<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-03-017678
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030709
<FILING-DATE>20030806
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ESPINOSA FERNANDO
<CIK>0001253688
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14330
<FILM-NUMBER>03827039
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O POLYMER GROUP INC
<STREET2>4838 JENKINS AVE
<CITY>N CHARLESTON
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29405
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>POLYMER GROUP INC
<CIK>0000927417
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2221
<IRS-NUMBER>571003983
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0103
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4838 JENKINS AVE
<CITY>NORTH CHARLESTON
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29405
<PHONE>8037445174
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4838 JENKINS AVENUE
<CITY>NORTH CHARLESTON
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29405
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd15471.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-09</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000927417</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POLYMER GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NONE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001253688</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ESPINOSA FERNANDO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 5069</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4838 JENKINS AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH CHARLESTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29405</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Fernando Espinosa</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
