Hi friends! A few things. 1. Lessening your consumption altogether is the best step towards a mindful lifestyle and something I frequently talk about in my videos. But I recognize a majority of us still shop, myself included. My aim with this video, along with my other videos, is to help others make thoughtful choices when they do shop. 2. There’s been a lot of discussion in the comments about polyester in activewear, something I don’t discuss in the video (oops) and an incredibly valid point. Polyester activewear is one of the things where it’s not ideal but because of the lack of alternative options, sometimes the only solution. With that, if you need activewear I always recommend buying secondhand above all else. 3. One correction I need to make from the video. I mention how polyester is polluting water in communities where clean water isn't always easily accessible. What I meant to say is it's reducing water in communities where water isn't always accessible due to the sheer amount of water needed the produce the fabric. However, it is still polluting water with microplastics which affects everyone. Appreciate all the discussion, thank you all for your support!
I appreciate what you're trying to accomplish but to be honest I think you're going about it the wrong way. If your end goal is to be more sustainable we shouldn't be buying anything new, period, doesn't matter if its natural or not. Also there is no such thing as a bad fiber or fabric, what we have is a fabric that is more overused(or improperly used) in the industry then it should! Which is the case with synthetic fibers in general. What should be "put on blast" or criticized is consumerism, not polyester itself. Sorry if I come of as rude, that was not my intention. This is just a topic that I have some strong feelings about as a textile designer.
@@claclabpthat’s what a majority of my videos are about (and what the end of this video talked about) , showing people that the best way to be a sustainable “shopper” is to wear what they own over buying new. And if they have to buy “new”, to buy secondhand first. I hope you can check some of them out to know that we are very much on the same page!
@@claclabp I really appreciate that! I've worked my entire career in the fashion industry but generally on the business/consulting side, not directly in product/supply chain. So I'm grateful to have your wisdom here :)
@@FeelingGoodAsHail awsome, love seeing other people in the industry do their part! If you have any questions about textiles feel free to ask me if you want. I'm not a textile engineer but as a textile designer i do know a little bit more than most! 😊
I remember a fire safety expert saying it’s best to wear natural fibers whenever possible because fires causes synthetic to melt onto the skin causing the awful injuries.
If someone is in a crash, automotive or aviation, and there is flame/heat, the synthetics are really a problem. Now that people wear mostly plastic, you know that there must be quite a few people whose injuries were compounded by their synthetic clothes melting into their skin like molten sugar. The entire layer of skin has to come off when hospitals treat them because it is melded to them. We really shouldn't be wearing so much plastic masquerading as clothes.
THIS. I’m tired if plastic being given all these other names: vegan leather, acrylic, nylon, polyester, rayon, elastane, etc. It's like having different names for it makes people forget or not care that all their clothes are plastic.
They are called different names because they are different fabrics. Just because they come from the same raw material doesn't mean they have the same characteristics or made in the same way. It's like wanting cotton, linen and rayon/viscose to be called the same name just because they come from plants.
@@AngelicWitch444 that is not true, not all artificial fibers are created the same. Tencel for example has a closed loop production process that creates no final by product! Making it much more sustainable than rayon for example. Sure they are not as sustainable as natural fibers, but that doesn't mean it's a bad or not sustainable fiber!
Ngl I also hate synthetic fibers because of how brands have started putting it in **everything**. Cotton shirt? 60% polyester. Wool sweater? 96% acrylic. Anything linen these days is mostly synthetic fibers 😭 It’s so ridiculous at this point 😭😭😭
That can also be explained in the fact that 100% linen and 100% cotton will shrink by at least 1 size in the first wash. And for the wool: making it stretch and allowing you to wash at home. But it could be other fabrics than poly and obviously it should always be the case they have 60% of the natural fiber at least.
@@thelidiaedit hence the process of decating or decatising, which shrinks the fabric before a garment is sewn out of it. It involves treating fabric with moisture and heat to shrink the fibers and settle them
I do have old polyester fast fashion pieces which are still in great quality that I wear regularly. However it’s true that the standards of production have deteriorated in recent times.
I hear so many people say this, it's such a bummer how the production quality has gone down over the years. That's why vintage shopping is the best though!
That won't last as a solution for long. Older pieces are harder to come by. My local thrift shop is mostly fast fashion rejects now, and the good stuff is marked up dramatically. I thrift, but in 10 years at this rate that won't be as available as an alternative. Really good video. I'm glad your generation is having this discussion.
