Sweatpants and Joggers Manufacturing: What to Specify

To have sweatpants or joggers made well, you need to specify six things: the fabric and its finished weight, the fit through the rise, thigh and inseam, the waistband construction, the leg finish, the pockets, and the trims. Children’s styles also need drawcords that meet safety rules. A factory can only price and sample accurately what is written down, so this guide goes through each decision in the order a tech pack needs it.

Sweatpants or joggers: what is the difference?

In the trade the two words are used loosely, but a factory will read them differently if you do not define them. Sweatpants usually means a relaxed, straight or wide leg with an open or elasticated hem. Joggers usually means a tapered leg that finishes in a rib cuff or an elastic channel at the ankle. Track pants are often a lighter or synthetic version with a zip at the ankle.

Do not rely on the name. Put a technical sketch and a measurement chart in the tech pack, and name the leg shape (straight, tapered, wide) and the hem finish (open, cuffed, elastic, zip). That removes most of the misunderstandings before the first sample.

Which fabric: fleece or French terry?

Almost all sweatpants are cut from one of two knitted fabrics. Both have a smooth jersey face and loops on the back:

French terry (loopback) leaves the loops unbrushed. It is cooler, drier to the touch and suits spring, summer and warm climates.
Fleece is the same kind of fabric with the loops brushed into a soft pile. It is warmer and softer, and suits autumn and winter.

Specify three things for either one: the fibre blend (100% cotton, a cotton and polyester blend, or recycled content), the finished weight in GSM after dyeing and brushing, and any elastane for stretch and recovery. Our fabric and GSM guide gives typical weight ranges and explains how to state them. For a matching set, cut the joggers from the same fabric and dye lot as the hoodie. Our hoodie and sweatshirt page covers the tops.

Cotton-rich fleece feels best, but it shrinks more than a blend. Ask for a wash test on the finished fabric before cutting, so the pattern can be adjusted for shrinkage. Bottoms show shrinkage quickly: a leg that loses a few centimetres after the first wash turns a full-length jogger into a cropped one.

How to specify the fit: rise, thigh and inseam

Fit is where sweatpants succeed or fail. Customers forgive a slightly different shade; they return a pair that sits too low or bags at the knee. The points of measure for a jogger are:

Point of measure	How it is measured	Why it matters
Waist, relaxed	Across the top edge, laid flat, not stretched	How it looks on the hanger
Waist, extended	Across the top edge, fully stretched	Whether it fits over the hips
Hip	Straight across at a set distance below the waist	Room in the seat
Front rise	Waist seam to crotch seam, front	Where the waistband sits
Back rise	Waist seam to crotch seam, back	Comfort when sitting and bending
Thigh	Across the leg just below the crotch	Slim, regular or relaxed look
Knee	Across the leg at a set distance down the inseam	How much the leg tapers
Leg opening or cuff	Across the hem, relaxed and extended	Whether a foot gets through a tapered cuff
Inseam	Crotch seam to hem, along the inside leg	Leg length
Outseam	Top of waistband to hem, along the side	A cross-check on total length

Give every point a tolerance, the plus or minus you will accept, and say how each is measured. The back rise should be longer than the front rise, to give room when the wearer sits. If your customer wants a stacked look over trainers, add length to the inseam deliberately rather than hoping it happens.

For movement, ask about a crotch gusset, a diamond-shaped panel that stops the seam pulling. It adds a little cost but helps with athletic and relaxed fits.

Waistbands: which construction should you choose?

The waistband does more work than any other part of the garment, and it is where a cheap construction shows first. The common constructions are:

Elastic in a channel: a band of elastic enclosed in a fold of the main fabric. It is simple and cheap, but the elastic can twist or roll inside the channel. Stitching through the elastic in a few places stops that.
Elastic with a drawcord: the same, with a cord through two eyelets or buttonholes at the front. It is the classic jogger waistband. Specify the eyelet type (metal or embroidered) and back the fabric behind metal eyelets so they do not pull out.
Knitted rib waistband: a separate band of rib, often with elastic inside, matching the cuffs. It gives a sporty look and good recovery.
Covered or exposed branded elastic: a jacquard elastic with your logo, sewn on so it shows. It looks premium and costs more, with a minimum quantity for the elastic itself.

State the elastic width and type, whether the cord is flat or round, the cord length, the tip finish (metal, silicone or knotted), and whether the cord is stitched in at the back so it cannot be pulled out. Test the waistband after washing: cheap elastic loses its recovery quickly.

Leg finish, pockets and seams

The hem. Joggers usually finish in a rib cuff, or in an elastic channel in the main fabric. Sweatpants usually have an open hem, finished with a coverstitch. A rib cuff needs its own length and relaxed and extended widths on the measurement chart, because a tight cuff is uncomfortable and a loose one loses the jogger shape.

Pockets. Choose from side-seam pockets, slanted front pockets, a back patch pocket and zip pockets. Specify the pocket bag fabric: a lighter jersey or mesh keeps bulk down in heavy fleece. A zip pocket for a phone needs the zip type and puller in the tech pack, and a facing so the zip does not rub.

Seams. Knitted bottoms are usually overlocked and then coverstitched on visible seams. Flatlock seams lie flatter and suit activewear. On heavy fleece, ask how the crotch seam is reinforced, because it takes the most strain.

