To want polyester banned!!

[Cappuccino5]

It is truly the devil’s fabric - who on earth thought that making clothes out of a material that is essentially plastic would be a good idea?

It doesn’t decompose, instead it simply goes and sits in landfill for 100s of years. Microplastics are released during each and every wash, polluting our water supply. It isn’t breathable and makes you sweat like a pig, to worsen this the fabric holds oil and therefore traps scent..! Bloody awful stuff on all accounts

I try and avoid it if possible but unfortunately I’m forced to wear it almost every day as it is my work uniform - I’m considering asking if I can pay to get a cotton version made. So sick of it!

I don’t wear it but won’t ban it as it will create different problems but it certainly should be restricted - we don’t need so much polyester clothes.

It’s most definitely a thing with teens/young adults - not uncommon to buy a fast fashion outfit for a night out (PLT, Princess Polly etc) only to get buried at the bottom of a closet and never seen or worn again. Very glad that DD has grown out of this phase..

I'm with you, I cannot wear it, it's disgusting and a film of sweat appears on my brow just thinking about wearing it. BO is a real thing and polyester is the devil's work.

But what if fashion etc slowed down and we focused on buying quality clothes that will last?

Well, I have clothes that are decades old, and I repair things because I can sew so I already do that.

Um, because not everyone can afford quality clothes that last?
If I need a pair of leggings, then I can spend £3 in Primark and have them right away. Or save up, with no leggings, for weeks/months.

Lots of women especially will buy a dress for a wedding or posh night out never to wear it again.

Think all those girls party dresses 👗 and prom dresses?
Wedding & bridesmaids dresses, 30 or 40 years ago they were silk, now they are mainly polyester.

It used to be common to hire bridesmaids dresses. The same way men hire suits.
But places like Coast, BHS and Debenhams started selling cheap mass produced polyester dresses.
The hire shops struggled to compete with their silk dresses, and laundering costs.

Ha, I feel bad now for wearing the same dress to weddings for the past few years. Funerals too (was a black dress).
That is me though.. I find shopping stressful

It's the Devil's work. Horrible for clothes but even worse for bed linen. Menopause? Bin those polyester sheets for cotton and get a decent night's sleep.

Polyester is lightweight, breathable and moisture wicking. The opposite of seating a sweaty bag

Don't feel bad, If its different folk then I'd definitely wear the same wedding outfit, ie a friends wedding and a family wedding.

Funeral outfits are pretty much 'office wear' and besides who cares if you wear the same funeral outfit, black is black and nobody takes photos at funerals.
Men will happily wear the same suit to weddings and funerals.

I have so much decades old clothing, all cotton, linen, wool. All our bedding is cotton, lasts for years, unlike the cheaper polycotton we bought for DD for uni.... All thin and bobbly after only three years.

I even have some vintage embroidered Italian bed linen, passed down from Nonna, to my mother, to me! It's about 50 years old, and sooooo soft and cool. Bugger to iron though.

I think you need to do your polyester research. It’s not breathable and actually repels water, making it difficult to thoroughly wash. The material traps bodily oils so consequently smells stick to it.

Without listening to that in full, does that assume current levels of consumption and fast fashion waste? Or does it include scenarios for people using good quality clothes for longer?

Perhaps a tax?

I've never been able to wear anything other than natural fibres. I have sensory issues with certain materials. I also sweat a lot, so I need fabric that doesn't trap that in.

So you think people should exercise in cotton, wearing stuff that just gets sopping wet and heavy when you sweat, and then causes chafing etc? Riiiiiight.

Most modern outdoor wear is polyester, with a breathable membrane.

Natural fibres like cotton and wool, when they get wet they become heavy and cold 🥶 There's a reason why people get told not to wear jeans or joggers hill walking.

Prior to modern polyester based fabrics people used wool or sheepskin coats, too keep warm neither are great in the rain. Sheepskin stands up to wind better than wool does.

To keep dry people used waxed jackets which stink and need frequent re-waxxing there's another job to do.

I also remember a phase of reversable jackets cotton on one side, yellow pvc plastic on the other. Really good for the environment and probably very sweaty.

Think of the cost of buying wool coats for everyone including children how unpractical they actually are. I've never had a wool coat that is actually wind proof either.

I’d struggle if I could only buy natural fibres as I can’t wear anything with even small amounts of wool, cashmere or anything “animal” as it makes my skin instantly itch and come out in a rash.

I don’t know if just cotton would really work for my wardrobe especially for winter clothing. Plus I’d be constantly ironing where I can normally just hang a lot of my dresses which are more synthetic.

Hate it.

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!

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

Lots of new clothing use recycled polyester now.

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.

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