There are a few different versions of mesh fabric, but this type of fabric is typified by its lightweight heft and permeable texture. Unlike most types of fabric, which feature closely-woven textures, mesh is woven loosely, which results in thousands of tiny holes being present in each mesh garment. Mesh fabric is made with a variety of different techniques depending on the type of fiber from which it is composed. While nylon and polyester are very similar in a number of ways, polyester was developed a few decades after nylon, which means that the production of this synthetic material follows significantly more advanced manufacturing processes. The use of mesh as a fabric was originally popularized by its utilization in sportswear. From shorts to shirts to sports bras, this fabric took the sporting world by storm in the mid-1980s, and it has remained popular ever since. This material is particularly popular in sports jerseys; whether they are used in football, rugby, basketball, or wrestling, the majority of sports jerseys on the market today are made from some form of synthetic mesh fabric.