To think clothes shouldn't be made from plastic?

[QuestionableMouse]

www.evans.co.uk/en/evuk/product/clothing-7810902/kimonos-coverups-3717251/red-floral-print-patchwork-kimono-9723384

100% Polyethylene.

Aibu to think it isn't right?

[NotMeNoNo]

If you look at the UN sustainable development goals there are 17 aspects that sometimes compete or conflict, its a really complicated issue. People in poverty can't be choosy about organic cotton for example.

[NotMeNoNo]

I strongly suspect the recycled vs virgin PET is a drop in the ocean of both polyester production and plastic recycling.

[EarlLeighIndamornin]

I thought it was because a lot of clothes production now use recycled plastic bottles.

[Purpleberet]

As northernsoullover says, even natural fibres are a cause for concern. Bamboo is marketed as a natural, environmentally friendly fabric source. But while there are ways to grow it sustainably, it often isn't, and the fabric is highly processed using lots of nasty chemicals. Most people don't realise this.
It's difficult to figure out which is the least worst option for the environment.

Ultimately we need to buy better / buy less / buy second hand

[vanillandhoney]

Natural fibres aren't all that environmentally friendly either. The cost to produce them and make them wearable is pretty huge, not to mention the cost to the land when it comes to growing them.

[Pukkatea]

Very, very often it seems the environmental costs of not using plastic are equal or greater to using them, just different. Usually because switching to a different material leads to greater carbon emissions, which is a greater environmental concern than plastics in my opinion. The pp who said natural materials also come at great environmental cost was right. Companies don't just make things out of plastics to be evil and kill whales, they are an incredibly useful, versatile and advanced group of materials with properties that make them very difficult to effectively replace and maintain the levels of supply we currently require, which is why the answer to most of these issues is less to change what you buy and more to buy less of everything.

[1Morewineplease]

@Northernsoullover

It is hard to find natural fibres and they come with their own environmental cost. However, I think we all need to think about how much clothing we buy.
Fast fashion is the biggest culprit..where are all those peplum tops now? Cold shoulder tops? Think before you buy.

Exactly this.

[NotMeNoNo]

Yes absolutely although often a finer/tighter knit so I expect less bitty and prone to shedding. Except fleece, thats composed of short fibres.

[lljkk]

All those 'performance' fabrics, lycra, that people whitter on about -- aren't those just a kind of plastic?

[sanityisamyth]

Polyethylene is polythene. Polyester is very different. Polythene is basically what plastic bottles and bags are made of.

[rosiejaune]

YANBU. Microplastic fibres get into the sea when people wash plastic clothing. And they are a fire hazard (they melt onto your skin, which cotton doesn't do).

I do wear plastic for some outdoor clothing/shoes, but not otherwise; all my normal clothing is organic cotton.

[Haffiana]

Viscose and rayon are most certainly NOT plastic, but are made from plant fibres - most of them are far more environmentally friendly than even bamboo.

[NotMeNoNo]

The recycled plastic bottles fabrics are no different to any other polyester it's just they source the polymer from recycled material rather than virgin oil.

[NotMeNoNo]

@redwoodmazza I know but I understand the silkworms are put in boiling water to kill them before the threads are wound off. Some people consider this animal cruelty.

Quite apart from the processing, dyeing, construction (all often developing world) distribution and disposal of the clothing. And shoes and accessories. And precious metals and stones. They all don't bear too close a scrutiny. The fashion/textile industry is a massive polluter and consumer of resources.

Plastics and polymers are a great invention but because of fashion, clothes have effectively become single use throwaway plastic rather than durable hi tech items to last a lifetime.

"To Die For" by Lucy Siegle is a good book on why there is no easy win for fashion consumption.

[QuestionableMouse]

Nope. None of my clothes have plastic in them because I don't but them. Don't partake in fast fashion either.

Wish I could wear wool actually. It's a pretty sustainable fabric.

[AriettyHomily]

I bought a pair of gym leggings without realising they were made from recycled bottles. As @SerenDippitty says the theory is good, but the microfibres wash off and they are totally unsuitable for working out in - it literally feels like you are sweating in plastic wrap. Mine will never be worn again.

[Northernsoullover]

It is hard to find natural fibres and they come with their own environmental cost. However, I think we all need to think about how much clothing we buy.
Fast fashion is the biggest culprit..where are all those peplum tops now? Cold shoulder tops? Think before you buy.

[SpiderPlantSally]

What do you think acrylic, polyester, and fleece fabric is made of? Check the labels - I bet almost all your clothes have some element of plastic in them. My DD's school blazer has a label inside which says "Made from recycled plastic bottles"!
It's pretty hard to find pure cotton / wool clothes these days unless you're willing to spend a pretty penny!

[SerenDippitty]

I’ve seen clothes made from recycled plastic bottles. Good idea in theory, not in practice as plastic microfibres come off them in the wash and end up in the sea.

[Nottherealslimshady]

I'd have thought it's a good material. It's a side product of fuel production. Surely they'll be long lasting so we can keep them longer. It's a better use than carrier bags. I'd rather wear plastic than leather, fur, wool, silk.

[QuestionableMouse]

It's a personal thing but my skin reacts quite badly to polyester and nylon. I but decent natural fibre clothes and look after them so they last. Its getting harder to find nice stuff though.

[redwoodmazza]

Silk is made from the threads of the silkworm - not the silkworm itself!!!

[HeyDuggeewhatchadoin]

Rayon can be made from bamboo.

[donquixotedelamancha]

If we don't wear synthetics we are left withw cotton (high water demand) wool ( those sheep belch methane) , silk (boiled bugs). Linen/hemp not suitable for everything.

This. If we did not use synthetic fabric the cost of clothes would be massively higher for little environmental benefit.

I can't see why oil products are bad in clothes but not the millions of other applications we use every day.

Most modern materials are based on polymers. Without them everything would be wood, metal, ceramic, stone or the fabrics listed above.

[KittenVsBox]

Rayon is also from natural cellulose, along with viscose.