Why Are All My Clothes Made Out of Polyester?

I’ve been telling myself that I’ve been shopping more ethically these past few years—whether it’s consuming less or buying from conscious brands that care about how their clothes are made. While buying fewer clothes is a plus, brands like Fashion Nova and Shein are no better than Urban Outfitters or Free People. These companies produce clothes at lightning speed. Have you ever checked the fabric details on an item? Recently, while online shopping, I found a few “higher-end” brands selling items for over $100, and the main fabric was polyester—just like those more affordable brands.

So, let’s learn a little more about this fabric. Polyester is one of the most widely used materials in clothing. This synthetic fabric became popular because it’s durable, lightweight, and water- and fire-resistant. Plus, it’s incredibly cheap. Blending polyester with natural fibers like cotton has become the norm, but there are plenty of environmental reasons to reconsider this synthetic fiber. Polyester requires high energy, consumes a lot of water, contributes to pollution, and doesn’t biodegrade.

Think about the clothes that have ever made you itchy—it was probably mostly polyester. It’s not breathable, even though it’s moisture-resistant, which can lead to uncomfortable wet spots—definitely a no-go for those of us with sensitive skin. Unfortunately, most brands care more about profit than what’s best for consumers.

Now, let’s talk about how we can find more eco-friendly options and consider the groups that face more challenges when it comes to shopping ethically. Here are a few tips and tricks for shopping with sustainability in mind:

·      Shop secondhand first. I love a good thrift store. In Texas, there are so many cool options like Value Village, Uptown Cheapskate, and good ol GoodWill. Vintage and resale shops are also worth looking into.  

·      Buy fewer clothes. For real, take some of those clothes out of your Shein cart! Value what you buy. Buy clothes you know you will wear until the wheels fall off and prioritize quality.

·      Read labels. Buy clothing with natural fibers instead of synthetic fabrics. Natural alternatives include cotton, linen, bamboo, flax, jute, wool, and alpaca. Avoid polyester, nylon, spandex, and acrylic.  

·      Shop sustainable brands. Choose ethical brands that care about the environment, pay customers appropriately, and transparent with their practices.

Note, sustainable fashion is great, it does present accessibility challenges for certain groups. The reality is that sustainable options can be more expensive, and eco-friendly clothing is often seen as a luxury. However, we can combat this by hosting a clothing swap! It’s a chance for us to come together as a community and trade in that sweater you haven’t worn in four years for something new.

As consumers, we have the power to create change in the fashion industry and push brands to be more sustainable. I’m learning that our voices are stronger together and the best way to stick it to fast fashion is through our wallets.