Why the hate for synthetic fibres?

[DeltaG]

I've read disparaging comments about polyester and other synthetic fibres on the forum and I have often wondered why.

I know there is a tendency to assume natural = good, synthetic = bad, but with clothing (and many other things come to think of it), this isn't necessarily the case. When the clothing company Patagonia looked at the environmental footprint of different fibres, they found cotton to be the worst of all, owing to all the pesticides and water needed to cultivate it.

I get that polyester is not the best choice in hot climates (or if you're generally a sweaty betty!), but what is so wrong with it otherwise? Synthetics tend to dry faster and need less ironing than natural fibres, so less time spent doing laundry. And I certainly wouldn't fancy mountain trekking in a wool coat when I could choose gortex, for example.

I have a mixture of fabrics in my wardrobe, but wouldn't dismiss an item just because it was made from synthetic or semi-synthetic fibres. Interested to know other's opinions.

When you wash synthetic fabrics they shed micro plastics into the water system.

WSS^

The environmental impact.

They feel bad and make you smell.

@SoupDragon - very interesting, something I was unaware of. I'll take a look into it.

Here you go:

www.google.de/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/20/microfibers-plastic-pollution-oceans-patagonia-synthetic-clothes-microbeads

They feel horrible.

They make me sweat and my hair static. I have to wear polyester uniform for work. It’s horrible.

Sweaty, smelly, full of static and don't biodegrade. (I'm aware that's just polyester, but 9 times out of 10 in high street stores, it's polyester.) Also, my more recent bugbear is they used to be cheap, but now I'll see an expensive pair of trousers or blouse, pick it up and realise that it too is polyester, only £125 polyester instead of £25.

I think a lot of it is to do with price, I'll happily pay £100 for a lovely silk dress but balk at paying that for synthetic.

I'm like you in that I like a mix, some of my best and longer lasting tops are polyester.

I disagree that they all feel horrible - microfibre fleece and rayon both feel very soft in my opinion.

Agree about the static though, that is annoying.

Very interesting to read about the microfibre shedding issue and pollution.

But, is it worse than the pollution from cotton production? If you avoid synthetics for this reason, do you only buy organic cotton? Or avoid all cotton?

They give me a sensation like my skin is alternating between being cooked, and being cold and clammy. And that feeling doesn't stop and I don't adjust to it.

I'm guessing most people don't get that effect, or any similar, with them, given how common high-percentage-synthetic clothing is. But it must be a common enough problem, given that it's not unusual to meet people who say they "can't" rather than "won't" wear it.

I wasn't really aware of the environmental issues, but if natural fibres are better for that reason then that's a silver lining to having to pay more for clothes anyway!

Also for me, synthetics exacerbate my underarm and chest sweating. It makes me very self conscious and unhappy. I didn't know that they washed away during washing, thus leading to micro plastics in the water. But now that i know, it only increases my dislike for them.

@WesternMeadowlark

Well, I think that's one of the points here - not all natural fibres are better environmentally - cotton (not organic) is the worst of all.

I don't mind cotton/synthetic mix but 100% synthetic feels horrible. But it's hard to escape polyester these days, awful shiny, slippy, sweat inducing stuff. I never fail to snort when I see a dress made of 100% polyester on sale at the bargainous price of £200.

I was going to mention the micro fibre pollution.

Much worse off pure polyester too apparently.

Those fibres are going to persist in the environment. Many pesticides do break down fairly quickly. I do try to buy organic cotton and generally make my clothes last a long time!

Have to say too that polyester makes me sweat and smell worse! Viscose isn't too bad but seems to crumple.

wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_freshwater/freshwater_problems/thirsty_crops/cotton/

They make me sweat and stink.

I don't rate propaganda from environmental charities anymore. I've been a "believer " in my youth and sadly learned not to trust their selective reporting and hyperbole.

Sorry be rude op.

The release of micro particles when you wash polyester is a newly discovered issue but it does seem like it’s a real problem.

My beef with the constant bashing of synthetics is that cellulose-based semi-synthetics like viscose, tencel, modal which may be just as breathable as cotton and far more environmentally sustainable get dismissed along with polyester and nylon. My other beef is that people act as if silk is always breathable simply because it’s natural which anyone who’s worn a silk satin blouse on the Tube in the summer will tell you is not the case.

I have leather shoes that are 15 years old, & still smell of leather. I'm really not a sweaty person. But I sweat in polyester. If I buy something, I want to enjoy it & know it will last. I don't do cheap disposable fashion. And I know that when my cotton, linen, wool, silk clothing does go to the charity shop, then ultimately some kind of landfill of other recycling, it will biodegrade a lot better than polyester.

I buy, or don't buy, clothes primarily based on whether I like them & can afford them. I find I can afford a lot fewer but nicer clothes simply by avoiding the disposable stuff that will look out of fashion next year. It's almost invariably made of polyester or acrylic.

Didn’t,t know about the pollution aspect. I think sports clothes that have managed to incorporate “wicking technology” are probably better than cotton that is uncomfortably heavy when wet i.e practical.

For normal clothes, artificial fibres make me feel like I,m being boiled in the bag; they don’t wick or absorb sweat. Polyester looks cheap in comparison to cotton though the price doesn’t always reflect that. Poly cotton/linen mixes look less cheap and shiny than 100% polyester and I find them acceptable.

Not absorbant
Smelly after one wear
Static
Micro plastic particles

@NowToWork

Here is some research;
www.researchgate.net/publication/272017220_LCA_benchmarking_study_on_textiles_made_of_cotton_polyester_nylon_acryl_or_elastane