The characterization of thermal touch perception of fabrics in the wet state is essential for the apparel industry as fabrics are often exposed to sweat, rainwater, and other liquid substances. However, no method is available to provide objective measurements of the thermal touch perception of wet fabrics. The aim of this study is to develop a novel approach to characterize the thermal touch perception of sportswear fabrics in terms of wet thermal effusivity (WTE) at various water saturation levels. The WTE of the fabrics was measured using the air-hoop method. Results showed that the WTE of fabrics increased with an increase in their saturation level. The increase in WTE between 75 and 100 % saturation was much higher compared to between 0 and 75 % saturation. This change in the WTE increase rate was potentially attributed to the formation of a thin water layer on the fabric surface above 75 % saturation. The WTE of fabrics at 75 % saturation and below showed a positive linear relationship with their thermal effusivity in the dry state. On the other hand, the WTE of fabrics at 100 % saturation demonstrated a nonlinear positive relationship with the amount of water retained by the fabric at 100 % saturation. For 1 g of absorbed water regardless of saturation level, the WTE of thin fabrics was found to be larger than that of thick fabrics. The findings of this study shed new light on the thermal touch behavior of fabrics in the wet state, which will help improve the thermophysiological comfort of garments.