Open End vs Ring Spun vs Air Jet Yarns: Which Yarn Is Best for Apparel?

Introduction

Yarn quality plays a critical role in determining the appearance, performance, durability, and cost of textile products. While fibers such as cotton, polyester, viscose, or recycled materials often receive the most attention, the spinning technology used to transform these fibers into yarn is equally important.

Today, textile manufacturers primarily rely on three major spinning systems:

• Ring Spinning

• Open End (Rotor) Spinning

• Air Jet Spinning

Each spinning technology offers unique advantages depending on the fiber type, intended application, production efficiency, and fabric performance requirements.

Understanding the differences between these yarn types allows garment brands, fabric manufacturers, and sourcing professionals to choose the most suitable yarn for their products while balancing quality, cost, and production efficiency.

In this Industry Insights article, we explore how each spinning system works, which raw materials are best suited for each process, typical yarn count ranges, common textile applications, and how to select the right yarn for different apparel categories.

What Is Yarn Spinning?

Yarn spinning is the manufacturing process of converting loose textile fibres into continuous yarns through drafting, twisting, or air entanglement.

Different spinning technologies create different yarn structures, influencing:

• Fabric softness

• Strength

• Hairiness

• Durability

• Pilling resistance

• Production speed

• Manufacturing cost

Although the same fibre can be spun using different methods, the resulting yarn characteristics can vary significantly.

The Three Main Yarn Spinning Technologies

1. Ring Spun Yarn

Ring spinning is the oldest and still the most widely used spinning technology in the textile industry. Fibres are drafted, twisted, and wound simultaneously, producing a compact, strong yarn with excellent fibre alignment.

Ring-spun yarn is considered the premium choice for high quality apparel due to its superior strength, softness, and smooth surface.

Advantages

✔ Excellent yarn strength

✔ Soft hand feel

✔ High durability

✔ Better dye uniformity

✔ Suitable for fine yarn counts

✔ High quality appearance

Limitations

• Slower production speed

• Higher manufacturing cost

• Greater energy consumption

Best Fibres for Ring Spinning

Ring spinning performs exceptionally well with:

• Cotton

• Organic Cotton

• SUPIMA® Cotton

• Egyptian Cotton

• Combed Cotton

• Modal

• Lyocell (TENCEL™)

• Viscose

• Bamboo Viscose

• Linen blends

• Wool

• Cashmere

• Silk blends

• Polyester

• Recycled Polyester

• Polyamide blends

Because ring spinning provides excellent fibre control, it is ideal for premium natural and regenerated fibres.

Typical Yarn Count Range (English Cotton Count - Ne)

Typical production range:

Ne 10 – Ne 120

Most common apparel yarns:

• Ne 20

• Ne 24

• Ne 30

• Ne 32

• Ne 40

• Ne 50

• Ne 60

Very fine luxury yarns can exceed Ne 100.

Common Apparel Applications

Ring-spun yarn is widely used for:

• Premium T shirts

• Shirts

• Polo shirts

• Denim

• Knitwear

• Babywear

• Luxury bedding

• Fashion garments

• Underwear

• High-quality home textiles

2. Open End (Rotor) Yarn

Open end spinning uses a rapidly rotating rotor instead of a traditional spindle to collect and twist fibres into yarn.

This process is significantly faster than ring spinning, making it highly cost effective for large volume textile production.

Open end yarn generally has a bulkier structure with slightly lower strength but offers excellent productivity and lower manufacturing costs.

Advantages

✔ High production speed

✔ Lower production cost

✔ Uniform yarn quality

✔ Excellent productivity

✔ Reduced labour requirements

Limitations

• Lower yarn strength

• Slightly rougher hand feel

• More suitable for medium and coarse yarns

• Not ideal for luxury fabrics

Best Fibres for Open-End Spinning

Rotor spinning performs particularly well with:

• Cotton

• Recycled Cotton

• Polyester

• Recycled Polyester

• Cotton/Polyester blends

• Viscose blends

• Denim waste fibres

• Regenerated fibres

Because the rotor process tolerates shorter fibres well, it is often used for recycled textile production.

Typical Yarn Count Range (Ne)

Typical production range:

Ne 6 – Ne 40

Most common:

• Ne 10

• Ne 16

• Ne 20

• Ne 24

• Ne 30

Fine counts above Ne 40 are uncommon.

