If you buy synthetic fabrics…

[VillKrill]

…what is the appeal? Is it cost or are there other reasons? I’m getting a bit fed up of seeing pictures of lovely-looking dresses, knitwear, etc, only to find out they’re all/partly made of acrylic, polyester, viscose etc. I personally try and avoid them because a) they make me sweat horribly, b) I don’t think they generally age/wash as well as natural fabrics -or look as good and c) I’m worried about the landfill they create. But they’re so ubiquitous even in higher end brands that I’m clearly in the minority! Am I missing something? Are there advantages to them (other than not being attractive to moths!)?

I personally try and avoid them because a) they make me sweat horribly,

I'm not a sweaty person, so it isn't a problem for me.

b) I don’t think they generally age/wash as well as natural fabrics -or look as good

I disagree entirely. They don't need handwashing, unlike cashmere, and my clothes last for years.

and c) I’m worried about the landfill they create.

My old clothes don't go into landfill

Cotton is the most environmentally unfriendly crop that is grown. It needs more water and insecticides than any other crop. There was a very interesting documentary about cotton growing by Stacey Dooley recently. There are ethical concerns about cheap cashmere.

Yep, the environmental damage from cotton is horrendous.

Planting, extracting and processing. Huge damage due to bleached, finishes and pesticides. Uses unreal amounts of water.

I keep seeing Ecovero labels on clothes this season - think it's viscose?

I also avoid polyester and acrylic as I find acrylic quite scratchy especially when in knitwear and polyester just makes me sweat!

I'm trying to buy less and from companies like Rapanui but wish there was more choice of quality clothes on the high street.

Interesting to read these replies… it’s absolutely true that conventional cotton production is environmentally disastrous, but the issue with plastic particles caused by synthetics and the fact they’re so completely dependent on fossil fuel extraction is something I struggle to get past. Obvs the use of these fabrics isn’t new, I’ve just found it noticeably harder to find 100% natural fabrics in the vast majority of shops in recent years, and while I get the drape argument, I really can’t stand the feel compared to natural fibres (I am quite prone to sweating though… thanks perimenopause!) Odd that some folk think it’s an issue of snobbery… you can buy organic cotton from H&M and synthetics at Gucci

100% agree that the answer is for everyone to buy better and less generally, and that filters on washing machines need to be improved to reduce particle pollution.

Allergies! My sister is horribly allergic to a lot of natural fibres.

I love cotton, but I am concerned about the environmental credentials. I also love cashmere, but the cleaning of it is a bit more labour intensive than chucking in the machine and pegging it out. I bought a cardigan in a recycled synthetic material and as someone who hates the sweatiness of synthetic, I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised!

I love viscose.

Availability - as you say, it's what's available on the high street and I don't have the time or inclination to search out natural fibres. If it looks ok and feels good then I'll have it.

It doesn't make me sweat.

It's easier to wash. Doesn't need ironing.

It's more often in my price range. You can buy organic cotton at H&M but it's absolute rubbish and to produce it at that cost there must be an ethical nightmare somewhere along the line surely?!

Natural fibres do look better imo, but synthetic also looks fine and I'm not vain enough to care about the difference.

I'm really good at not buying too much and wearing stuff to death so I think I'm generally ok from a landfill perspective (although I could definitely do better).

Are you sure it’s the fibres and not the dyes or finishing processes.

Linen can cause problems, cotton causes very few allergies and silk is meant to be the only hypoallergenic fibre. It is very smooth.

I have a few items of Issey Miyake Pleats Please (dresses, skirts tops) 100% polyester. The way they are designed is really nice and the material is beautiful. I use a Coraball to pick up shedded fibers in the washing machine.

I used them a lot before Covid when travelling. No ironing required.

Tencel/modal/lyocel are the same as viscose? Really?

@MacNTosh

Tencel/modal/lyocel are the same as viscose? Really?

They are all made from wood pulp. So is rayon which is another fabric that I don't like.

Lyocel is wood pulp, Tencel is bamboo pulp.

www.undershirts.co.uk/blogs/research/viscose-vs-modal-vs-lyocell

Tencel and lyocell are more environmentally friendly, but they are all just versions of viscose.

So is modal, acetate and rayon. They all use vast amounts of chemicals. Buy Lyocel and Tencel reuse the chemicals.

All of them are classified as the regenerated fibre family.

I quite like a polyester or viscose shirt. They dry quickly, don't crease, don't need ironing and wear well.
I prefer natural fabric jumpers, they tend to be warmer and look better quality, acrylic gets tatty fast. Bottoms are generally cotton.
Underwear and gymwear always synthetic. My knickers are microfibre, they have no VPL, are silky to wear and last for ages. Can't stand natural fibres for exercising as they sweat mark and stay damp.
I don't like fleece though, don't like the feel or the static.

I love viscose. The cut and the hang is often excellent and it doesn’t need ironing

Man-made fibre fabrics hang so much better, are easier to wash & dry, often don't need ironing and cost less. Natural fibre fabrics are bloody expensive, hang like tents on me and are scratchy. I'm scared in case they get stained, thry are fussy to wash, they dry very stiff and must be ironed, then look creased 5 minutes after I put them on. Natural fabrics, to me, are a bit of a pain. I do have some cashmere jumpers and wool blend jumpers but that's it.

Cost and also ease of washing/ironing etc. I have to get clothes for myself and two growing DC. I work full-time and don't have either the money to spend on wool or the time to spend hand washing and ironing.

Knitwear for me is a pain in general. I tend to buy wool but hate the faff of having to hand wash etc. Cotton usually isn't warm enough unless very thick, and whenever I've bought acrylic I've regretted it almost immediately as it looks like a rag after a couple of wears.

Have started buying more sweatshirts for days when I'm wfh, just because they stand up better to repeated washing.

I try to buy natural fabrics where possible. The main areas where I have synthetics are leggings, fleece and some knitwear, and also thermals (Uniqlo Heattech is the best!).

Leggings because of the fit and how easy they are to wash and dry quickly (ideal for exercise wear), and also the feel of them. Fleece and knitwear because it's warm, easy to wash and also just for the styles available. It's also much cheaper of course. I'm currently wearing a funnel neck fleece top and it's much warmer than a cotton sweater would be, and not at all itchy around my neck like wool would be. I can easily machine wash it tomorrow - much easier than a cashmere knit and about 1/3rd of the cost when I bought it.

I also have a bit of an environmental/animal welfare dilemma about wool in particular as I'm a vegetarian and know that especially cheap wool doesn't come from the best animal welfare circumstances. Rearing sheep is also bad for the environment, although so is creating synthetics fabrics of course.

The main thing is that whatever the fabric, I buy clothes I will wear for a long time.

I have MN sinned! I bought a polyester top last week. My wardrobe contains a mix. I am not embarrassed or ashamed to wear synthetics some of the time. It’s attraction can be (I say can be) ease of care, the way dresses hang (on me not the hanger) quick drying and longevity, as well as a little stretch. For example an all cotton bra would be pretty useless for me.

Certainly some cheap cottons are on parr with synthetics in terms of environmental issues.

Pressed send too soon. And following on from @SusannaRowan comment, microfibre knickers adhere to your body and move with you. All cotton knickers leave you with a baggy bum.

whenever I've bought acrylic I've regretted it almost immediately as it looks like a rag after a couple of wears.

That has never happened to me.

And following on from @SusannaRowan* comment, microfibre knickers adhere to your body and move with you. All cotton knickers leave you with a baggy bum.*

Tis true