How is Marle made?

There are several ways to create a marle effect, depending on the fabric and manufacturing process.

One common method uses yarn made from fibres or strands of different colours. When these are spun together and the fabric is knitted, the individual colours remain visible, creating the characteristic flecked or mottled appearance.

A marle effect can also be produced using different fibre types, such as cotton and polyester, which respond differently during the dyeing process. This can create tonal variation within the finished fabric.

The amount of contrast between the colours affects how noticeable the marle appearance is. Similar shades create a subtle effect, while contrasting shades produce a much more obvious marled finish.

Is Marle a type of fabric?

No. Marle isn't a particular fabric or fibre. It describes the visual colour effect of the finished material.

That's why you'll see terms such as cotton marle, polyester marle and cotton-polyester marle. The underlying fabric can have different compositions, weights and constructions while still having a marled appearance.

This also means that marle doesn't automatically make a garment softer, rougher, heavier or lighter. Those characteristics come from the fibres and construction of the fabric rather than the marle effect itself.

Is Marle the same as Melange or Heather?

The terms marle, melange and heather are often used to describe very similar mottled colour effects in clothing and textiles.

Which term you encounter often depends on the manufacturer, brand or region. In Australia, marle is particularly common, while heather is frequently used by American apparel brands. Melange is another term commonly found in textile and fashion descriptions.

So a Grey Marle T-shirt, Heather Grey T-shirt and Grey Melange T-shirt have the same appearance even though the manufacturers use different terminology.

What colours does Marle come in?

Grey marle is by far the best-known version, but marle isn't limited to grey.

Depending on the yarns and fibres used, you'll also find colours such as navy marle, blue marle, charcoal marle, green marle and many other variations.

The closer the component colours are to one another, the more subtle the finished effect. Greater contrast creates a more pronounced, textured-looking appearance.

Why is Marle popular in clothing?

Marle adds visual depth to an otherwise solid coloured garment without introducing a pattern or print. This makes it particularly popular for casual clothing, activewear and everyday basics such as T-shirts, polo shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts.

It can also be useful in uniforms and branded apparel when a business wants something slightly more relaxed than a traditional solid colour.

Because marle is a visual effect rather than a specific fabric, the suitability of a marle garment for printing or embroidery will depend on the actual fabric composition and garment construction.

Shop Marle Clothing

Looking for clothing with a marle finish? We stock a wide range of apparel in marle, heather and melange colourways, including T-shirts, polos, hoodies and other casual styles. 🛍️ Shop now!