Custom manufacturing
Softshell Jacket Manufacturer — Bonded & Stretch
A softshell sits between a fleece and a hard shell, and it earns its place by being the garment people actually wear in changeable conditions. It is built from a bonded construction — usually an outer face fabric, a membrane or coating, and a light inner — which makes it wind-resistant and water-repellent while staying soft and stretchy enough to move in. It is the standard choice for field workwear and outdoor corporate programmes where a hard shell would be overkill and a fleece would not be enough.
500 pcsMinimum order
7–10 daysSampling
180,000 pcs / monthMonthly capacity
Fabric weight and construction options
| Weight / type | Material | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| 3-layer bonded | Face + membrane + inner | Best wind resistance and durability for field work |
| 2-layer bonded | Face + coating | Lighter and cheaper, good for corporate outdoor |
| 4-way stretch softshell | With elastane | Where movement and fit matter — active workwear |
| Recycled softshell | Recycled poly face | Where a sustainability claim is needed |
| Fleece-backed softshell | Bonded to fleece | Warmer without extra layers |
Available decoration methods
| Method | Specification | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Embroidery | Chest, sleeve, back | The dominant branding method on softshell; the fabric holds it well |
| Heat transfer / reflective | Applied trim | High-visibility and safety programmes |
| Heat-sealed seams | Structural | Where water resistance has to extend to the seams |
| Zip and pocket branding | Custom pulls | Small detail on an otherwise technical shell |
| Colour-block panelling | Cut-and-sew | Corporate colour programmes cut from different face fabrics |
Specifications we manufacture to
- Construction
- 2-layer or 3-layer bonded softshell
- Performance
- Wind-resistant, water-repellent; seam-sealing optional
- Stretch
- 2-way or 4-way, depending on face fabric
- Zip
- Centre front, chest and hand pockets; YKK-grade available
- Cuff
- Adjustable or elasticated; hook-and-loop optional
- Hem
- Drawcord or elasticated
- MOQ
- 500 pcs per colourway
- Sampling
- 7–10 days
Decoration methods for this product
Related product categories
Frequently asked questions
Is a softshell waterproof?
It is water-repellent, not waterproof, and the distinction matters for how you market it. A softshell shrugs off light rain and wind but will eventually wet through in sustained heavy rain, because the seams and the bond are not sealed like a hard shell. If you need genuinely waterproof, you need seam-sealed construction and a different garment. We will tell you which one your brief actually needs.
What does "bonded" mean and why does it matter?
Bonded means the layers — face fabric, membrane or coating, and inner — are glued together across the whole surface rather than being separate loose layers. That is what gives softshell its wind resistance and its ability to be cut and sewn as a single material. A non-bonded laminate would delaminate with washing; a properly bonded one holds through the garment's life.
Softshell or hard shell for a workwear programme?
It depends on the work. Softshell for outdoor work in changeable weather where movement matters — it breathes better and is quieter and softer to wear. Hard shell for sustained rain or where the garment must be a certified barrier. Many programmes stock both and treat the softshell as the three-season everyday piece.
Can you add reflective tape for safety use?
Yes, and if it is a regulated high-visibility garment the tape has to meet the relevant standard, which we will confirm before production rather than assume. For non-regulated reflective trim — visibility for a corporate outdoor team, for example — there is more flexibility on the tape specification.