The luxuriously soft feel of Minky Fabric has made it one of the most popular fabrics in the textile industry today. In addition to its softness, Minky Fabric has other properties that make them a preferred choice of many designers and users.
Minky Fabrics are softer and more durable than most fabrics; they are also hypoallergenic. Minky Fabrics last longer and are less likely to irritate the skin than other fabrics.
But what gives Minky Fabrics its unique features, how did it become so popular, and how can you take good care of your Minky Fabrics? This article will answer these questions.
What is Minky Fabric?
Minky Fabric is a type of luxurious fabric made from 100% polyester; it is super soft, has a lustrous shine, and is very durable.
Minky’s unique properties make it one of the most multi-purpose fabrics in the textile industry; Manufacturers use it to produce everything from blankets to baby clothes and accessories.
Minky Fabric is also known as microfiber fabric or plush fabric. Unlike most woven fabrics, Minky Fabric is a knitted synthetic fabric derived from polyester of varying strands.
Minky Fabric is exceptionally soft and cozy, making it ideal for making blankets; its warmth and caressing effect on the skin have made it the most preferred option for baby clothes and accessories for those who can afford it.
Because Minky Fabrics come from high-quality polyester strands, they are durable and lenient to damage and can retain their color and coziness for a long time.
Additionally, Minky Fabric’s versatility gives designers and textile workers many options when making products from it. It can come in various designs and colors and can be used to produce a wide range of garments, bedding, and other accessories.
A Brief History of Minky Fabric
Unlike many fabrics, Minky Fabric has a relatively recent history. Polyester, the chief chemical component of Minky Fabric, had previously been found in various forms and quantities in plants and some animals.
However, it wasn’t until 1928 that scientists in Great Britain were able to mass produce polyester, with many of them filing patents periodically ever since.
The material underwent a slump during the 1970s when it developed a reputation for being cheap and uncomfortable material.
Fortunately, improvements in the production process of polyester restored Minky Fabrics to popularity as they began to look more silk-like and grow more comfortable.
Initially, Minky Fabric was limited to making baby clothes and accessories. But the late 2000s to the early 2010s saw a surge in adult use of Minky Fabrics as its ultra-softness made them famous, first as a perfect material for cozy blankets, then for other things.
Minky Fabric’s use has since expanded in recent years and is currently the purest and most versatile polyester product in the modern world.
How is Minky Fabric Produced?
Minky Fabric is made entirely from synthetic polyester. Synthetic polyester is mainly derived from the recycling of plastic bottles.
The bottles are shredded and sorted into different colors before undergoing a series of baths. Recyclers use water and corrosive materials to remove the caps and labels from the bottles during bathing.
They then add colored plastics and other additives to the shredded bottles and heat them until they gradually become a smooth fiber-like substance.
Further heating and melting of the substance turn it into polyester threads; giant machines heat these threads further to bind them together.
The bound polyester threads undergo knitting to form Minky sheets, and the sheets must undergo further processing before they turn into fabric.
The next step is slitting, where the sheets are cut down to regular wale size and carefully checked for defects.
Next, the manufacturers put them under a stentering machine to stretch them width-wise into predetermined dimensions. Stentering also helps the Minky fabric recover its uniform, which it may have lost during polyester processing.
After stentering, the next step in the process is polishing. Workers ensure that the fabric attains a smooth, soft, and glossy look; this process requires great care.
Once polishing is complete, the workers transfer the Minky Fabric to other machines, where they are cut according to the intended product.
After cutting, designers print designs on the fabrics and put them through filtering and steaming machines to allow the print dyes to set.
Next, a machine washes the dyed fabric to prevent future fabric fading. Finally, a set of workers polish the fabric again and brush them before the fabrics are ready for sewing and packaging.
Types of Minky Fabrics
Designers and consumers generally categorize Minky Fabrics by how smooth the final product is. There are five common types of Minky Fabric found in the current market:
Smooth Minky
This type of Minky Fabric has the smoothest finish of all Minky fabric. Its surface has no marking or pattern, and the feel is seamless and unstructured.