Common Apparel Applications

Open-end yarn is commonly found in:

• Denim

• Sweatshirts

• Hoodies

• Workwear

• Socks

• Towels

• Basic T shirts

• Uniforms

• Terry fabrics

• Home textiles

3. Air-Jet Yarn

Air jet spinning is one of the most advanced yarn manufacturing technologies available today.

Instead of relying primarily on mechanical twisting, compressed air wraps outer fibres around a straight fibre core, producing a very smooth, low hairiness yarn.

Air jet spinning combines high productivity with exceptional yarn uniformity.

Advantages

✔ Extremely low hairiness

✔ Excellent pilling resistance

✔ High dimensional stability

✔ Smooth fabric surface

✔ High production efficiency

✔ Reduced lint generation

Limitations

• Less suitable for very long fibres

• Slightly firmer hand feel than ring spun yarn

• Higher machinery investment

Best Fibres for Air Jet Spinning

Air-jet spinning performs best with:

• Polyester

• Recycled Polyester

• Viscose

• Modal

• Lyocell (TENCEL™)

• Cotton blends

• Polyester/Cotton

• Polyester/Viscose

Synthetic and regenerated fibres generally achieve the best results due to their fibre uniformity.

Typical Yarn Count Range (Ne)

Typical production range:

Ne 20 – Ne 80

Most common:

• Ne 24

• Ne 30

• Ne 40

• Ne 50

• Ne 60

Common Apparel Application

Air-jet yarn is increasingly used for:

• Performance apparel

• Sportswear

• Activewear

• Corporate uniforms

• Medical textiles

• Fashion knitwear

• Premium T shirts

• Technical textiles

• Moisture management fabrics

Which Spinning Technology Is Best for Each Fibre?

Fibre	Best Spinning Method
Premium Cotton	Ring Spun
Organic Cotton	Ring Spun
SUPIMA Cotton	Ring Spun
Egyptian Cotton	Ring Spun
Recycled Cotton	Open End
Polyester	Air Jet / Ring Spun
Recycled Polyester	Air Jet / Open End
Modal	Ring Spun / Air Jet
Lyocell	Ring Spun / Air Jet
Viscose	Ring Spun / Air Jet
Linen	Ring Spun
Wool	Ring Spun
Cashmere	Ring Spun
Silk	Ring Spun

Ring Spun vs Open End vs Air-Jet: A Comparison

Feature	Ring-Spun	Open-End	Air-Jet
Yarn Quality	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆
Softness	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆
Strength	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆
Hairiness	Medium	High	Very Low
Pilling Resistance	Good	Moderate	Excellent
Production Speed	Slow	Very Fast	Fast
Manufacturing Cost	High	Low	Medium
Best for Premium Apparel	Excellent	Limited	Excellent
Best for Mass Production	Moderate	Excellent	Excellent

How to Choose the Right Yarn for Your Apparel

Project

The ideal spinning technology depends on the desired balance between quality, performance, and production cost.

Ring spun yarn remains the preferred option for premium garments where softness, durability, and appearance are top priorities.

Open end yarn offers excellent value for high volume products, making it ideal for denim, workwear, and cost sensitive apparel.

Air-jet yarn provides an outstanding solution for modern performance fabrics by combining smooth surfaces, low pilling, and efficient production, making it increasingly popular in sportswear, uniforms, and technical textiles.

For sourcing professionals, understanding these differences helps optimize product quality while ensuring manufacturing efficiency and cost competitiveness.

Conclusion

No single spinning technology is universally better than another. Each method serves different manufacturing objectives and market segments.

Ring spun yarn delivers the highest quality and remains the benchmark for premium apparel.

Open end spinning offers exceptional efficiency and affordability for everyday textiles and large-scale production.

Air jet spinning bridges the gap by delivering high productivity alongside excellent fabric performance, particularly for synthetic and regenerated fibres.

As textile manufacturing continues to evolve, selecting the right yarn spinning technology is becoming an increasingly strategic decision that directly influences garment quality, sustainability, and overall product value.

At JDO Resources, we connect global buyers with reliable manufacturers of textile fibres, yarns, woven and knitted fabrics, home textiles, and technical textile products. Whether your sourcing priorities focus on premium ring spun cotton, cost effective open-end yarns, or high performance air-jet solutions, our international supplier network helps businesses identify the most suitable materials for their manufacturing needs.

Looking for sustainable textile solutions for your next project?

JDO Resources can help you source environmentally responsible fibers, yarns, and fabrics that meet both performance and sustainability requirements.

📧 Email: info@jdo-resources.com