65/35 POLY-COTTON

TC Fabric

Terylene-Cotton woven blends — the traditional choice for cricket, football, and school sportswear across South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa. Natural cotton comfort with polyester durability. Not sublimation-compatible.

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What Is TC Fabric?

TC (Terylene-Cotton) is a blended woven fabric made from polyester and cotton yarns. The standard blend ratio is 65% polyester / 35% cotton, though 67/33 is also produced. "Terylene" is a trade name for polyester fiber that remains widely used across South Asia — the fabric is identical to what would be called "poly-cotton" or "PC" in Western markets. TC is a woven fabric (not knitted), which means it has a structured, crisp hand with minimal stretch, fundamentally different from the soft, draping hand of knitted sportswear fabrics like mesh, interlock, or tricot.

"TC fabric's dominance in South Asian cricket is not irrational tradition — it is a genuinely appropriate fabric choice for the conditions. A Test match in Lahore or Colombo in July involves standing in 40°C heat with 80% humidity for six hours. In those conditions, 100% polyester feels like wearing a plastic bag — it wicks sweat but the fabric itself becomes hot and clingy against the skin. TC's 35% cotton absorbs some of that moisture and creates a cooler, drier-to-the-touch sensation that makes the difference between bearable and unbearable during a long fielding session. The 65% polyester prevents the fabric from becoming a heavy, soggy mess like 100% cotton would. It is a genuinely optimized blend for hot-climate sport — the only problem is that you cannot sublimate it."

The polyester component provides durability, wrinkle resistance, shape retention, and color fastness. The cotton component provides breathability, moisture absorption, a soft natural hand feel, and comfort against the skin. This combination makes TC the dominant fabric for cricket whites and colored kits in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Gulf states, and it is widely used for football kits, school sportswear, and corporate uniforms across these markets.

Every TC batch is tested for GSM consistency (±5%), thread count per inch, tear strength, color fastness to washing and light (minimum Grade 4), shrinkage after three washes (must remain under 2% on our pre-shrunk fabric), and yarn quality (even blend distribution, no slubs or weak spots). We offer plain, twill, herringbone, gabardine, drill, and poplin weaves, each creating a distinct visual texture suitable for different garment types.

65/35
Poly : Cotton
Rolls of TC terylene-cotton woven fabric showing plain and twill weave textures in manufacturing facility
TC Weaving — Sialkot

Six TC Constructions

Each weave creates a distinct surface texture, drape, and durability profile — all using the same 65/35 blend.

Plain Weave
Twill Weave
Herringbone
Gabardine
Drill
Poplin

Weight Spectrum & Garment Type

TC GSM determines the garment's structure — from lightweight shirts to heavy trousers that withstand sliding.

Light Cricket
Shirt / Polo
Standard Cricket
Shirt
Football Kit
Training Top
Cricket Trousers
Standard
Heavy Trousers
Blazer Fabric
TC fabric feels heavier than knitted polyester at the same GSM because woven fabric has no air pockets in its structure — every gram is solid material. A 200 GSM TC shirt feels closer to a 240–260 GSM knitted polyester shirt in terms of perceived weight and substance. For cricket shirts, 180–210 GSM plain weave is the standard — light enough for fielding in heat, structured enough to hold embroidery cleanly. For cricket trousers, 230–260 GSM twill is standard — the heavier weight provides durability for sliding and the twill's diagonal structure adds abrasion resistance. Going below 160 GSM in TC produces a fabric that feels thin and insubstantial; going above 280 GSM produces fabric more suitable for outerwear or blazers than sportswear.

Solid Colors & Yarn-Dyed Patterns

TC fabric cannot be sublimated — color is applied through dyeing and printing methods that work with cotton blends.

NOT SUBLIMATION COMPATIBLE
White (Cricket)
Navy
Red
Royal Blue
Green
Gold / Yellow
Charcoal
Brown (Cricket)
Yarn-Dyed Stripe
Pantone
TC fabric color is applied through three methods: (1) Yarn dyeing — individual yarns are dyed before weaving, used for striped patterns like traditional cricket shirt stripes. The stripes are woven into the fabric and will never crack, peel, or fade. Limited to patterns achievable by arranging colored yarns (stripes, checks). (2) Piece dyeing — the woven fabric is dyed in a single solid color. Most cost-effective for large orders of one color. We maintain 50+ stock colors with no minimum; custom Pantone matching available at 100-meter minimum. (3) Screen printing — ink applied on top of dyed fabric for logos, numbers, and designs. Works excellently on TC's stable woven surface. What you cannot do: full-edge sublimation, gradients, photographic designs, or any multi-color pattern that requires dye to penetrate the cotton fibers. If your design needs these capabilities, you must use 100% polyester fabric instead.

