ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece: The Complete Guide to Wazoodle's Organic Cotton Fleece Fabric

What ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece Is and Why It Matters

ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece is a brushed knit fleece made from 100% certified organic cotton, manufactured by AKAS Tex as part of the ProECO sustainable fabric collection. The fabric features a mechanically raised pile surface that delivers softness, absorbency, and cushioning across three weight tiers — 300 GSM, 400 GSM, and 500 GSM — with eight variants spanning Standard, FoodSAFE (FDA-certified food contact), and Silver (antimicrobial odor control) treatments.

ProECO SustainSafe (chemical-free manufacturing) processing ensures every variant arrives free from pesticide residues, synthetic treatments, and finishing chemicals, while Ready-AbZORB (immediate absorbency activation) eliminates the 20+ conditioning washes conventional cotton fleece requires. All variants hold CPSIA certification for children's product safety, UPF 50+ sun protection, and Forever Chemicals-Free verification. Made in USA with US Cotton Trust Protocol verified organic cotton sourcing.

One critical constraint applies across the entire family: all variants carry a Class 2/3 flammability classification per 16 CFR Part 1610, which means ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece is NOT recommended for exposed areas of children's sleepwear or diaper surfaces. It works as an inner layer or in non-sleepwear applications.

For applications needing a thinner, pilling-resistant loop construction rather than brushed pile — with Class 1 flammability suitable for children's sleepwear — see ProECO Organic Cotton French Terry. For fitted garments requiring four-way stretch, see ProECO Stretch-FIT Organic Cotton Fleece.

Softness is the most frequently praised characteristic across customer reviews — users with severe chemical sensitivities report handling this fabric immediately out of the package with no reactions, where conventional fabrics require extensive pre-washing.

For how ProECO SustainSafe and Ready-AbZORB technology work, see "What is ProECO SustainSafe Technology?" and "What is Ready-AbZORB Technology?"

The Complete ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece Lineup

ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece spans eight variants organized across three weight tiers and three treatment types. Your first decision is weight — how thick and absorbent you need the fabric — and your second is treatment — whether you need standard organic cotton, FDA food-contact certification, or antimicrobial odor control.

Standard Weight — 300 GSM (0.055" Thick)

W-244 ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece: The foundation variant. 300 GSM, 60–64" width, 5% stretch both directions, 2–4% width / 5–6% length shrinkage. Ready-AbZORB (immediate absorbency) processing. Available in natural. The go-to for baby clothing, bibs, blankets, and general soft-goods construction.
W-329 ProECO FoodSAFE Organic Cotton Fleece: Same 300 GSM base with FDA food-contact certification per 21 CFR 177.1680 and 175.300. Tested stable from -20°C to 250°F across acidic and fatty foods. For reusable food storage bags, bowl covers, and breast milk storage.
W-564 ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece Silver: Same 300 GSM base with Silver Plus (antimicrobial odor control) treatment providing 99.5% bacterial inhibition through 50+ wash cycles. For cloth diaper linings, medical device padding, and extended-wear applications.

Heavy Weight — 400 GSM (0.050" Thick)

W-368 ProECO Heavy Organic Cotton Fleece: 400 GSM, 60–64" width, 5% stretch, 4–5% shrinkage both directions. Ready-AbZORB (immediate absorbency) processed. Reduced shrinkage versus Standard weight — 4–5% versus 5–6% length. For cloth diaper absorbent cores, nursing pads, and reusable menstrual products.
W-370 ProECO FoodSAFE Heavy Organic Cotton Fleece: Same 400 GSM base with FDA food-contact certification. For kitchen towels, food-prep textiles, and baby feeding products where heavier absorbency and food safety are both required.

