton, polyester or nylon.

Blending allows manufacturers to alter the characteristics of the finished fabric.

For example, adding acrylic to wool can help reduce cost and change the garment's care requirements, while retaining some of the appearance and warmth associated with wool knitwear.

Acrylic blends are particularly common in commercial clothing because manufacturers can engineer a fabric around the intended use rather than relying on the characteristics of a single fibre.

What clothing is made from acrylic?

Acrylic is particularly well suited to knitted and cold weather garments, including:

• jumpers
• cardigans
• beanies
• scarves
• gloves
• socks
• knitted jackets
• blankets
• some tracksuits and casual clothing

You'll also encounter acrylic in blends across a much broader range of apparel.

Acrylic in uniforms and workwear

For uniforms, acrylic is particularly relevant in knitwear and winter accessories.

Acrylic and acrylic-blend jumpers and cardigans can provide warmth while remaining relatively lightweight, affordable and easy to care for, useful characteristics when you're outfitting an entire team rather than buying one garment.

It's also commonly found in beanies, where warmth, colour choice, durability and price can make it a practical option for staff uniforms, sporting clubs, schools, events and promotional merchandise.

Acrylic vs polyester

Both acrylic and polyester are synthetic fibres, but they aren't the same material.

Acrylic is particularly associated with soft, warm, wool like textiles and knitwear.

Polyester is extraordinarily versatile and is used in everything from lightweight performance polos to fleece, jackets, workwear and blended fabrics.

The properties of the finished garment also depend heavily on how the fibre has been manufactured and how the fabric has been constructed, so the fibre name alone doesn't tell you everything about how a garment will perform.

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