Please tell me more about "Ponte" / "Ponte knit" - YouLookFab Forum

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Please tell me more about "Ponte" / "Ponte knit"

The Cat

Veteran

I have often see the terms "Ponte" and "Ponte knit", and I understand it to be a tight jersey-like fabric. But I would like to know more, like:

- Is "Ponte" the name of the fabric itself, or rather of the weave? Does the fabric usually contain polyester? Or can it consist of various fibres?

- What is "Ponte" called in languages like German, French, and the Scandinavian languages? -- In Scandinavia, where I live, I have never seen the (English?) term "Ponte" used on any labels etc., though many clothes are imported ... I am pretty sure, though, that "Ponte" items exist here, too, and I wonder what they are called.

- Are the terms "Ponte" and "Ponte knit" mainly used in North America? Or are these terms in common use also in UK, Australia, New Zealand, and other English-speaking countries?

- What do you like -- or not like -- about Ponte? Do you have a favourite Ponte item?

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18 replies

Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

I'm not an expert, but I think "Ponte" is a fabric description as opposed to a fiber content, so you wouldn't find it listed on a fabric content tag. Ponte is a relatively thick and stable double-knit fabric. Ponte is polyester rich, but can contain other fibers such as rayon and spandex. Ponte is EVERYWHERE these days. Unfortunately, I have a lot of trouble with ponte fabrications. Maybe I am not fitting them properly. For pants, especially, I would like to have the ease and comfort of ponte knit, but I also want my pants to skim my figure without grabbing or stretching anywhere. Too often, ponte pants grab somewhere in the thigh region and look like they fit poorly. When I've asked about this, I get the impression that I should be fitting the pants quite snugly--as if they are leggings--but that is not the look I desire. It seems as if ponte pants are driving cotton and wool twill completely out of the marketplace

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I have no idea what ponte is called in other languages, but it's a sturdy, double-knit fabric made from a rayon, polyester (or nylon), and spandex blend. You won't see "ponte" on a fabric label here either. It'll list rayon, polyester/nylon, and spandex.

I find it to be a pretty casual fabric, but it's making a lot of inroads to office wear here, probably because it feels like wearing yoga clothes, but is more substantial and holds its shape well with wear.

Anonymous

Emily -- have you tried Kut from the Kloth Ponte Pants? They don't fit like leggings and they seem to be "roomy" in all the right places without being baggy. They wash beautifully.

Thistle

Veteran

Emily - they most certainly make non-legging ponte pants. I have some from Nordstrom and Talbots.

If they fit too snugly in the thighs, trying going up a size or looking for a curvy fit.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Ponte is a type of knitting, not a fiber content. It is a thick "spongy" fabric, the way neoprene (scuba) is thick and spongey (but neoprene fabric is not knit). It is not crisp, but I think it has more form than other knits. I have no clue about the technique, other than that I've heard the word "double" used in connection with it. It does not use thick thread and is not loosely knit. There are ponte materials made of cotton, like this blazer, but they are harder to find. I've also added a pair of pants in rayon ponte.

When you asked the other day, I tried to find the German word, but could only find definitions relating to bridges and a legal term that had nothing to do with fabric content. Honestly, the best method to find out is probably the slow slog through websites of various stores, searching for ponte. Then either scrutinize the photos or go into the store in your town and find the actual item. I don't know if it's worth that much effort to you, but unless you find a specialized dictionary or a multi-lingual fashion insider, I don't know how else you'd do it. I tried to search H&M, but the search term was "adjusted" to coate, so entirely useless. Is there a Bebe store near you? https://www.target.com/p/women.....A-50416567
http://www.bebe.com/Sale/Botto.....dColor=blk

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Thank you for the recc's, Sterling and Thistle! I have one pair (MK "Miranda") that fit as desired (and, oh man but they were hard to find--I probably tried on more than 25 pairs of ponte pants before finding them), but most are loose everywhere except where they appear to grab--which is kinda weird as I have no trouble finding good fit in woven pants. I'll see if I can find the KUT ones to try.

(Sorry, The Cat, to hijack, but maybe the find will be of interest?)

Michael by Michael Kors Miranda Slim Ankle Pants

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skylurker

Veteran

In French "point de Rome". It's not a fabric, it's a knitting process.
https://textileaddict.me/quest.....en-tricot/

I think I've never seen one for real. I was intrigued by the ubiquity of them on YLF when I started reading the blog too

Sal

Veteran

We do use the word here in NZ, and I know what the fabric is. I have a dress and some pants/leggings in this fabric and have had a jacket and another dress in the past.

It is a good in-between fabric - it is comfortable and knit, but it lasts and is thick. it does not pill easily, I suspect mine are a blend of cottons and synthetics.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

The Cat, when you recognize what kind of fabric this is, please tell us the words you know for it. German would be most helpful to me, but Swedish could help too. Tak!

Lena

I've also been wondering about ponte fabric, and according to Google it's apparently called courtellejersey in Swedish. Unfortunately, no one ever uses that term, so it's of little help when trying to find that fabric here. I suspect that you would rather find it described as "kraftig stretchtrikå" or something like that.

krishnidoux

Veteran

The Cat, thank you for asking this question! Me too have been wondering ever since I started to see the term appear on this forum.
Skylurker, thanks to you too! The description in French helped me get a better understanding.

Mirjana

Veteran

The Cat thanks for asking this I also don't know what is this, I don't believe that we haven't them in Europe, but we probably call them different. I am curious to know that.
I found Zara Girl's Ponte di Roma trousers , is that Ponte pants?

Christina F.

Veteran

Yes, Ponte di Roma is ponte, Mirjana.

Mirjana

Veteran

Thank you Christina I think that we solved the problem.

barbaraq

From my sewing sources and experience, Ponte made from rayon/nylon/lycra is much superior to Ponte made from rayon/polyester/lycra. The nylon component makes the fabric more pill resistant and with a better stretch recovery. EF and J Jill use this blend.

The Cat

Veteran

Thank you, ladies.

I hope the French and Italian expressions will be of help to some forum members.

Finding the equivalent terms used in Northern Europe seems more difficult. I believe, like Lena, that "Ponte" may often be hidden behind terms including words like "jersey", "stretch", or "trikot". I am familiar with "polyesterjersey." By the way, thank you, barbaraq, for your interesting comment about Ponte made from nylon compared to Ponte made from polyester!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I also thank you barbaraq. I have checked my 2 highly worn ponte pants. The one I wear more is at the bottom of pic 2 ( ignore pic 1, added in error, won't remove). They say rayon/nylon/spandex and I paid $79 in 2014 and have worn 56 times, have on right now. They have pleather side panels. They seem stronger than the more expensive ones bought 2016, ( on extreme sale at $95 because had tiny hole which I mended), pic 3. They say viscose/polyester/spandex and don't seem as strong. They have had 25 wears. I assume they cost more as the decorative panels you can see in the pic are real leather. But I feel kind of annoyed that they seem to be stretching more and have a tiny bit of pilling, because they cost more and would have cost even more if not for the tiny hole! In this case the chain store feels streets ahead.

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

I should have also said that I love them. I find the knit substantial but with the comfort of leggings. I think the 2014 pair was the first pair I bought. I don't wear "leggings as pants" though so I do need a top long enough to cover my bottom. As I am short many or most tops can do this or I wear tunics. Once a ponte pant wearer, always a ponte pant wearer, I suspect will be my motto. Smarter than leggings but with equal comfort?- I'm sold!