Decoration. A small embroidered logo on the thigh or a screen print down the leg are common. Place artwork away from the knee, where it cracks or wears first.

Drawcord safety for children’s sweatpants

If you make sweatpants for children, the drawcord is a safety issue, not a style choice. In Europe, EN 14682 sets requirements for cords and drawstrings on children’s clothing up to the age of 14. It splits children into two groups: young children, up to 7 years or up to 134 cm tall, and older children and young persons, from 7 up to 14 years. It treats the waist as its own zone of the garment, and the 2014 edition revised the waist-area rules.

The exact lengths and loop limits are in the standard itself, so buy it or ask your test laboratory, and design the waistband to it rather than to a rule of thumb. For young children, leaving the drawcord out altogether and relying on elastic is the simplest way to comply.

In the United States, the federal drawstring rule at 16 CFR 1120.3 names children’s upper outerwear in sizes 2T to 16 with drawstrings that do not meet ASTM F1816-97 as a substantial product hazard. It covers jackets and sweatshirts, not trousers. That is not a reason to skip care: a buyer or marketplace may still require a safety review, and the same child may wear your joggers in Europe. Our kidswear page covers the other tests children’s clothing needs.

Labels and HS codes

Sweatpants need the same labels as any garment: fibre content in every market, care instructions where the law requires them, and country of origin. Make sure the fibre content matches the finished fabric, including any elastane in the rib.

For customs, knitted sweatpants are classified by who they are for and what they are made of. Sold as separate trousers, cotton knit trousers for men and boys fall under subheading 6103.42, and for women and girls under 6104.62. Synthetic versions have their own subheadings. A matching top and bottom sold together as a tracksuit may instead fall under heading 6112. The US tariff shows why the difference matters. Its general duty rate is 16.1% for men’s cotton knit trousers under 6103.42.10, 14.9% for women’s under 6104.62.20, and 14.9% for cotton tracksuits under 6112.11, and additional duties can apply on top. Our page for US brands sets out the current position for goods from Bangladesh. Confirm the code for your style with your customs broker before costing.

A sweatpants tech pack checklist

Technical sketch, front and back, with the leg shape and hem finish named.
Fabric: construction (fleece or French terry), fibre blend, finished GSM, elastane, colour and any wash.
Measurement chart for every size, with tolerances and how each point is measured.
Waistband: construction, elastic width and type, cord type, length and tips, eyelets.
Cuffs or hem: rib type, length, relaxed and extended widths.
Pockets: type, position, bag fabric, zips and pullers.
Seams and stitches for each seam, and reinforcement at the crotch.
Decoration: method, size and placement from a fixed reference point.
Labels: main label, care and fibre label, size label, and their positions.
Packing: folding, polybag, carton marks and size ratio per carton.

Our free tech pack template has a section for each of these.

What to do next

If you are starting with a small range, our small-run joggers and shorts route makes from 100 pieces per style and colour, in fleece or French terry, cut from your pattern. For larger programmes, send your tech pack or a reference pair through the contact page, with the quantities per size and your markets, and we will come back with the fabric options and questions before we quote.

Questions buyers ask.

What is the best fabric for sweatpants?

For most brands it is a cotton-rich fleece or French terry, and the choice depends on season and feel. Fleece has its back loops brushed into a soft pile, so it is warmer and suits autumn and winter ranges. French terry leaves the loops unbrushed, so it is cooler, drier and suits spring, summer and warm climates. Both have a smooth knitted face that takes printing and embroidery. A cotton and polyester blend shrinks less and usually costs less than 100% cotton; recycled polyester content is available where your customers ask for it. Adding a small amount of elastane improves stretch and recovery at the knee and seat, which matters for slimmer joggers. Whatever you choose, specify the finished weight in GSM after dyeing and brushing, ask for a shrinkage test before cutting, and cut matching sets from the same dye lot.

How do I find a jogger manufacturer?

Start by writing down what you need, because a factory can only quote what it can read. That means a technical sketch, the fabric and its finished weight, a measurement chart with tolerances, the waistband and cuff constructions, pockets, trims and labels, and the quantity per style, colour and size. Then look for factories that make knitted bottoms in your fabric every day, not just any garment maker: fleece and French terry need knitting, dyeing and brushing capacity, and good joggers need experience with waistbands and rib cuffs. Ask each factory for its audit reports, a list of the fabrics it holds or can source, and a sample made to your specification rather than a stock sample. Compare quotes on the same terms, FOB or delivered, and on the same specification. Check the fit sample on a real person, sitting and walking, before you approve bulk.

Are drawstrings allowed on children’s joggers?

Often, but with limits, and for young children the simplest answer is to leave them out. In Europe, EN 14682 sets requirements for cords and drawstrings on children’s clothing up to the age of 14. It divides children into young children, up to 7 years or up to 134 cm tall, and older children and young persons, from 7 up to 14, and it treats the waist as a separate zone of the garment with its own rules. The exact length and loop limits are in the standard, so buy it or ask your test laboratory to check the design. In the United States, the federal rule at 16 CFR 1120.3 covers drawstrings on children’s upper outerwear, such as hoodies and jackets, in sizes 2T to 16, rather than trousers. The simplest safe design for young children is an elastic waistband with no cord at all.

Sources

Checked 22 September 2026. Rules and figures change, so confirm anything that affects your pricing.

Sweatpants and joggers manufacturing: fabric, fit and what to specify