What TC Fabric Delivers

TC's performance profile is fundamentally different from knitted polyester — it prioritizes comfort and tradition over technical features.

Hot-Climate Comfort

The 35% cotton content absorbs moisture and creates a cooler, drier-to-the-touch sensation in hot, humid conditions. In 35°C+ temperatures, TC feels noticeably more comfortable than 100% polyester against sweat-dampened skin during extended wear.

Natural Hand Feel

TC feels like a traditional cotton shirt rather than a technical sportswear garment. The cotton fibers give the fabric a softness and natural texture that many athletes and consumers in traditional markets prefer over the synthetic feel of 100% polyester.

Polyester Durability

The 65% polyester provides tear strength, abrasion resistance, and wrinkle recovery that pure cotton cannot match. TC cricket trousers withstand sliding, batting pad friction, and repeated washing far better than cotton trousers would at the same weight.

Structured Silhouette

Woven fabric holds its shape — TC shirts maintain a crisp, professional appearance with square shoulders and clean lines. No cling, no body-conforming stretch, no wrinkling into a shapeless mass. This is why TC looks more "uniform-like" than knitted fabrics.

Moisture Absorption

Unlike polyester that only wicks moisture to the surface, cotton absorbs moisture into the fiber itself. This creates a different (not better or worse, just different) moisture management profile: slower to feel wet, slower to dry, but cooler-to-the-touch while damp.

Color Fastness

The polyester component locks in dye color far better than cotton alone. TC fabric maintains color vibrancy through 100+ washes — significantly better than pure cotton, though not quite matching 100% polyester's near-permanent color retention.

Embroidery-Friendly

TC's stable woven surface is ideal for embroidery — the fabric does not stretch or distort under the needle, producing clean, precise stitched logos. This is a significant advantage over knitted fabrics where embroidery can cause puckering.

Market Preference

In South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa, TC is the expected fabric for cricket and football kits. Specifying TC signals to buyers that you understand their market — specifying 100% polyester in these markets can be a negative if TC is what the end customer expects.

Where TC Fabric Is Used

TC dominates in traditional cricket markets and is a strong choice for any garment where comfort in heat matters more than technical performance.

Cricket Shirt
Cricket Trousers
Football Kit
School Uniform
Cricket Vest
Cricket Cap
Corporate Polo
Club Blazer
Table Tennis
Volleyball Kit
Club Merch
Staff Uniform
College Sport
Training Polo
Cricket Whites
Tournament Kit

TC vs. 100% Polyester Knit vs. Pure Cotton

Understanding where TC fits — and when 100% polyester or pure cotton is the better choice.

Property TC (65/35 Woven) 100% Polyester Knit 100% Cotton Woven
Hot-Climate Comfort Very Good Best Balance Poor — hot and clingy when damp Sticky Good (but gets heavy when wet) Cool but Heavy
Sublimation Not possible No Full sublimation Unlimited Not possible No
Durability Very Good Strong Excellent Longest Life Moderate — cotton degrades Weakest
Wrinkle Resistance Good Minimal Excellent Wrinkle Free Poor — wrinkles easily Iron Needed
Shrinkage Low (pre-shrunk: ±2%) Controlled Essentially zero None High (3–5%) Significant
Embroidery Quality Excellent Stable Base Good (may pucker on light knits) Varies Excellent Stable Base
Moisture Mgmt Absorbs + wicks (hybrid) Balanced Wicks only (fast dry) Fastest Dry Absorbs only (slow dry) Stays Wet
Stretch None (woven) Rigid 1–2 way (knit structure) Flexible None (woven) Rigid
Best For Cricket, football, school uniforms in hot-climate markets Full-sublimation sportswear, performance kits, team jerseys Ultra-traditional markets, non-sport shirts, home textiles
Quick decision rule: Does the garment need full sublimation with multi-color designs? → 100% polyester (TC cannot do this, no exceptions). Is the garment for cricket or football in South Asia, Middle East, or East Africa? → TC (market expectation and genuine comfort advantage). Is the garment for a hot-climate market where the buyer values comfort over design complexity? → TC. Is the garment for a Western market where sublimation and technical features are expected? → 100% polyester. A common hybrid approach: TC body with 100% polyester woven piping or collar/cuff panels that can be sublimated — this gives you the TC comfort with sublimated brand elements.

