Fabric selection is about more than hand feel and looks. Pile length determines how clearly the character's silhouette reads, how much sewing tolerance the panels allow, how well embroidery sits and how the product survives washing. We make the decision against four criteria.
Form and decoration
The first criterion is the form of the character: sharp facial features, small ears and slim arms read cleanly in short pile, while rounded, soft silhouettes work better in long pile. The second is decoration: logo embroidery and print give the cleanest result on short pile, whereas long pile needs the embroidery area shaved or a separate panel.
Target age and care
The third criterion is the target age group; for younger children, pile retention, seam strength and the choice of eye type are planned together with the fabric, and the test plan follows. The fourth is care: the instruction you promise on the care label depends on the fabric keeping its pile appearance after washing, so we settle the care instruction alongside the fabric.
The decision is fixed in the tech pack
Pile length, weight and Pantone colour are defined in the tech pack; the sample is sewn to that specification and the approved PPS carries the same specification into mass production. Deciding on fabric early removes one of the most common differences between sample and mass production before it can arise.
YOUR NEXT STEP
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