Fleece Blankets: Why Do People Love Them So Much?

There is no denying the fact that humans not only need to be warm, but love to be warm. Though the magic of winter is enjoyable throughout the holiday season, it quickly fades as the coldness ensues and chills you to the bone. What do you do, then? Of course, you bundle up and pack on a few blankets, but that rawness of the frigid air still eats at you. So, you do your research and end up at one thing: Fleece. Why do people love fleece blankets so much? The answers are endless!

Brief History of Fleece

Fleece is defined as a derivative of wool shorn from a sheep or associated animal, or a synthetic fabric blended with polyester. These two definitions undoubtedly highlight the very history of fleece itself.

Humans have a few basic needs, including the need to be warm. Since the beginning of civilization, humans have used wool to craft blankets and outdoor gear, but even that popular material had its flaws, specifically when it became wet. Alas, history marched on, and people simply harvested more wool and made more blankets to keep warm. This lasted until 1981.

Malden Mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts contracted the first fleece material, which they called “polarfleece.” The immense popularity of this material is still apparent today, so the name is widely recognized when discussing this material. After gaining recognition from California company, Patagonia, Malden Mills developed the fleece material, synchilla. Differing from polarfleece, this material did not pill, and was even more durable and soft.

Though this fabric remained the same weight for over a decade after the invention, manufacturers began realizing that altering the weight would result in further opportunities. Flourishing to clothing industries across the globe, this material certainly surpassed even the most common of other materials. Of course, once the fleece blanket came to be, the entire manner in which people kept warm changed completely, and surely for the better!

Soft

The blend of materials results in one incredibly soft blanket that does not pill up nor ruin easily. The combination of the polyester and man-made material, polymer, offers aspects from both that come together in an irresistible blend.

Durable

Though there are natural aspects of this material, the scientific process to develop fleece results in very strong fibers. The tight-knit fiber is difficult to puncture, and the most important aspect is that the cold air cannot break through, as it would be able to in an itchy wool blanket, for example.

Warm

The most beneficial aspect of fleece is that it is incredibly warm! After all, the material was crafted originally for outdoor gear, including mittens, hats, and scarfs. Cold air finds it difficult to penetrate the strong, fibrous materials of fleece; the dampness of the outdoors finds it difficult to linger, due to the fact that this material dries quickly. Fleece fabric for winter is ideal, and snuggling up in a blanket made of these fibers is impossible to resist. Of course, the need fric or multiple blankets on a single bed is eliminated, thanks to this blend.

Colorful

While the warmth provided by this material is the greatest benefit, mention must be made to the general flexibility of the product. The fibers easily absorb dye, so the ability to get an array of colors is possible, and certainly beneficial for those who enjoy sprucing up their homes. Whether it is an attractive throw over a couch, or a beautiful blanket sitting atop a bed in any room, the material will look wonderful and serve a greater purpose.