Like all Minky Fabric, it is made from 100% polyester and used for bedding and even decorations.
Dimple Dot
Dimple Dot is one of the most popular types of Minky Fabric; it is a variation of smooth Minky that has been preheated to give a raised dot pattern.
Unlike smooth Minky, it is marked and patterned and lacks the complete smooth feel. Many consumers have described the texture of Dimple Dot as enjoyable to the touch.
Ribbon
Ribbon Minky is another type of textured Minky Fabric. Some traditional Minky Fabric microfibers have been shaved to give off an almost corduroy look and feel.
This type of Minky Fabric comes in different designs, which can be tie-and-dye or a wide range of animal fur designs. The feel of Print Minky Fabric is unbelievably soft and luxurious, almost imitating the skin of the animals they look like.
Super Plush
This type of Minky Fabric has a lot of microfibers that create an incredibly soft and fluffy texture. They are usually longer than the standard Minky and are ideal for any product that needs an extra layer of squishiness.
Rose Minky
Rose Minky is sometimes called Rosette Minky. It is a type of Super Plush that distinguishes itself by the swirly rose-like structures on its surface. Like the Super Plush, it is also a luxurious type of Minky fabric, loaded with lots of microfibers; it is also longer than the standard Minky Fabric.
Uses of Minky Fabric
There are numerous uses of Minky Fabric in the world today.
Minky Fabric is famous for its use in making the softest and most luxurious types of blankets.
In addition, manufacturers use Minky Fabric to make baby clothes and accessories such as blankets, baby bibs, dockers, warmers, and toys like teddy bears.
Minky Fabric is used for outerwear, especially in winter, because they warm up quickly; they also use Minky fabrics for beddings due to their breathable and hypoallergenic features. They are smooth to the skin and also provide warmth.
Certain types of Minky Fabrics, such as Rose Minky and Ribbon, are often used for indoor decorations. They can make beautiful drop cloth curtains, seat and table covers.
Quilters and embroiderers can easily find Minky, an exciting fabric to quilt with and see beautiful patterns on.
Some Minky Fabrics are used for home furnishing, and their soft nature makes them perfect for fluffy cushions and throw pillows.
Stylish designers sometimes use Minky Fabric to make purses, bags, and wallets; their glossy look often gives them a more interesting touch.
Properly designed Minky Fabrics can be used to make clothes, scarves, slippers, and hats. Due to their warmth, they are also perfect for making mittens during winter.
How to Care For Minky Fabrics
Although Minky Fabrics are durable and can survive some punishment, heat is its kryptonite because they consist of 100% polyester; polyester is made of plastic and can melt.
Hence, care for Minky fabric should limit exposure to heat as much as possible.
Wash Minky Fabrics with cold water and a mild detergent. The best detergents you can use are those marked sensitive skin or eco-friendly. You can also use baking soda and white vinegar. Avoid using harsh detergents and fabric softeners.
Never wash Minky Fabrics with other fabrics. You can hand wash your Minky or use a washing machine.
Avoid dryers as much as possible; if you must use a dryer, tumble dry with no heat and remove the fabric before it dries completely. Air drying is the best way of drying Minky Fabric.
You must not iron your Minky fabric directly under any circumstance. Minky Fabric is made from synthetic polyester and can melt if heat is applied directly to it.
If the back of your Minky cloth comprises another material, you can apply a low-heat iron on that side of the cloth.
Wash your Minky Fabrics, especially blankets, at least once a week; this will prevent dust, dirt, or even the oils from your skin from permanently staining it.
How to Make Minky Fabric Soft Again
If your Minky Fabric has gone hard, either due to a mistake while washing or drying the fabric, there is something you can try.
Wash the fabric in cold water and white vinegar. Do not add any laundry detergent. The success of this method depend on how bad the damage is. Still, there is a fair chance that this might work.