Honest Assessment

Advantages
  • Superior hot-climate comfort — the cotton component creates a cooler, less clingy feel than 100% polyester in temperatures above 30°C, particularly during extended wear
  • Natural hand feel — soft, cotton-like texture that many athletes and consumers prefer over the synthetic feel of polyester, especially in traditional markets
  • Excellent embroidery base — the stable woven surface holds stitched logos precisely without puckering or distortion, better than most knitted fabrics
  • Yarn-dyed patterns are permanent — stripes and checks woven into the fabric will never crack, peel, or fade, unlike printed patterns on any fabric
  • Better than pure cotton — the 65% polyester addresses cotton's main weaknesses (shrinkage, wrinkling, durability, color fastness) while keeping the comfort advantages
  • Market expectation — in South Asian and Middle Eastern cricket markets, TC is what buyers expect. Specifying TC signals market understanding
Disadvantages
  • Cannot be sublimated — this is the single biggest limitation. No full-edge designs, no gradients, no photographic prints, no unlimited-color patterns. Ever.
  • No stretch — TC is a woven fabric with zero elasticity. Garments cannot conform to the body, and fit must be achieved through cutting and sizing alone
  • Heavier than knits — TC feels heavier and stiffer than knitted polyester at the same GSM because the woven structure has no air pockets
  • Some shrinkage — even pre-shrunk TC can shrink up to 2%, which requires pattern allowance during cutting that 100% polyester does not need
  • Cotton degrades — the 35% cotton component has a shorter lifespan than polyester. After 100–150 washes, cotton fibers break down, reducing overall fabric strength
  • Slower drying — cotton absorbs and holds moisture, so TC garments take longer to air-dry than 100% polyester, which can be an issue in humid climates
Our mitigation: For the sublimation limitation, we offer the hybrid construction: TC body with 100% polyester woven piping, collar stands, cuff panels, or side inserts that can be fully sublimated. This gives you the TC comfort with visible sublimated brand elements — the approach used by most international cricket brands for their TC-range products. For shrinkage, all our TC fabric is pre-shrunk through a mechanical compacting process that compresses the fabric so subsequent washing causes minimal further shrinkage. We guarantee ±2% after three washes at 40°C. For the no-stretch limitation, we cut TC garments with slightly more ease than knitted garments and use side panels or back pleats to improve range of motion — a traditional tailoring approach that works well for cricket and football garments that don't need body-hugging fit.

Branding TC Garments

Without sublimation, TC relies on screen printing, embroidery, and yarn-dyed patterns — each with distinct strengths.

Specify Your TC Fabric

Every TC variable affects the garment's appearance, comfort, and suitability for its intended use.

01

Blend Ratio

65/35 is the standard — optimal balance of cotton comfort and polyester durability. 67/33 available for slightly more cotton feel. 80/20 for polyester-dominant where some cotton softness is wanted.

02

Weave Structure

Plain for shirts (smooth, light), twill for trousers (diagonal texture, abrasion resistant), herringbone for blazers (premium V-pattern), gabardine for structured garments (steep diagonal, very durable).

03

Target GSM

160–190 for lightweight shirts and polos, 190–220 for standard cricket shirts, 220–250 for football kits and training tops, 230–280 for cricket trousers and structured garments.

04

Color Method

Piece dye for solid colors (fastest, lowest cost), yarn dye for woven stripes and checks (permanent, traditional), or supply greige (undyed) for piece dyeing at destination.

05

Finish Treatment

Pre-shrunk (standard — compacted for ±2% shrinkage guarantee), soft wash (extra-softened hand for premium feel), or anti-wrinkle finish (reduces ironing needs for corporate uniforms).

06

Hybrid Construction

TC body with 100% polyester woven piping, collar, or cuff panels for sublimated brand elements — combines TC comfort with sublimation visibility.

Ordering Process

TC production involves weaving and dyeing, which adds steps compared to ready-stock knitted fabrics.

Inquiry

Day 0

Samples

3–5 Days

Approval

2–3 Days

Production

14–20 Days

Delivery

4–7 Days
Total turnaround: 23–35 days from inquiry to doorstep. Yarn-dyed TC (stripes, checks) adds 3–5 days for yarn dyeing before weaving. Custom Pantone piece dyeing adds 2–3 days. Stock solid colors in standard weaves (white, navy, red) can ship in 16–22 days. Greige (undyed) fabric is available fastest if you plan to dye locally.

