Spacer fabric is a three-dimensional weft knit. A face layer and a back layer are joined by connecting yarns, leaving internal air pockets between them. This sandwich construction gives the fabric breathability, light insulation and a cushioned, structured hand. It delivers those properties without the weight of a laminated foam. That is why sportswear, shapewear and outerwear mid-layers use it. In this family, apparel-grade spacer runs from about 170 gsm up to 350 gsm, in widths of roughly 130–180 cm. Nylon-spandex and polyester-spandex blends are both available; the blend sets the stretch and recovery.
Buyers sourcing from Chinese and other Asian mills often call this construction "air layer" (空气层) or "3D spacer". In the mill context, these terms are interchangeable with spacer fabric. The same term is used loosely in the US hobby and home-textile market for spacer mesh. That is an open, mesh-faced version sold by the yard for bags, shoes and upholstery, not a garment fabric. Apparel-grade spacer, such as the grades in this family, is knitted as a closed sandwich for garments.
| Item Code | Type | Weight | Width | Composition | Yarn | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D019 | Modal Polyester Spacer | 230G/M2 | 175CM | 47%Modal + 47%Polyester + 6%Spandex | — | Three-layer air-layer knit with a soft modal hand for sportswear and swimwear. | View → |
| D064 | Nylon Spandex Spacer | 300G/M2 | 150CM | 86%Nylon + 14%Spandex | — | Heavy-weight 300 gsm shaping spacer with compression and recovery for shapewear. | View → |
| D083 | Air-Sculpt 34(Anti-Yellowing) | 170G/M2 | 140CM | 66% Nylon + 34% Spandex | 20D/24F + 20D | High-compression 20D Nylon interlock with 34% Spandex for molded bra cups and shapewear. | View → |
| D180 | Cotton Polyester Air Layer | 300G/M2 | 165CM | 48% Cotton + 45% Polyester + 7% Spandex | — | 300 gsm cotton-polyester air layer with 7% spandex, 48% cotton / 45% polyester, 165 cm wide. | View → |
| D238 | Spacer Fabric (Air Layer) | 300G/M2 | 150CM | 77% Polyester + 23% Spandex | — | 300G/M2 · 150CM · 77% Polyester + 23% Spandex | View → |
| D251 | Graphene Air Layer | 220G/M2 | 160CM | 34% Polyester + 15% Spandex + 51% Graphene-blend | — | 220 gsm air layer with 34% polyester, 15% spandex and 51% graphene-blend, 160 cm wide. | View → |
| D290 | High-Stretch Nylon Yoga Spacer | 300G/M2 | 160CM | 66% Nylon + 34% Spandex | N40D+40D+40DOP | 300 gsm nylon-spandex spacer, 66% nylon / 34% spandex, 160 cm wide — high-stretch grade for yoga and activewear. | View → |
| D293 | Polyester Spandex Air Layer | 290G/M2 | 155CM | 81% Polyester + 19% Spandex | — | 290 gsm polyester-spandex air layer, 81% polyester / 19% spandex, 155 cm wide. | View → |
| D317 | Nylon Spandex Air Layer | 230G/M2 | 140CM | 66%Nylon + 34%Spandex | — | 230 gsm nylon-spandex air layer, 66% nylon / 34% spandex, 140 cm wide. | View → |
| D436 | spacer fabric | 330G/M2 | 127CM | 62% Nylon + 38% Spandex | — | 330G/M2 · 127CM · 62% Nylon + 38% Spandex | View → |
| D456 | Suede-Finish Polyester Air Layer 340 | 340G/M2 | 150CM | 96% Polyester + 4% Spandex | 105D*75D | 340 gsm suede-finish polyester air layer, 96% polyester / 4% spandex, 150 cm wide — heavy structured hand for outerwear and soft-touch layered garments. | View → |
Spacer fabric is a three-dimensional sandwich knit. A face layer and a back layer are held apart by connecting yarns, creating internal air pockets. This structure gives the fabric breathability, light insulation and a cushioned, structured hand. It delivers those properties without the weight of a laminated foam.
Spacer fabric and air layer (空气层) name the same construction; "air layer" is the term most Chinese and other Asian mills use. Spacer mesh is a different article. It is an open, mesh-faced version sold by the yard in the US hobby and home-textile trade for bags, shoes and upholstery. Apparel-grade spacer, such as the grades in this family, is knitted as a closed sandwich for garments.
3D spacer fabric is used mainly for sportswear, shapewear and outerwear mid-layers. Sportswear takes it for hoodies, joggers and quarter-zips, where the air pockets give warmth without bulk. Shapewear takes the heavier nylon-spandex grades, which supply compression and elastic recovery. Outerwear uses it as a mid-layer where light insulation is wanted without the weight of foam.
It is both, to a degree. The internal air pockets make it warmer than a flat single jersey of similar weight. The open connecting layer still lets air and moisture move, so it breathes far better than a foam-laminated or bonded fabric of comparable warmth. For high-loft cold-weather insulation, a bonded fleece or wadding insulates better than a knit of the same weight — spacer is a mid-weight, garment-facing option, not a true insulation layer.
Apparel-grade spacer in this family runs from about 170 gsm up to 350 gsm, in widths of roughly 130–180 cm. Both nylon-spandex and polyester-spandex blends are available. Lighter grades suit summer sportswear and linings; the heavier 300 gsm-and-up grades suit shapewear and structured outerwear.
Yes. Minimum order quantity is confirmed per order and per finish. Send us your target weight, width, composition and end use, and we will come back with a quotation and swatches.
Send us your target specification and end use — we will come back with grades, swatches and a quotation.