Super Heavy Weight — 500 GSM (0.065" Thick)

W-589 ProECO Super Heavy Organic Cotton Fleece: 500 GSM, 60–64" width, 0.065" thick, 5% stretch, 3–5% width / 6–8% length shrinkage. Double-sided brushed pile. Customer reports describe this as "heavy duty" with durability exceeding comparable market options. For blankets, pet products, and reusable household textiles.
W-331 ProECO FoodSAFE Super Heavy Organic Cotton Fleece: Same 500 GSM base with FDA food-contact certification. For heavy-duty unpaper towels, food storage bags, and commercial kitchen applications needing maximum absorbency with food safety verification.
W-588 ProECO Super Heavy Organic Cotton Fleece Silver: Same 500 GSM base with Silver Plus (antimicrobial odor control) maintaining 99.9% effectiveness through 50+ wash cycles. For baby blankets, children's winter apparel, and sustainable home textiles requiring both warmth and odor management.

Key Concept: All ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece variants share the same organic cotton base, ProECO SustainSafe processing, and Ready-AbZORB activation. The treatment type — Standard, FoodSAFE, or Silver — adds a specialized capability without changing core fabric performance.

All fabric specifications may vary ±10% due to textile industry manufacturing standards.

Choosing Your ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece: Weight and Treatment

Every ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece variant shares 100% organic cotton construction, CPSIA certification, Ready-AbZORB (immediate absorbency) processing, and chemical-free SustainSafe manufacturing. Your decision comes down to two factors: how much weight/thickness your project needs, and whether you need food-contact or antimicrobial capability.

Choose by Weight Tier

Standard 300 GSM — Best for baby clothing, bibs, burp cloths, quilting, and garments where softness matters more than maximum absorbency.
Heavy 400 GSM — Best for absorbent cores in cloth diapers, nursing pads, and reusable menstrual products. Controlled 4–5% shrinkage delivers more usable fabric per yard.
Super Heavy 500 GSM — Best for blankets, pet products, and heavy-duty household textiles requiring maximum durability. Users report this weight sews beautifully despite its substantial thickness.

Choose by Treatment Type

Standard — Choose when organic cotton softness and absorbency are sufficient without specialized certifications. Most versatile and cost-effective option across all weight tiers.
FoodSAFE — Choose when your product will contact food directly — reusable snack bags, bowl covers, breast milk storage, kitchen towels. FDA certification (21 CFR 177.1680 and 175.300) is required for commercial food-contact products.
Silver — Choose for extended-wear applications where odor control between washes matters — cloth diaper linings, medical device padding, overnight baby blankets. Silver Plus antimicrobial inhibits bacterial growth through 50+ washes.

Silver variants require specific care to maintain antimicrobial effectiveness — never use fabric softeners or chlorine bleach, which permanently destroy the Silver Plus treatment.

For cross-family comparisons between ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece and other ProECO constructions (French Terry, Interlock, Jersey), see the relevant Decision Framework articles.

Working With ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece: Sewing and Construction Guide

ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece is accessible to all skill levels — customers consistently report it's easy to work with and handles well on standard home sewing machines. The 300 GSM and 400 GSM weights feed smoothly without special equipment; the 500 GSM Super Heavy weight benefits from a sturdier machine and slower stitching speed.

Cutting and Layout

Pile direction: Cut all pieces with the brushed pile running the same direction — inconsistent pile direction creates visible appearance differences in the finished product.
Wrong side marking: Mark the wrong side before cutting. The brushed pile can make sides difficult to distinguish, especially on double-sided variants.
Rotary cutter recommended: Clean cuts through fleece prevent edge distortion. Edges don't fray significantly but may curl due to knit construction.

Sewing Recommendations

Needle selection: Ballpoint or jersey needles (size 80/12 for 300 GSM, size 90/14 for 400–500 GSM) prevent fiber damage in the knit structure.
Thread: Polyester thread provides durability through repeated hot-water laundering.
Stitch type: Standard straight stitch works for most construction. Zigzag or stretch stitch for seams needing flexibility. Reduce presser foot pressure for heavier weights to prevent stretching during feeding.
Seam finishing: Serged or enclosed seams recommended — especially for food-contact and baby applications. Grade seam allowances on Super Heavy weight to reduce bulk at intersections.

Pre-wash before cutting if sizing is critical. ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece shrinks 2–8% depending on weight tier and direction (see Specifications table). Ready-AbZORB reduces shrinkage 60–80% versus untreated organic cotton, but residual shrinkage still requires pre-washing for fitted projects.

