Minky blankets are extremely soft, beautiful, and great for cuddling. But what is minky fabric made of exactly? With a name like “minky,” it may seem this mysterious material comes from mink fur—but it’s actually vegan!
Minky blankets are such unique, luxurious blankets, it is only natural to be curious about them. Lucky for you, we have an entire guide to help you unravel the mysteries of polyester minky fabric.
What Are Minky Blankets Made Of?
Our high-quality minky blankets are made of 100% synthetic polyester. Our polyester minky fabric is a durable derivative of fleece that is made to last.
To create polyester minky fabric, petroleum, chemicals, polymers, and dyes are mixed and fused together under high heat and pressure, then spun into thin, silky threads, which are finally woven into large swaths of fabric. With this completely safe material in hand, the fabric is cut and sewn into blankets.
At Sew Sweet Minky Designs, our minky blankets are handmade with love. Sew Sweet Minky Designs provides stay-at-home employment to many moms, dads, and grandparents around the country.
When you buy a minky blanket from us, you aren’t just buying a swath of fabric. You’re buying a piece of art that has been lovingly crafted just for you.
Why Is It Called “Minky”?
Calling this special fabric “minky” sometimes leads to confusion. Why name it after an animal if it’s vegan? We didn’t come up with the name—otherwise we might have named it “ultra-silky-totally-dreamy-not-animal fabric” instead, just to clarify things.
As it stands, minky fabric was inspired by mink fur. This expensive fur is prized for its incredible softness, but comes at the cost of the lives of innocent animals. Minky fabric is specially produced to create thousands of silky, thin fibers that simulate the feel of a mink coat, but contain absolutely no animal fibers.
Do Minky Animal Print Blankets Contain Animal Products?
Again, we can understand where the confusion might arise. But no, there are no animal products at all in Sew Sweet Minky Blankets. We offer many beautiful, luxurious minky animal print blankets such as snow leopard, dalmatian, and baby zebra. These lovely patterns are synthetic; they only draw inspiration from animal fur.
Vegan & Cruelty-Free
Unlike wool, cashmere, and furs, minky fabric is a material animal lovers can feel good about.
Like we said, minky fabric is made of polyester. Polyester contains absolutely no animal products whatsoever; No animals are harmed, tested on, or killed to produce minky fabric.
Yep, polyester minky fabric is vegan and cruelty-free. That doesn’t mean you can eat it, though!
What Is Polyester?
Polyester is a synthetic woven material frequently used in fabrics.
Though there are multiple types of polyester, the polyester used in fabric is usually made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Without getting too complicated, PET is created from a chemical reaction that combines water, petroleum, and air.
In short, polyester is a type of plastic. It’s a thermoplastic, meaning it can be melted and reshaped. It is also relatively cost-effective and doesn’t require animal products, making it a very popular material in the textile industry.
Polyester was invented in 1941 but didn’t really become popular until the 70’s. Since then, the way we work with polyester has rapidly evolved, and the textures and materials we can create has drastically expanded.
What Other Products Use Polyester Fabric?
You probably encounter polyester fabric frequently in your day-to-day life without realizing it. Polyester isn’t just used to create minky fabric. In fact, minky fabric is merely one type of polyester fabric.
Here are just a few products that are commonly made from polyester fabrics:
- Pillowcases
- Bedsheets
- Underwear
- Carpets
- Upholstery
- Towels
- Tents
- Laundry bags
As for minky fabric, that can be used for more than just blankets, too.
Minky fabric can also be used to make:
- Stuffed animals
- Soft toys
- Seat covers
- Baby bibs
- Pet beds
- Clothing
Pros & Cons of Polyester Fabric
Polyester fabric was once marketed as a wonder fabric that could be worn for days without wrinkling. These days, we’re so used to this incredible modern invention that we rarely, if ever, stop to think about how special it really is.
Here are just a few things we love about Polyester and a few drawbacks.
Pros:
Saves Animals
We already touched on this, but it bears repeating. Because of its versatility, polyester can be used to create faux furs, fleece, and tons of other cool fabrics that do not use animal products. That means thousands of minks, sheep, and other baby animals don’t have to die for fashion.
Super Tough
Polyester won’t shrink or stretch in the wash. It also doesn’t wrinkle so you don’t have to iron it.
Great For the Outdoors
Polyester is warm yet lightweight, making it a great fabric for outdoor wear. It also dries quickly.
Recyclable
Since polyester is made of plastic, recycled plastics (such as plastic bottles) can be melted and respun into fabric.
Cons:
Not from Nature
Polyester is man made. Some people prefer only to use and wear natural fibers.
Risk of Melting
Polyester is a thermoplastic. That means that under high heat it melts. Don’t worry—your clothes and blankets aren’t going to melt on you when you get a little sweaty.
However, putting minky blankets in the dryer on full blast will damage the fibers, and polyester clothes should be ironed very carefully on low heat.
Caring for Polyester Minky Fabric Blankets
For the most part, it’s easy to care for minky blankets. When your minky blankets need to be washed, simply throw them into the washing machine with cold water and a mild detergent. Avoid using fabric softener. Hang or air-dry your blankets; do not put them into the dryer.
If your minky blanket needs some repair, we have a full how-to guide to assist you.
Buy Your Minky Blanket Today!
So, what are minky blankets made of? Polyester fabric is only one ingredient. At Sew Sweet Minky Designs, polyester fabric, love, and pride in our craft are all stitched together to make something beautiful and infinitely soft that we know you’ll enjoy.
Check out our shop to find your next favorite blanket.