Polyester filament yarn is made of continuous strands extruded directly from molten polyester, while spun polyester yarn is made by cutting polyester into short staple fibres and spinning them on cotton-type machinery. Filament yarn is smooth, strong and uniform and is usually cheaper per kilogram, whereas spun polyester has a fibrous, cotton-like surface and handle at a higher conversion cost. The choice follows the fabric you want: filament for a sleek or technical look, spun for a natural, matt appearance.
Both types are produced at scale in Gujarat, with Surat as the centre of filament production and weaving, and spun polyester coming from spinning mills across the state and elsewhere in India. This makes it practical to source either type, or both, through the same ports at Hazira, Mundra or Pipavav.
The main filament types
- POY, partially oriented yarn: the first-stage product from the spinning line, not fully drawn, and sold mostly to texturisers rather than to fabric makers.
- FDY, fully drawn yarn: drawn and heat-set on the spinning line, giving a flat, lustrous, stable yarn used in linings, satins, home textiles and many woven fabrics.
- DTY, draw-textured yarn: POY that has been drawn and false-twist textured to give bulk, stretch and a softer handle, used widely in knitted sportswear, upholstery and dress fabrics.
- Variants within each type include bright, semi-dull and full-dull lustre, cationic-dyeable grades, dope-dyed colours and microfilament versions with very fine individual filaments.
What spun polyester offers
Spun polyester is specified by count, usually in Ne, and by fibre denier and staple length. It can be spun on ring, rotor or air-jet systems, and air-jet spun polyester is common for sewing thread and lightweight wovens because of its low hairiness. The surface is similar to cotton yarn, so fabrics look natural and can be brushed or peached, but the yarn pills more than filament unless anti-pilling fibre is used.
Spun polyester is also the base for most polyester blends. If you need polyester-cotton or polyester-viscose, you will be buying spun yarn by definition, as staple fibres can only be blended at the fibre stage.
Specifying each type
For filament, state the denier and filament count, for example a 75 denier 36 filament yarn, the type (FDY or DTY), lustre, whether it is intermingled, and the required dye uniformity, usually proven by a dyed sock test. For spun polyester, state the count, spinning system, fibre denier, and any requirement for low-pill or dyeable variants. In both cases ask for the lot and merge number, because filament from different merges can show barre, or streakiness, in dyed fabric.
How Creston & Co helps
We visit filament producers and texturisers around Surat and spinning mills elsewhere in Gujarat to confirm the actual product and capacity before you place an order. Sealed samples go to an NABL-accredited lab, loading is supervised, and you receive weekly updates with one approved supplier and a backup on file. If you are unsure which polyester type suits your fabric, a free 20-minute sourcing review is a sensible first step.