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The Truth About Polyester: Balancing Function and Sustainability

If this is your first time here, welcome! If you’ve been a supporter—thank you endlessly for being part of this space.

I wanted to take a moment to break down the benefits and downsides of polyester, a material that often gets a bad reputation. Maybe by the end of writing this, I’ll convince myself entirely against it—but for now, I still believe polyester, when sourced responsibly, can serve a meaningful purpose in garment design that other materials can’t quite replicate.

Polyester allows for unique silhouettes and structures that cotton and natural fibers often can’t achieve. We’ve explored alternatives like silk, but its sheen and cost make it an imperfect solution for the styles we aim to create.

The Benefits of Polyester:

  • Durability: Polyester is strong and resistant to stretching and shrinking, maintaining its shape over time.
  • Wrinkle Resistance: It resists wrinkles, reducing the need for ironing and making garments look fresh longer.
  • Moisture-Wicking: Polyester fabrics can be engineered to wick moisture away from the skin, beneficial for activewear.
  • Quick-Drying: Its moisture-wicking properties also mean polyester dries quickly, adding to its practicality.
  • Color Retention: Polyester retains color well, keeping garments vibrant after multiple washes.
  • Affordability: Polyester production costs less than manufacturing cotton or wool, resulting in a lower cost for the consumer. 

The Drawbacks of Polyester:

  • Environmental Impact: Polyester is a petroleum-based product; its production contributes to fossil fuel dependency and greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Non-Biodegradability: Polyester is not biodegradable and can persist in the environment for a long time after disposal.
  • Microplastic Pollution: Washing polyester garments can release microplastics into the water system, posing environmental hazards.
  • Comfort Issues: Pure polyester can trap heat and moisture, making it less comfortable in hot and humid conditions compared to natural fibers like cotton.
  • Odor Retention: Polyester can retain odors more than natural fibers, which can be a disadvantage for activewear and items worn close to the body.
  • Chemical Processing: The manufacturing process involves the use of petrochemicals and can be resource-intensive, contributing to pollution and energy consumption.

So, Is Polyester Bad?

Polyester isn’t perfect—far from it. Its environmental impact is a serious consideration. However, it also provides durability, versatility, and technical performance that natural fibers often can’t match. The key, in my view, is balance.

By choosing recycled polyester, minimizing waste, and using the material only where its properties genuinely serve the design, we can harness its strengths without unnecessary harm. Polyester makes sense when it extends the lifespan of a garment, ensures structural integrity, or helps create silhouettes that wouldn’t be achievable otherwise.

With awareness of both the advantages and drawbacks, we’re committed to using polyester thoughtfully, ensuring it serves a purpose rather than relying on it for convenience. Fashion should be intentional, and material choices are a part of that conversation.

Thank you for reading. If you have insights or feel any of this information could be expanded or corrected, feel free to reach out—we’re always learning and evolving.

- M