Skip to main content

Neoprene fabric guide

Neoprene Vest Design with AI

A neoprene vest is a specialist order: ask for scuba knit at 320 to 400 g/m², and expect fewer mills to take it on.

Of the 12 cloths this guide lists for this cut, it sits between rigid denim and wool tweed in weight.

Next to rigid denim, it is heavier, shinier, warmer to wear and more demanding to care for.

Vest in scuba knit, on a model in a studio
Rendered in the studio for this page

Neoprene Vest at a glance

Cloth to ask your mill for
Scuba knit
Typical weight
320 to 400 g/m²
Drape
Structured, holds its own shape
Stretch
Moderate
Breathability
Low
Warmth
Warm
Care
Hand wash cold, dry flat
How common
Niche, usually a specialist order
Typical cloth price
$15-35/yard

Typical trade ranges, not one mill's figures: confirm them with your mill.

The vest, in numbers

Typical length
55 to 65 cm, from the high point of the shoulder
Defining details
V neck, welt pockets, adjustable back or quilted body
Cloth needed
about 0.8 to 1.2 m of 150 cm cloth, roughly $13 to $46 of cloth at typical prices

Typical figures for an adult size M. The pattern tier is set from the real piece count when you order.

How neoprene behaves on a vest

In a vest it holds a strong shoulder and a straight front almost without help from the canvas.

Cut short, a structured cloth stands away from the body and gives a graphic, boxy shape.

It wears warm, which places it in autumn and winter collections.

It wants a cold hand wash and drying flat, so say so on the care label.

It holds its shape and resists water, but it is warm, does not breathe and creases if folded under heat.

About neoprene

Neoprene is a synthetic rubber foam, usually laminated with a knit on each face. In fashion it has largely given way to scuba knit, a thick double knit that looks alike and breathes better.

Neoprene foam is made by a handful of chemical producers and laminated by specialist mills; scuba knit comes from many knit mills.

It needs no lining, and its edges can be left raw or bonded.

Cutting, sewing and color

Its edges do not fray, so raw or bonded edges are an option; use a stretch needle and keep the iron cool.

Prints are usually applied by sublimation on the knit face, so a print sits on the surface.

It has a soft sheen that shows the folds without glare.

A description to start from

A vest in scuba knit, 320 to 400 g/m², with a structured drape and a soft sheen surface, for autumn and winter.

If neoprene is not quite right

Also: how the studio works, prices and questions and answers.

Start free