Pique Explained: How It Works in Performance Sportswear
Pique is best understood as knit with a textured waffle-like surface. This entry explains how it behaves inside a finished garment rather than only in the laboratory.
What the term means
knit with a textured waffle-like surface, which is why the value appears on almost every technical data sheet. Working figures for Pique normally sit around 160-240 GSM in mainstream production. Note double knit machine on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Why it matters in practice
it hides perspiration and holds structure, so it influences buying decisions more than most buyers expect. Record elastane content alongside Pique, because blends shift the measured value. A result outside 160-240 GSM usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
Typical values seen in activewear
160-240 GSM. Ranges vary by construction, so compare like with like. Keeping reference values for Pique lets suppliers quote without extra sampling rounds. Ask for conditioning details together with double knit machine, since both affect the reading.
How it is measured
double knit machine is the reference normally quoted on a test report. Working figures for Pique normally sit around 160-240 GSM in mainstream production. Note double knit machine on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Frequent mistakes
Comparing results from different standards, testing unwashed fabric, and writing the target without tolerance are the common errors. Record elastane content alongside Pique, because blends shift the measured value. A result outside 160-240 GSM usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