I never used to pay much attention to what my clothes were made of, but more often things I bought from department stores within the past few years have started to pill quickly. I once wore a new shirt to work and it pilled over the course of the day where my forearms rubbed up against my work desk. I was livid. I've since noticed my lowest quality clothes have had a high polyester percentage. Now I'm reading what things are made of before I purchase them.
For me the final drop was learning how bad cotton is for the environment. I can't in good conscience keep buying mostly cotton clothing. Starting to wear linnen and virgin wool was shocking. Linnen doesn't stink after a days wear like cotton does (or an hour like polyester does. I can wear the same shirt for days now! Before trying pure linnen I would say "gross!", because I had only tried linnen-cotton blend before, and the difference is mindblowing. Virgin wool isn't sweaty like super wash wool. I wore a wool skirt comfortable in 25-30°C. I feel blessed to be able to make my own clothes.
@barbthegreat586 That's unfortunate. I notice that linnen made of remie can be very itchy indeed, and sellers don't inform buyers whether their linnen is made from flax or remie. I find you have to be a bit of a detective to figure it out. For me ironing on the hottest setting is enough so that I can still wear remie, but if you are sensitive you really can't wear it next to the skin, only flax will do.
I made a decision about a year ago to stop wearing poly and other synthetic materials. It's taken some time to thrift my way out of it because nearly everything in the stores (even high end!) contains poly. My clothes look better and I'm more comfortable. If you're on the fence about this, I highly recommend taking the leap. It's also helped me to curb shopping because it's a hard stop for me if the material isn't right.
Its trickled down to the thrift stores now too that 90% of whats in those stores are in the thrift stores now too. You have to really search for something that is NOT poly. And it’s usually cheap tees.
Same here! Between eliminating polyester and also learning what colors truly look best on me, I have hardly purchased any new clothing compared to years past. It's been frustrating at times but has mostly made shopping very easy, lol
Polyester is dominating not only because of money. We have limited farm land on the planet. There's a limit in growing cotton. We are all buying too much clothes, synthetic the only solution. Besides, the condition to grow pima cotton is also the condition to grow peanuts. Farms would switch between the crops depending on the market prices. When you demand natural fibers but continue to buy the same amount of clothes, it can decrease food yield. We should just buy less.
I always tell people that I don’t wear polyester because I hate how it feels and smells. They never understand what I’m saying. You have made me feel seen! I like the same fabrics you like, but I also enjoy rayon and I don’t really know why.
Polyester cotton blends have some great moisture wicking properties, far batter than cotton itself. A good wicking fabric/yarn needs to be slightly hydrophilic (attracted to water) and slightly hydrophobic (slightly repellant). Combining polyester and cotton allows us to get this combination and when the yarn is structured well, it uses capillary action to move moisture away from the skin. The best thermal innerware for hiking and sports is made from such fabric.
Got two guppy bags a few years ago for my workout clothes. I still have not found any natural fibres in active wear, really. All my running gear is 100% synthetic, but I've heard about merino wool functional tops recently. Would love to see more videos on how to be more sustainable in sports, i.e., running, swimming, cycling etc.
There’s a brand in South Africa that makes bags out of recycled plastic bottles, but their technique allows the bag to be recycled again. They also found a way to create environmentally friendly dyes. The brand is called Virobag. They also pay staff 35% above minimum wage.
I had to stop wearing polyester for this reason. My skin has gotten so better since I stopped wearing polyester 😊 hope your skin is nice and doing well btw!
I have a beautiful brown leather jacket my husband bought me last year for Christmas. It had polyester lining in it. Every time I tried to wear it, I would become instantly hot! Well a couple of days ago, I decided to cut OUT the polyester lining! Yep! It looks different now because you see all the leather stitching. But I wanted to be able to wear this thing! Now I can! Your 4 materials are exactly my 4!! It's all I buy now.
I’m older, and can remember when care of fabrics was taught in the home. Generally people have become lazy and just want to throw everything into the machine and dryer. The knowledge on caring for fabric is being lost sadly. That’s why manufacturers add synthetic- less complaints from consumers.
nowadays I always filter on thredup to only include cotton linen etc. polyester shirts and sweaters are just worse in every way. the only sacrifice is sometimes you miss out on the more interesting patterned pieces but ah well
Another aspect I've heard to consider is how since Polyester is plastic based, if god forbid you're ever in or caught on fire, the Polyester will melt on to your skin creating a higher chance you'll be burn by it compared to cotton and other natural fabrics that will of course still burn but at least won't stick to your skin during it. An important aspect to consider for those who may be near campfires, stoves and so on.