Pairing ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece With Other Wazoodle Fabrics

ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece works as both an absorbent inner layer and a soft outer shell depending on your project. Because it absorbs rather than repels moisture, most multi-layer builds pair it with a waterproof barrier on one side and a wicking contact layer on the other.

Layer Partners for ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece

Barrier side (below the fleece): ProSoft 1 mil ECO-PUL provides waterproof laminate backing for cloth diapers, changing pads, and incontinence products. ProSoft FoodSAFE PUL provides FDA-certified waterproof backing for food storage products needing both absorbency and moisture containment.
Skin-contact side (above the fleece): ProCool Dri-QWick Jersey Mesh pulls liquid away from skin into the absorbent fleece core. ProECO Organic Cotton Jersey or Interlock provides a smooth organic cotton contact layer for baby garments where fleece texture isn't desired against skin.

Proven Layer Stack Configurations

Cloth diaper insert: ProCool Dri-QWick Jersey Mesh (skin side) → ProECO Heavy Organic Cotton Fleece (W-368, absorbent core) → ProSoft ECO-PUL (barrier). Use 1–3 layers of fleece depending on absorbency requirements.
Reusable food storage bag: ProECO FoodSAFE Organic Cotton Fleece (W-329, inner lining) → ProSoft FoodSAFE PUL (outer shell). Both layers FDA-certified for food contact.
Baby blanket: ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece (W-244, face) → ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece (back) for double-sided softness, or pair with ProCool TransDRY Jersey for moisture-managing warmth.

Your results may vary based on product design and construction.

For complete build guidance on specific projects, see the relevant Application Discovery articles.

Common Applications for ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece

ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece is most commonly used for baby products, cloth diapers, reusable household textiles, medical comfort applications, and food storage items. Customer reports span a wider range than typical fleece fabrics, driven by the organic certification and chemical-free processing.

Baby clothing and blankets — The most popular application across all weight tiers. Bibs, burp cloths, baby hats, receiving blankets, and soft garments. CPSIA certification and chemical-free construction make these products sellable as certified children's items.
Cloth diapers and inserts — Heavy and Super Heavy weights serve as natural-fiber absorbent layers in multi-layer diaper construction. Ready-AbZORB (immediate absorbency) means cloth diaper makers can test and ship products without extensive conditioning. Silver variants add odor control for extended-wear and overnight inserts.
Reusable food storage — FoodSAFE variants serve the growing market for reusable snack bags, bowl covers, produce bags, and breast milk storage. FDA certification is legally required for commercial food-contact products — ProECO FoodSAFE is the only cotton fleece holding this certification.
Medical comfort applications — Users report the 300 GSM variants work effectively as cushioning to line uncomfortable back braces, providing both padding and moisture absorption during extended wear. The 0.055" thickness provides comfort without adding excessive bulk to medical devices.
Adult garments — A customer successfully created a sweatshirt dress for workplace wear, receiving frequent compliments and requests to make additional pieces. The limited drape actually helps structured garments retain shape.
Pet products — Super Heavy weight (W-589) is customer-validated for pet toys and pet bedding, with users reporting durability exceeding comparable market options under chewing stress and aggressive washing.
Reusable household textiles — Unpaper towels, kitchen cloths, and cleaning products. FoodSAFE variants provide FDA certification for kitchen use; all variants tolerate hot-water sanitation washing.
Agricultural wicking — An unexpected application: a customer uses Super Heavy fleece as a wicking medium in a vegetable growing setup, transporting water from a reservoir to soil through the fabric's natural absorbency.

For complete build guides for specific applications, see the relevant Application Discovery articles.

ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece Certifications

All ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece variants hold the same core safety certifications through ProECO SustainSafe (chemical-free manufacturing) processing. FoodSAFE variants add FDA food-contact certification. These certifications support customers selling handmade products commercially — particularly for children's items and food-contact products.

