Fabrics - any you won't wear?

[NotJustACigar]

I have always tried to avoid polyester etc but then see things like this and wonder if I'm wrong to be so against it? uk.maje.com/en/black-friday/categories/see-all/120riava/MFPRO01499.html

I also avoid things I don't know what they are like viscose, polyamide etc. I can't wear wool as it's so itchy so basically I'm left with cotton only. Am I being far too picky?

I am really sensitive to fabric especially on my legs. It's generally cotton or viscose for me. I can bear tights for a limited period, can't wear even the 'softest' jeans as the elastane upsets me.

It's actually quite hard to manage - one of my goals is to find a way to dress where I can look both stylish and comfortable as I generally have to chose between them.

I stick to cotton, linen, silk, bamboo, wool, cashmere and basically any natural fabrics
Occasionally I will allow up to 5% of something else eg Lycra or lurex
It’s also a great way to reduce the amount I buy!

I mostly live in 95 to 100% cotton, but I do have a wool dress and some wool jumpers, cardigans and trousers. I caved last year sends bought a polyester dress because it was so pretty. It feels awful against my skin so ice only worm it once. It's so pretty though I still have it.

Not clothing, but I cannot bear the feeling of the papery non-woven fabric on the outer of cheap duvets.

Sets my teeth on edge.

I generally avoid synthetics. I was OK with some viscose until I bought some pyjamas in a really silky viscose liberty print. I can't wear them without getting prickly heat.

Only natural fibres here too, but I have stuff with 95% cotton etc.

Also like a PP, I cannot really wear linen in the summer heat because it makes me very hot and the sweat gathers under it and doesn't really soak in like it does into cotton.
I have a wool coat/jumper without lining and I wear it all winter, can't deal with horrible polyester lining for jackets. Why do that?? Outer is a good thick cotton but the lining is bloody polyester! Similarly, tried to buy a leather jacket last year but couldn't find one that didn't have polyester as lining! I just want a good cotton lining! Is this really too much to ask?!? Lol

The only thing I hate is viscose and everything seems to be made out of it now, just gets so creased

I think polyester gets a bad rap and isn’t always horrible. I avoid acrylic as it bobbles and makes me too hot. I would also never buy linen cos it makes me feel scruffy when it gets creased.

Satin, looks instantly sweaty to me.

Also linen, really impractical and unforgiving fabric.

Silk. It gives me sweaty armpits, instantly!

@NotJustACigar

I have always tried to avoid polyester etc but then see things like this and wonder if I'm wrong to be so against it? uk.maje.com/en/black-friday/categories/see-all/120riava/MFPRO01499.html

I also avoid things I don't know what they are like viscose, polyamide etc. I can't wear wool as it's so itchy so basically I'm left with cotton only. Am I being far too picky?

If only you had a machine in the palm of your hand which would instantly explain to you what any fabric was made out of. That would be really handy.

I am genuinely a bit twitchy about microplastics in the water stream but cheap cotton is an ethical and environmental minefield. Fortunately I’ve got thirty years of clothes in my closet. I must remember to lose 10 pounds before Easter so I fit them all.

I try really hard not to buy polyester, but I do find it quite galling how much in womenswear is synthetic versus how much is in menswear. Take Massimo Dutti for example: acres of 100% linen shirts for DH, and I'm not sure I found even one pure linen garment on the women's side. In previous years they've done well cut linen vests with nice detailing, but nothing like that on sale in my part of the world this year.

I also won't wear that really tightly woven cotton a lot of beautiful structured white shirts are made of. Don't find it breathable at all in the summer; I need a much looser weave. Obviously they wouldn't hang so well in a looser weave, but. Too sweaty.

RacheyCat I know exactly what you mean about those white cotton shirts -so annoying as I think they look great on other people. It looks like viscose is getting a bit more love on here than I expected it to so will look out for that -thank you to everyone who mentioned it.

It's obviously more difficult at the moment as I'm shielding so ordering things online and can't feel the fabric before I buy - plus returns are more difficult. For some reason although working from home I feel the need to order office clothes for when I go back even though I have no idea when that will be! I don't understand the psychology behind it frankly but I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks paying nearly £200 for a polyester dress is madness.

I avoid polyester, but it severely limits what I can buy. I agree with how unfair it is that mens clothing is mainly natural fibres, but womens is mainly polyester.

Is all organic cotton really rubbish? I ask, as I bought a shirt from Thought and the quality was appalling - almost like paper and not fabric.

I can't say I'm a fan of corduroy, and I have ethical issues with silk. Pure wool and cashmere etc bring me out in a rash, and so does elastic, so I have to be careful with underwear.

And anyone who wears real fur is despicable.

Going against the grain here and I rarely like viscose. I don’t like the feel of it, the way it creases, washing it is a lottery - it shrinks. Having said all that, I bought a jumper from Reiss a while ago with lots of viscose in it and I absolutely love it. It’s a knit as opposed to a weave (obvs), I took a chance and I had hopes. But I can already see it bobbling. Still love the jumper.

Hate acrylic knits. And they’re everywhere. It’s like wearing a plastic bag. Strangely hot yet cold and sweaty.

Not keen on mohair or angora. Angora for many reasons, mohair is just scratchy.

See, I don’t really get the knee jerk reaction against fur. I don’t feel it’s any different from eating meat. I think it can often be more environmentally friendly too, as fur garments tend to be kept for a very long time; my mum, for example, has a pair of sealskin boots which she had when she lived in Norway - they are 40 years old if they are a day and still in superb condition (with regular maintenance). Would people really rather see vintage fur binned instead of used?

I would never wear real fur even if it is vintage.

Acrylic jumpers and cardigans. You can feel it squeak in your fingers. Urgh, it gives me the heebie jeebies.

Viscose is much better than it used to be, the thick stuff anyway, the flimsy fabric is guaranteed to shrink.

I'll wear the fur of animals that were turned into coats decades ago.

Polyester is fine for cheap fashion and okay when in a blend, but it’s not warm enough in the winter and sweaty and uncomfortable in summer. It’s shocking that someone is selling a dress for that price in polyester when Primark sell the same kind of things for £15.

On the topic of fur - well it’s a difficult topic. It’s warm and comfortable but it’s nearly always ethically awful. I would wear vintage fur, but I don’t own any nor would I go out of my way to find some. If I happened to find some in a charity store though, I would buy.

I lean mostly to cotton too, and can’t sleep in anything else otherwise I end up in a sweaty mess.