The History of Synthetic Fleece

In 1906, a Hungarian immigrant named Henry Feuerstein founded Malden Mills in Malden, Massachusetts using the last of his money. He began producing workmen’s sweaters and bathing suits out of natural wool, which was considered the premier “performance fabric” of the time. Malden Mills produced wool kits for the U.S. Army during World War I and II, and by the 1950s, the mill was highly successful and known for dying, printing, and finishing their products all in-house. Henry Feuerstein’s grandson, Aaron, took over in the middle of the century and ran into financial trouble after a failed attempt to market synthetic fur. Then in 1979, the mill began working with Patagonia to produce synthetic fleece, a pet project of founders Yvon and Malinda Chouinard and seamstress Val Franco. Patagonia then began using the synthetic fleece fabric to create performance apparel like t-shirts and sweaters. Since it was first invented, synthetic fleece has undergone several advancements. It proved so useful that in 1999, TIME Magazine named it one of the 100 most important inventions of the century. It is now used to make everything from blankets to performance hiking jackets. And while it is now often made from recycled plastics, it must be mentioned that synthetic fleece does raise some environmental concerns. Still, its benefits are vast and brands like Patagonia and Polartec (formerly Malden Mills) continue to innovate with the fabric today.