Safety Certifications and Chemical-Free Verifications (All Variants)

CPSIA Certified: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act compliance for children's products (lead, phthalates, BPA testing)
California Proposition 65 Compliant: No detectable levels of listed chemicals
EU REACH SVHC Compliant: Regulation EC 1907/2006
EU RoHS 10 Compliant: Directive 2011/65/EU as amended
UPF 50+: Blocks 98% UV radiation per AS/NZS 4399:1996 testing
Made in USA: Manufactured under EPA/OSHA standards
US Cotton Trust Protocol: Verified sustainable organic cotton sourcing
Flammability Class 2/3: Per 16 CFR Part 1610 — NOT recommended for exposed areas of children's sleepwear or diaper surfaces
FDA Food Contact (FoodSAFE variants only): Certified per 21 CFR 177.1680 and 175.300 for repeated-use food contact — tested stable from -20°C to 250°F across all food types
Forever Chemicals-Free: No PFAS, PFOS, PFOA, or PTFE detected
BPA-Free, Phthalate-Free, Lead-Free: Tested per CPSIA standards
pH 7.4 (Neutral): No acidic or basic residues that could irritate skin

Fabric vs. Finished Product: CPSIA certification of the fabric does not automatically certify your finished product. Finished children's products may require independent testing depending on your product category and sales channels.

For what these certifications require and mean for your products, see the relevant Features Discovery articles.

ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece Care

ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece improves with washing — the organic cotton fibers relax and bloom, softening the hand feel over the first 3–5 wash cycles while Ready-AbZORB (immediate absorbency) ensures performance from the very first use.

Washing

Wash hot water with standard detergent. Hot washing is safe for all variants and supports sanitation-level hygiene for baby and food-contact products. Use an extra rinse cycle to prevent detergent buildup, which reduces absorbency over time.

Pilling in fleece is normal — and intentional. Our fleece is manufactured without anti-pill chemical treatments. Anti-pill finishes use silicones, resins, or chemical crosslinkers that reduce breathability, compromise softness, and introduce environmental concerns — with effectiveness lasting only 5–30 washes. Some surface pilling is expected with wear and friction. Use a fabric shaver to restore the surface — never pull pills by hand, which damages the base fabric structure.

Drying

Tumble dry medium heat. Organic cotton tolerates higher temperatures than synthetics, but medium heat optimizes dimensional stability. Hot iron acceptable when pressing is needed.

What to Avoid

Never use fabric softeners or dryer sheets — they permanently coat fibers and destroy absorbency. A single use can reduce liquid capture capacity by 50% or more. For Silver variants, fabric softeners also permanently destroy antimicrobial effectiveness. Never use chlorine bleach on Silver variants — it degrades the antimicrobial treatment. Oxygen bleach is acceptable for all variants.

Pre-Wash Requirements

Pre-wash recommended for all variants before cutting fitted projects. Ready-AbZORB reduces shrinkage 60–80% versus untreated organic cotton, but residual shrinkage of 2–8% (depending on weight and direction) still requires stabilization.

ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece Specifications

ProECO Organic Cotton Fleece spans three weight tiers with consistent fiber content and stretch properties. The primary differences between variants are weight, thickness, shrinkage behavior, and specialized treatment (FoodSAFE or Silver). All variants share 100% organic cotton fiber, 5% stretch in both directions, pH 7.4, UPF 50+, and 4.5 color fastness rating.

Variant	Weight	Thickness	Width	Shrinkage (W × L)	Treatment
W-244	300 GSM	0.055"	60–64"	2–4% × 5–6%	Standard
W-329	300 GSM	0.055"	60–64"	2–4% × 5–6%	FoodSAFE
W-564	300 GSM	0.055"	60–62"	2–4% × 5–6%	Silver
W-368	400 GSM	0.050"	60–64"	4–5% × 4–5%	Standard
W-370	400 GSM	0.050"	60–64"	4–5% × 4–5%	FoodSAFE
W-589	500 GSM	0.065"	60–64"	3–5% × 6–8%	Standard
W-331	500 GSM	0.065"	60–64"	3–5% × 6–8%	FoodSAFE
W-588	500 GSM	0.065"	60–64"	3–5% × 6–8%	Silver

All fabric specifications may vary ±10% due to textile industry manufacturing standards.