I made a sweatshirt insulated with 100% cotton batting (no synthetics) — thoughts?

I’ve been working on a small apparel project and wanted to get some honest feedback from this community.

I designed a sweatshirt that’s insulated using 100% cotton batting instead of polyester fleece or synthetic fill.

Quick breakdown:

• Shell: 100% cotton (midweight, soft hand feel) • Insulation: layered cotton batting (like traditional quilt insulation) • Lining: cotton (or French terry depending on version) • Quilting: stitched to stabilize the batting (testing different patterns) 

Why I did this:

• I wanted something fully natural (no polyester, no plastic fibers) • Breathability feels very different vs fleece — less sweaty, more “dry warmth” • Trying to avoid microplastics and make something closer to old-school garments 

Challenges so far:

• Cotton batting can shift + clump without proper quilting • Shrinkage is real — especially after wash • Getting the right warmth without making it bulky is tricky • It’s heavier than a normal hoodie 

What surprised me:

• The warmth feels more “stable” — not that instant heat trap like fleece • It regulates temperature better than I expected • The texture feels more premium / structured vs athletic 

I’m experimenting with:

• Different quilting patterns (lines vs geometric vs “fish-scale”) • Placement (full body vs partial insulation) • Weight of batting layers 

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Questions for you all:

1. Would you wear a sweatshirt like this over fleece? 2. Does “100% cotton insulation” actually matter to you? 3. Would you trade a bit of weight for breathability/natural materials? 4. What price range would feel reasonable? 

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Edit:

This is part of a bigger idea I’m exploring — eventually applying this to a full winter coat (all cotton, even insulation). Starting small with sweatshirts to test comfort + durability.

Curious to hear your thoughts 🙏