To want polyester banned!!

Cotton is more polluting than polyester.

It can be engineered to wick away moisture, contain medication and be breatheable.

Work uniforms are generally shit polyester.__

I'll assume your female and don't develop male stubble that rubs collars, the way DH does😜

But ultimately clothing does wear, inc natural fibres. Thick heavy cotton jeans wear too.

I buy my clothes second hand. I'll often look up what I'm buying, and depressingly often, the natural fibre version that I'm buying in a charity shop no longer exists new. It's now a polyester blend, or sometimes wholly polyester. This includes premium brands that are supposed to guarantee quality.

So although I'm all for buying second hand, I feel there's only so long before even that ceases to be a way to purchase affordable quality natural fibres.

Very interested in whether that stat about us not being able to produce enough cotton is based on fast fashion level buying.

I only wear natural fibres- wouldn’t occur to me to buy polyester, although dh’s favourite football strip is polyester.

cancel culture I don't like a product so I going to make sure no one in the world can use it
this is how we ended with with the nonsense stuff we have ie paper straws in plastic cups etc

@Needspaceforlego school polos are generally polycotton (i.e. polyester) which is why they wash awfully.
We had white pure cotton poloshirts, they were used for 4 years by us (2 children, 2 years each), then handed down. Still white.
Cotton can be washed hit, bleached etc. no problem
No idea why your t-shirts and shirts develop holes, i haven’t observed that (i wear men’s cotton shirts for work, the oldest are about 10 years old)

Well even if that were the case, then everyone who can afford to, should. That makes the world better for everyone (and then their secondhand stuff will be available for others). So why shouldn't they discuss it?

But my income is in the lowest decile (poorest 10%), and I've eaten organic and worn organic (not just cotton rather than polyester, but organic cotton) since 2006. So I don't agree these choices are only for privileged people; it should be accessible to 90% of the population, if I can do it. It depends on your priorities.

Re sportswear, if Olympic athletes a few decades ago were competing in cotton, I think ordinary people can manage their park run in it!

Its hardly going to be your speedo second skin. How on earth does it not soak up water?

Or are these swimsuits designed for sun bathing in rather than swimming in?

I'll let you try before I consider wasting my money.

I'm laughing at the cotton lasts forever 🤣
Cotton stains much more easily than polyester.

How do you stop cotton t-shirt getting holes across the belly?
How do you stop mens cotton shirts wearing on the collar?
How many mums moan about white cotton school polo's and stains?

Darning wool socks was a thing because wool wears just as much as other materials, but it was really expensive to replace wool socks.

I don't think anyone tries to repair cotton socks.

We cannot all buy from vinted and second hand places. Someone has to buy new.

Think How many jobs rely on people buying new clothes?, Design, manufacturers, distributors, trucks, shops?
How much VAT and tax is raised via clothing industry? Tax being shop rates, business taxes and employment taxes?

I’ve been sucked in too many times by super soft lightweight Polyester and acrylic jumpers that bobble as soon as you look at them.

Polyester is awful stuff.
Being a petrochemical it is a hormone disrupter. It doesn’t decompose and when finished with is dumped in catastrophic quantities in 3rd world countries.
Worst of all it makes you super sweaty as it doesn’t regulate heat like natural fibres. Can’t understand why it’s so popular for sportswear.
I now only buy natural fibre clothing and where I still have old polyester clothes I wear a cotton top underneath to prevent the sweaty betty feeling.

@Corfumanchu high quality polyester sports gear is indeed breathable and moisture wicking. school uniform- not at all. its literally a plastic bag for your child to wear.

Natural fabrics last forever. My youngest is wearing his brother’s old school uniform, he literally hasn’t had a single bit bought for him (except shoes). He gets the occasional new t-shirt outside school, and clothes for his hobby (second hand as well)
Many pieces in my wardrobe were second hand originally, and have been worn by me for years.

@Ficklebricks 90% of my wardrobe is secondhand. All natural fabrics. When I've finished with them, I pass them on as the quality is excellent. Much less waste for very little money.

Skint people buy from charity shops or on Vinted. You can buy those natural fibres at next to no cost, second hand, and they will last longer than your cheap polyester.

YANBU.

But there are endless posters on here who will defend their right to buy cheap shite from chinese tat merchants like Shein, all made from plastic because it's cheap and they like "nice bits".

I think that used to be true (I remember getting my clothes from market stalls as a kid and always getting electric shocks / sparks from the crap materials when you took them off to bed changed for bed) but I think Vinted etc is the way ahead now. Decent stuff at a fraction of the cost if you hit lucky / search well. I buy barely anything new now. I hate that Primark / Shein etc seems to have to be the 'go to' for anyone on a budget, as it then just becomes an ingrained way to shop.

I also remember standing near the kettle in a nightdress when I was a kid and the steam melted my nightie sleeve and it stuck to my arm! My mum had to soak it away and I had a scar for years.

Not really.
example:
Double duvet cover with two pillow cases in 100% cotton at Dunhelm £12
https://www.dunelm.com/product/gianna-trellis-lilac-duvet-cover-and-pillowcase-set-1000241982?defaultSkuId=30902397&beddingSize=Double

There are loads of good lightweight alternatives now. Even swimwear made from cotton. A quick google search will show you.

TBH I think recycling is the answer and that shouldn't stop at just clothes, it should include bags and carpets.

Recycling should be a part of every single thing that is produced and purchased. Every thing from toys 🧸 to clothing.

Lots of new clothing use recycled polyester now.

This thread just oozes privilege. Skint people have to buy cheap fabrics, not everyone has the luxury of choice. 🙄

Me too and it's in EVERYTHING! I try avoid it in clothes, bedding etc, but have to always read the labels as it's snuck into everything at least in part. I also really dislike that they now advertise it as "recycled" as though it's something good and sustainable. It's still bloody plastic!

Hate it.