A latently crimpable conjugate fiber is constructed using a first component containing an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer polymerized with a metallocene catalyst and a second component formed from a thermal plastic polymer having a melting point T2 higher than a melting point T1 of the first component, such that the first component is exposed with an exposed length of at least 20% relative to a peripheral length of the fiber, and which fiber has a single fiber dry heat shrinkage percentage of at least 50%, which is determined according to JIS-L-1015 (dry heat shrinkage percentage) at 100° C. under an initial tension of 0.018 mN/dtex (2 mg/d) for 15 minutes and a single fiber dry heat shrinkage percentage of at least 15%, which is determined under the same condition under an initial tension of 0.450 mN/dtex (50 mg/dtex) for 15 minutes. The latently crimpable conjugate fiber develops crimps and has thermal adhesiveness at a low temperature.