Port Authority J317 - Unisex Core Soft Shell Jacket - Black

The Port Authority J317 is the Unisex Core Soft Shell Jacket, a three-layer construction built for decorators and uniforming programs that need a reliable outerwear blank in a clean, professional silhouette. The shell runs 100% polyester woven on the solid colours and 92/8 polyester/spandex on the heather colours, bonded to a water-resistant film insert and a 100% polyester microfleece lining. The result is a wind-resistant, water-repellent jacket with a 1000MM waterproof rating and a 1000 G/M2 breathability rating that sits in the working range for light weather exposure without the bulk of a hardshell. The zip-through cadet collar with chin guard, reverse coil zippers, and front zippered pockets give the jacket a polished corporate finish that photographs cleanly for uniform catalogues. A unisex classic fit runs XS through 6XL, making a single style number sufficient for a full staff or team roster without gender splitting.

On a 100% polyester soft shell, embroidery is the primary decoration method and the one most decorators reach for first on this blank. The 3-layer bonded construction holds a left-chest logo cleanly with a cut-away or tear-away backing, and the polyester face gives embroidery thread a tight, flat seat that reads sharply for corporate and team programs. A full-back or yoke design works on the same construction with the appropriate stabiliser. DTF is the best single-pass print method for this substrate: the film adheres cleanly to the polyester shell, stays flexible with the soft shell movement, and handles the zip-front panel without registration issues. Screen printing is possible on the polyester face with a low-bleed plastisol and a firm squeegee pass, but the three-layer construction adds body that can resist full platen contact, so DTF is the more consistent route for anything requiring fine detail or large-area coverage. Vinyl and HTV bond reliably for names and numbers, particularly on the back panel. DTG does not suit this substrate: the 100% polyester shell does not hold pretreat or ink the way a cotton face does, and the microfleece lining adds body that resists flat platen contact. Discharge does not apply to a polyester shell. Sublimation is technically possible on a 100% polyester blank but the bonded film insert and microfleece lining prevent the all-over print access that dye-sub requires on a cut-and-sew garment; route full-coverage sublimation to a purpose-built sublimation jacket.

• Brand: Port Authority
• Style: J317 (Unisex Core Soft Shell Jacket)
• Shell fabric: 100% polyester woven (solid colours); 92/8 polyester/spandex woven (heather colours)
• Lining: 100% polyester microfleece
• Insert: bonded water-resistant film
• Performance: 1000MM waterproof rating; 1000 G/M2 breathability rating; wind-resistant and water-repellent
• Construction: zip-through cadet collar with chin guard, reverse coil zippers, front zippered pockets, open cuffs and hem
• Fit: unisex classic fit
• Sizes: XS-6XL
• Colors available: Black, Dress Blue Navy, True Royal, Maroon, Rich Red, Forest Green, Battleship Gray, Deep Smoke (solids); Black Charcoal Heather, Pearl Gray Heather, Navy Heather (heathers — 92/8 poly/spandex shell)
• Ordering: available by the piece or by the case; confirm current packing per case for your colour before a large uniforming run
• Care: machine wash cold, tumble dry low, do not iron directly over decoration or zipper hardware

The reorder note specific to this style: the solid colours use a 100% polyester woven shell while the heather colours shift to a 92/8 polyester/spandex woven shell, so a programme mixing solids and heathers carries two slightly different substrates under the same style number. The spandex in the heather shell adds stretch to the hand but does not materially change embroidery or DTF performance; it does mean that if your run includes heathers, confirm lot consistency before a large multi-colour order, as dye-lot variation affects the marled appearance. The J317 shares the Port Authority soft shell family with other jacket styles in the line, so a crew can layer consistently across roles. TheClothingSpace stocks the J317 at wholesale pricing with bulk discounts that increase as case and unit quantities rise, among the lowest prices online for this style, with fast US shipping on stocked colours.

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