Shout out to hemp, rattan, and curpro textiles since they’re all cruelty free and natural. Silk requires that the worms get cooked alive, and cupro doesn’t have that cruel component.
Advice for wearing your existing synthetic upper pieces - if possible, wear them with a cotton or wool undershirt . This minimizes rubbing on the skin and also should reduce the need for washing the piece since it doesn’t get as sweaty. My partner sweats a lot and does this all the time. He just washes his 100% cotton undershirts daily instead.
Yes!! Polyester SUCKS! I was going to film a similar video, because I’ve found that wearing synthetic fabrics send my sensory disregulation into overdrive. Natural fiber clothing is so much more comfortable!
As you mentioned, I have noted where I've seen better quality polyester, and for a time I took my first step toward better comfort and sustainability by simply looking for items with minimal synthetic fibers, but ever since learning about microplastics and toxic dyes, I have made it my mission to avoid plastic _everywhere_ at all cost. It's quite startling to realize just how pervasive it is -- toys, craft supplies, product packaging, small appliances.... Obviously there's no way at this time to fully avoid it, but my thought process is, the more that we as consumers do our best to tell companies that we don't want it, the more they will have to conform in order to make a profit. Some will simply find sneakier ways of incorporating it, but others will innovate and, I believe, help improve the overall market! Thank you for this great summary. Looking forward to checking out more from your channel 😊
Wanted a black velvet top. Even high end shops, all made of polyester, viscose etc Found vintage velvet jacket online made of cotton. Used to be cotton and silk for velvet, not any more.
I also ditch 95% of my polyester clothes! It heats the body up, is bad for environment with every wash and the list goes on.. thank you for that video! ❤
A great video idea would be brands that focus on avoiding synthetic materials because it is so hard to find! Thanks for the information in this video 🩷
I have some fast fashion I bought online when I didn't have time or transportation to shop a thrift store. I tried very hard to choose 100% cotton. The tshirts are not great and look older after a year then some I know are at least ten years old so I won't repeat that experiment. Some "linen" skirts and dresses I also got are still looking pretty good and since they are cotton I can practice visible and invisible mending to extend their functional lifespan. I also very rarely use the dryer and instead prefer to hang dry (outdoors, weather permitting) which seems to significantly extend the longevity of almost any fiber. I've even had great success with machine washing "dry clean only" items as long as they aren't washed with rough items like denim, no hot water, and drying on a hanger. Nearly all textiles can be reused too, though it could take quite some time to learn the many ways to do so. Consider gifting unwearable items to a fiber artist who can use them whenever possible.
I became more vigilant about natural materials because of my middle child’s fragrance allergies. Polyester and acrylic retain fragrances, like you said, and that can be a problem with shopping second hand. I’ve found that putting clothes in an airtight container with a bunch of baking soda -sometimes for as long as two weeks-helps the best. Then after washing, airing them in sunshine. I did breakdown and buy a second hand polyester velvet dress for my youngest and she adores it.
Got sick of my blanket and decided to look at the material. 100 percent polyester. I replaced all my polyester material with linen and cotton, the linen feels great on my skin by miles.
I like that polyester rarely bobbles under friction as long as its not combined with cotton. I have a bobble phobia so I'd literally freak out if I was forced to wear wool.