MOQ, Capacity & Lead Time

500 pcs
Minimum Order Quantity
Fabric-only: 100 meters
60K pcs/mo
Manufacturing Capacity
Weaving + dyeing line
14–20 days
Production Lead Time
Yarn-dyed: +3–5 days

Frequently Asked Questions

TC stands for Terylene-Cotton — a blended woven fabric made from polyester (terylene is a trade name for polyester fiber, still widely used in South Asia) and cotton yarns. The standard blend ratio is 65% polyester / 35% cotton, though 67/33 is also common. The polyester provides durability, shape retention, wrinkle resistance, and color fastness. The cotton provides breathability, moisture absorption, a soft natural hand feel, and comfort against the skin in hot and humid conditions. TC is a woven fabric (not knitted), which means it has a structured, crisp hand rather than the stretchy, draping hand of knitted sportswear fabrics. It is the dominant fabric for cricket whites and colored cricket kits in South Asia, and is widely used for football kits, school sportswear, and corporate uniforms across Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, the Middle East, and East Africa.
No — TC fabric cannot be sublimated. Sublimation dye only bonds with polyester fibers and requires temperatures of 200–210°C. At these temperatures, the cotton component in TC fabric will scorch, yellow, or burn. Even if you tried to sublimate at a lower temperature, the result would be extremely faint and uneven because the cotton fibers physically cannot accept sublimation dye. This is the single most important limitation of TC fabric compared to 100% polyester sportswear fabrics: you cannot do full-edge, multi-color, gradient, or photographic designs via sublimation. Color on TC fabric is applied through yarn dyeing, piece dyeing, or screen printing.
TC fabric has three genuine advantages over 100% polyester: comfort in heat, natural hand feel, and market preference in certain regions. The 35% cotton content makes TC noticeably more breathable and comfortable in hot, humid climates where 100% polyester can feel clingy and sticky against sweat-dampened skin. The hand feel is softer and more natural. In South Asian, Middle Eastern, and East African markets, TC is often the expected and requested fabric for cricket and football kits — using 100% polyester can actually be a negative if the buyer's market expects TC. The trade-off is that TC cannot be sublimated, is heavier, is more prone to wrinkling, and the cotton component degrades faster than polyester.
These are different weave structures using the same 65/35 yarn. TC Plain weave has a simple 1x1 over-under pattern producing a smooth, uniform surface — lightest and most breathable, standard for cricket shirts. TC Twill has a visible diagonal rib pattern — heavier, more durable, more structured drape, standard for cricket trousers where the diagonal texture adds visual interest and abrasion resistance for sliding. TC Herringbone has a V-shaped pattern resembling fish bones — most textured and premium-looking, commonly used for cricket blazers and training jackets where a distinguished, traditional appearance is desired. All three are available in the same GSM range and colors — the choice is purely about visual texture and drape.
Yes — the cotton component is susceptible to shrinkage, particularly in hot water or high-heat tumble drying. A typical 65/35 TC will shrink 2–4% after the first wash. This is why we pre-shrink all TC fabric during finishing (a process called 'compacting' or 'sanforizing') so that subsequent washing causes minimal further shrinkage. Our pre-shrunk TC is guaranteed to remain within ±2% after three wash cycles at 40°C. To maintain this, wash at 30–40°C maximum and avoid high-heat tumble drying. Air drying is preferred. If shrinkage does occur, it is almost always the cotton contracting — polyester does not shrink at normal wash temperatures.
TC fabric is the traditional and still most widely used fabric for cricket in South Asia, and it is genuinely well-suited to the sport. Cricket involves long periods of low-intensity activity (standing in the field) interspersed with short bursts of high intensity. During low-intensity periods, cotton provides comfort and breathability in hot weather. During high-intensity periods, polyester provides durability for sliding and abrasion from pads and gloves. TC plain weave at 180–220 GSM is standard for cricket shirts; TC twill at 220–280 GSM is standard for cricket trousers. The only scenario where TC is not ideal is in T20 or franchise cricket where teams want elaborate full-sublimation designs — for that, 100% polyester is required.
Three methods: (1) Yarn dyeing — individual yarns dyed before weaving for stripes and checks. Most durable (color is part of the yarn), requires 200–300m per color minimum, limited to patterns achievable by arranging colored yarns. (2) Piece dyeing — woven fabric dyed in a single solid color after weaving. Most cost-effective for large solid-color orders, 100m minimum, 50+ stock colors available. (3) Screen printing — ink applied on top of dyed fabric for logos, numbers, and designs. Excellent on TC's stable surface, no special limitations compared to printing on any other fabric. These three methods can be combined: yarn-dyed striped fabric with screen-printed logos is the standard approach for traditional cricket shirts.
Absolutely. We provide free A4-size fabric swatches (up to 3 options) shipped via DHL/FedEx at no charge. For TC fabric, we recommend requesting one plain weave sample (standard cricket shirt fabric), one twill weave sample (cricket trouser fabric), and one 100% polyester interlock sample (as a direct comparison so you can feel the difference in hand, weight, and drape between TC and polyester before committing). If you have specific color requirements, we can include dyed samples rather than raw greige fabric.

Ready to Start Your TC Fabric Order?

Get a detailed quote with weave recommendations, GSM guidance, color method options (yarn dye vs. piece dye vs. screen print), and free swatches — typically within 3 business hours.