A process for hydro-entangling a layer of fibers into a web includes the steps of conveying a web from a supply to lie against a traveling hydro-entangling fabric. A layer of fibers is deposited onto a traveling forming fabric, the forming fabric supporting the fiber layer from below. The forming fabric and the hydro-entangling fabric converge at a combining location where the forming fabric and hydro-entangling fabric orient and travel adjacent each other such that the fiber layer and web are sandwiched between the forming fabric and the hydro-entangling fabric with the fiber layer supported from below by the hydro-entangling fabric and web. The forming fabric is separated from the fiber layer after the web and overlying fiber layer are supported from below by the hydro-entangling fabric and the hydro-entangling fabric is conveyed through a hydro-entangling station to hydro-entangle the fibers into the web.