A few technical terms that come up constantly in apparel sourcing — elastomultiester, CMT, mercerized and Supima cotton — explained plainly, without the jargon.
What Is Elastomultiester?
Elastomultiester is a stretch fiber made from two different polyester polymers combined into a single filament — unlike elastane (see our elastane fabric guide), which is a polyurethane-based fiber. Elastomultiester achieves its stretch and recovery through the structure of the polyester filament itself, rather than by blending in a separate elastic fiber.
The practical difference for a buyer: elastomultiester tends to hold up better under high heat and chlorine exposure than elastane, since it doesn't share elastane's polyurethane sensitivity to those conditions — which is part of why it shows up more often in swimwear and some technical sportswear than in general apparel.
What Does CMT Mean in Manufacturing?
CMT stands for Cut, Make, Trim — a manufacturing model where the factory only cuts the fabric, sews ("makes") the garment, and adds trims (labels, zippers, buttons), while the buyer supplies the fabric and materials themselves. It's the opposite of full-package (FOB) manufacturing, where the factory sources everything — fabric included — and delivers a finished product.
CMT gives a buyer more control over fabric sourcing and cost, but requires them to manage that sourcing and shipping fabric to the factory themselves. Full-package manufacturing is simpler for a buyer without their own fabric supply chain, which is why it's the more common model for private-label sportswear orders.
What Is Mercerized Cotton?
Mercerization is a finishing process where cotton fabric or yarn is treated with a caustic soda solution under tension, which permanently changes the fiber's structure — it becomes stronger, takes dye more vividly, and gains a subtle sheen it doesn't have untreated. The process is named after John Mercer, who developed it in the 1840s.
Is mercerized cotton safe? Yes — the caustic soda is fully neutralized and washed out during processing; none remains in the finished fabric. Mercerized cotton clothing is not meaningfully different from untreated cotton in terms of skin contact safety, it's simply stronger and more vibrantly dyed.
What Is Supima Cotton?
Supima is a trademarked brand name for extra-long-staple cotton grown in the United States, licensed by the Supima organization to approved growers and manufacturers — similar in concept to how Lycra is a brand name for elastane rather than a generic material. Supima cotton isn't organic by default; it's a fiber-length and origin certification, not an organic-farming certification, though some Supima cotton may also carry separate organic certification if the specific grower holds it.
Why These Terms Matter for Sourcing
Getting these terms right matters when specifying a manufacturing order: whether you want CMT or full-package production changes what you're responsible for supplying, and knowing the difference between elastane and elastomultiester means specifying the right stretch fiber for a garment that needs to survive chlorine or repeated high-heat washing rather than one built for general athletic wear.
Manufacturing Guidance for Your Order
As a factory-direct manufacturer, we work full-package (not CMT-only) on custom sportswear orders — sourcing fabric, cutting, sewing, and finishing in-house. If your order has a specific fabric requirement, our team can advise on the right fiber and finishing choice for your garment's actual use case.