Here is an idea on what to do with old unusable polyester clothing. Do you know how comfy a pillow filled with shredded polyester clothing is? Very. Much better then the polyfill pillows (fake polyester down that is even worse then fabric because it's tiny fluffy loose polyester fibers). Firmer and more substantial and I have control over how filled up the pillow is. So for anyone looking to get rid of old unusable polyester clothes making a pillow or 2 is an option. Shredding the material takes work but slowly as you get enough to fill a pillow it's just satisfying. Also making a rectangle from a fabric to be a pillow shell is super easy even if you don't know how to sew. Especially if you use nice non-stretchy woven fabric like linen or silk and starch it before cutting it out so you can get crisp corners when you are cutting and sewing your project. And as long as the pillow cover and the pillow protector are cotton, silk or linen it will feel nice. So any old clothes that can't be taken apart to be used for something else and also any scraps too small to be used in my sewing projects get shredded and added to my pillow project. I am overweight and need a lot of pillows (I have 2 body pillows and 3 standards). So far I have replaced just 1 of my body pillows like this. Very nice. It's a long term way for me to get rid of my used up clothing. Also when you are frustrated or angry or anxious it's kinda therapeutic to shred a piece of fabric or old clothing. I am hoping someday all my pillows will be ones filled by me. The most available pillows on the market are ones with polyfill (too soft and unsupportive), ones with foam (it wears and deflates and becomes hardened over time), and the ones with real goose feathers/down (can be an allergic nightmare for sensitive people plus kinda horrifying to me). You can probably do this even faster by thrifting used polyester clothes with a lot of imperfections that people will not want to wear as is. Personally I think it's wastefull to pay money since I will be shredding it anyway and someone else could probably buy and use the item still. Sometimes if I feel I am progressing too slow I will supplement by collecting old polyester clothing from all my family and friends as an ongoing way for them to offload stuff they were gonna throw away (as long as you make stringent rules on what is and isn't allow and also tell them to ask you beforehand that you still need the material instead of just assuming you will take it off their hands, this is a good way to help your family clear out the closet from things they were holding on to because of "reasons" since it makes them feel like giving away stuff they couldn't seem to throw out but also couldn't use). I kinda like that I am doing this organically as I happen to accumulate waste that becomes something useful. My sister has recently started crocheting those little plushies and she can use it as fill for the plushies as well (instead of polyfill). And since things like pillows and plushies don't generally get washed it's a good way to not release so many microplastics (but the items are still more washable then ones with polyfill - I hate that stuff can you tell?). All in all while this is not a perfect solution to polyester pollution it's at least a way to minimize it for me personally.
As someone new to satin/silk I didn’t (and still don’t lol) know quite the difference but it’s important to really look at the composition of the garment bc sometimes as satin/silk like fabric is made of polyester or other synthetics
Over the past year I recently got more into silk items so from what I understand, satin is made up of synthetic materials or a blend of silk/synthetic materials. And silk is just pure natural fiber. The only bummer about silk is the price but I've found some great vintage options at the thrift store and new at Quince as well! Highly recommend. Thanks for watching :)
Read the little white tag on the inside of the seam. Usually on the side seam on a top. I NEVER buy plastic clothes because it is so uncomfortable against my skin. Your skin can't breathe. Especially in warm weather it's like wearing a garbage bag.
I'm definitely not an expert on those fabric but in my opinion, I'd view them in the same category as cotton in terms of being better for biodegradability but still coming with their own set of environmental issues. Nothing will ever be perfect unfortunately so the best thing you can do is buy less and if you do buy, buy used! If anyone reading this has better insight on these fabrics feel free to chime in
I broke up with polyester after i had weird itching and sweating in the beginning of this year i started thrifting cotton only for me and my family its so comfy and airy
I have been working for the last couple years on moving away from synthetics entirely. It can be hard to find good quality clothing even at the thrift store nowadays but it’s worth it. My caveat is I am vegan and I also will not support animal cruelty for the sake of clothing. I think that’s an important conversation that is often lacking within this topic
Super informative video! Thank you! I am curious to know why are most of the sportswear clothes made out of poliester if it's not a breathable material?
Polyester doesn't breathe but it does wick away moisture, whereas cotton, for example, retains it, so using polyester can help keep clothing more comfortable during long workouts especially. I would be curious to see, though, how much more quickly a person gets sweaty in synthetic versus natural fibers. Speaking of which, somebody brought up that wool workout clothes are becoming a thing, which is so awesome because it is both breathable _and_ it wicks away moisture!
@@Jessica_Jones sportswear made from merino wool is incredible! at least in Finland, it's becoming more and more of a thing, especially in Finnish brands that already used it previously
Agree. We are not barbie, we do not need plastic homes, p shoes, p clothes, p cars ets. The sad reality is that even furtiture is often made of plastic these days
What about outerwear? Do you only buy coats/jackets made of natural materials? Most of my outerwear is made from polyester, like from brands like Patagonia.
There is one more con when it comes to durability: although polyester will not biodegrade for a long time,the garment made from it can become unsightly way quicker than the ones from (quality) natural materials. So basically you have an acrylic sweater that starts pilling faster, or something that contains elasthane and the stretchiness will be gone in approx. 5 years. Btw, today's fast fashion items are shittier even if made from natural materials. The cotton and wool they use is usually a shorter fibre length than in previous times, so it will pill and wear out faster. Buy second hand :) and buy vintage.
