The Ultimate Guide to Next Level Apparel’s Premium Fleece Collection

Fleece is a soft, insulating knit fabric, usually made from cotton, polyester, or a blend of the two. Not all fleece is the same, though. Next Level Apparel's premium fleece comes in a few different types, and CVC, French terry, sueded, and heavyweight fleece each differ by blend, weight, and finish. Here is how to tell them apart and match the right one to a program.

Fleece has a season, but a longer one than most people expect. From roughly late September through May, hoodies, joggers, and crewnecks move from seasonal pieces to everyday staples, worn on coffee runs, road trips, and game days alike.

Not every fleece earns that kind of regular rotation. Blend, construction, and weight all matter. A piece that feels stiff or starts to show wear early gets set aside fast. One that is comfortable, durable, and good-looking becomes the thing people reach for again and again.

Next Level Apparel's premium fleece is built with that in mind. Rather than treating fleece as one broad category, we offer different weights and blends that match how people actually wear these pieces, and how decorators, merchandisers, and brand builders put them to work.

Plush, fuzzy, warm, and comfortable: those are the words most people use to describe fleece. They apply across the board, but fleece is not a one-size-fits-all fabric. That is why our premium fleece is organized into clear types, starting with three families and the French terry construction behind many of our midweight styles.

Dependable by design, our CVC fleece strikes a balance that consumers like to wear and decorators like to work with. At about 7.4 ounces, it is soft to the touch, light enough to layer, and structured enough to last.

The cotton/polyester blend does the heavy lifting. Its cotton-rich face gives you a smooth, reliable surface for large, detailed screen prints where consistency matters, while the polyester adds durability and helps the garment hold its shape and color wash after wash.

CVC fleece is the pick for programs that need reliable performance at high quantities: school spiritwear, team outfitting, and corporate giveaways. It runs the same across hundreds or even thousands of units, without giving up the comfort people want.

Our sueded fleece styles take the same cotton/poly foundation and add a sueding process that gives the fabric a smooth, velvety finish. The result feels more like boutique retail than standard promotional wear.

The difference is easy to feel. This is the fleece to reach for with lifestyle brands, fitness studios, private labels, or any program where staff apparel can double as retail-ready pieces.

Decoration shifts here too. Standard screen prints work, but sueded fleece pairs especially well with techniques that play up texture: embroidery, high-density inks, and tonal prints that sit nicely against the brushed surface. It is an easy way to give a program a more premium look without changing the basics.

Equal parts style and substance, our heavyweight fleece proves function and fashion can share a garment. Made with a premium 10-ounce fleece and cut with oversized fits and dropped shoulders, it fits the bold streetwear and easy throwback looks that carry a lot of today's retail.

When a client wants to stand out, this is the fabric that turns heads. The heavier construction supports bold decoration: oversized logos, puff and textured inks, appliqué, and patches, all without losing shape or comfort. For programs aimed at younger audiences or anyone tuned into current styles, heavyweight fleece is an easy call.

For decorators and merchandisers, it is also a chance to move past the usual safe choices. Lightweight hoodies are great for giveaways and uniform layers. Heavyweight fleece is the one for small-batch runs, limited-edition drops, and seasonal launches where the look matters as much as the count.

French terry is a knit fabric with a smooth face on the outside and soft, unbrushed loops on the inside. That looped back is what makes it breathable and midweight: warmer than a tee, but lighter than a brushed fleece, which is why it wears well nearly year round. You will find French terry fabric in crewnecks, joggers and sweatpants, and lighter hoodies, where a clean face makes it easy to screen print or embroider. When you want the comfort of fleece without the bulk, French terry is usually the answer.