Fashion Terms — the Apparel Search fashion terminology directory
Fabrics are frequently described as being “breathable”. Does this mean the fabric is alive? No — in summary, breathable fabric allows moisture to pass through it. Breathability is measured as the moisture vapor transmission rate, or MVTR: how quickly or slowly moisture passes through a fabric, usually measured in grams per square meter per day. This page explains breathability and why moisture control matters in clothing.
Fabrics are frequently described as being “breathable”. Does this mean that the fabric is alive? Sorry, but that is not the appropriate answer.
In summary, breathable fabric allows moisture to pass thru.
Breathability is an easy way of saying “moisture vapor transmission rate”. MVTR is the measure of how quickly (or how slowly) moisture passes through a fabric or other substance. It is usually measured in g/m²/day, or the mass of moisture that passes through a square meter of fabric in 24 hours. Moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR), is also referred to as water vapor transmission rate (WVTR).
There are many industries where moisture control is critical. The apparel industry would be one of them. In regard to clothing, MVTR as a measure of breathability has contributed to greater comfort for wearers of clothing for outdoor activity.
For those of you that would like to learn about breathable fabrics, we recommend that you read what Andrew Skurka wrote about breathability. Here is a brief example of portion of what he wrote on the subject, “breathability is an oversimplification of MVTR: whereas MVTR measures a degree, breathability is used as an absolute. Specifically, if the MVTR of a fabric is greater than zero, the fabric can be described as “breathable,” even if realistically it is not. (There is no industry standard for breathability.) So, for example, even a body suit made of painter’s plastic could be described as “breathable” if the suit had a few needle-sized vents in it, because in theory moisture could pass through these vents.”
Natural fibers, man-made fibers, or blended fibers can be breathable (some more than others).
Linen absorbs and releases perspiration quickly, thus allowing the fabric to "breathe". Linen is one of higher performing of the natural breathable fabrics, making it especially cool and comfortable to wear in the heat. As stated, man-made fibers can produce breathable fabric as well. For example, Polyester has good wicking properties.
You may want to read other fabric definitions in our textile glossary.
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The number only tells half the story, because a garment is a system: a breathable fabric under an impermeable shell still traps vapor, and a waterproof-breathable jacket moves moisture well only while its outer surface is not wetted out. That is why outdoor writers quoted on this page call breathability an oversimplification — the wearer's activity level, the temperature difference between skin and air, and ventilation openings such as pit zips often matter more than the fabric's laboratory rating. For everyday clothing the simpler reading is enough: breathable summer shirts, workwear and athletic apparel feel cooler because sweat vapor escapes instead of condensing on the skin.
Shoppers can use the term practically. Natural-fiber knits and loose weaves breathe by structure; synthetic performance fabrics breathe by wicking and by engineered yarn shapes; coated and laminated fabrics breathe, if at all, by micropores or by absorbing and releasing vapor through the membrane itself. Each mechanism has a failure mode — cotton holds water once wet, wicking finishes wash out over time, membranes clog with dirt and body oils — so care instructions are part of the breathability a garment keeps. The textile glossary linked from this page defines the neighboring fabric terms for readers comparing specifications.
Fabric that allows moisture vapor to pass through it, so perspiration can escape instead of building up against the skin. Breathability is about vapor movement, not about the fabric being alive or about air flowing freely.
The moisture vapor transmission rate — the measure of how quickly or slowly moisture passes through a fabric or other substance, usually measured in g/m²/day, the mass of moisture passing through a square meter of fabric in 24 hours. It is also called WVTR, water vapor transmission rate.
Natural fibers such as cotton breathe well, and man-made fibers can be engineered for it too — polyester, for example, has good wicking properties, moving moisture along the fiber so it can evaporate, as this page notes. Breathability has contributed to greater comfort in clothing for outdoor activity.