I've heard that the origin and quality can make a huge difference there. Wool that is itchy tends to be either naturally more coarse (lamb vs alpaca, etc.), or simply poorer quality fibers that are used to make a garment more affordable. A higher cost does not necessarily mean better quality, but generally I have found that better quality comes at a higher cost.
I used to like Lyocell because of how smooth it feels and the fact that it's considered semi-sustainable. However, here in Spain, we’re currently facing a significant issue with it. Inditex has set up a massive factory in Galicia to produce Lyocell, and it's raising serious environmental concerns. The production is impacting local ecosystems, particularly water sources, and there’s growing opposition from environmental groups. This shows that even materials labeled as ‘sustainable’ can have a hidden environmental cost if not managed responsibly. So I guess it always depends mostly in the brand we're buying and not the material itself right? Greetings from Spain
03:57 The thing about talking about the production process is that, in the oil industry, everything is very tighly integrated. No one is processing oil specifically to polyester, it's probably a by or co product. So the process is energy demanding sure, but it's creating simultaneously lots of products that make the world work. Now, should we be using less oil altogether? Sure. But if everyone stopped using polyester right now, the energy consumption of the oil industry would be fairly the same
I never buy polyester etc., but must admit, that it is sometimes hard to find clothes made from natural fibers. Plus size garments tend to be in polyester 😮
when i’m thrifting i try my best to only get natural fibers unfortunately it’s hard! ☹️ but gotta be picky and choose your battles. but i’ve also noticed most of the pieces i gravitate to do end up being a natural fiber it’s just sizing that gets me.
Thanks to people in the comments, I just discovered a brand called Woolly. They sell activewear, underwear, and more! No swimsuits, but perhaps in the near future??
I totally agree. Another thing, maybe not so related to polyester but to synthetic material in general. What about footwear? Or underwear? Any thoughts on how we can be more sustainable there?
I’m going to look more into that cause I feel like it’s nearly impossible to avoid in footwear! And same thing with underwear outside of cotton of course. It’s everywhere! 😅
I'm admittedly a bit extreme. I ditched all my regular underwear for linnen shifts. It's amazing! Only works for skirts and dresses though. The equivalent for pants would be long shirts where you can put the tabs between your legs, or drawers. Not sure where you could buy any of that, I sew my own. The comfort and health improvements of breathable underwear compared to tight fittings cotton with elestan makes it worth while for me. Never going back!
Cool, everything you said is right, but: have you checked prices for natural material things? I can't afford a 30% cashmere sweater for 150 eur or wool dress for 400 eur, and damn sure natural silk clothing. I do check labels and try to buy less plastic items, I do try to save money and buy a natural wool coat instead of plastic coat, I realize the worth of natural stuff but I just can't afford to build my whole wardrobe out of it.
we need to accept that plastic has been our biggest mistake and start to move on from using it immediately. also "recycling" is horrible for the environment. melting down plastic to reuse it one single time is WORSE than throwing it away.
I agree that polyester is bad, but when it comes to outerwear, tights, bras, etc., there is literally no "natural material" option. The problem is not the polyester itself, it is the fast fashion and extreme consumerism that led to poor-quality items being made and sold. We, as consumers, can avoid these synthetic materials in the items where they can be avoided and we can hope for more options in the future.
Polyester falls beautifully but has no other redeeming fearure for me. I avoid it in clothes now. If it's polyester, it doesn't matter how nice it looks, I move on.
I would add...whatever you buy, treat it with care when washing etc, make it last as long as possible. Stick to your rules for clothing purchases as much as possible, you'll be buying less overall. I still buy polyester when it ticks all my other style rules as being a small woman i just cant find much anyway. I just keep to a certain number of purchases and look after all of them. Im considering keeping my extra favourites as they wear out and getting them remade with a good dressmaker in fabrics of my choice...ie preferably cotton etc. No, its not a perfect system but there is not a one covers all solution right now, so we need to try our best with what we have. Sorry for long comment..ive also started learning sewing by mending and altering things myself, i think we all need to learn this skill if we want better control ! Greetings 🦘
I hate how polyester makes you sweaty and uncomfortable when it's not even hot. I'll be freezing in winter and still have to wash the clothes after wearing them just a few hours
Wait a minute, I thought I read that wrong. You’ve got it completely backwards as when your pores are open that’s when the polyester micro plastics can be absorbed. And don’t forget lingerie.
Yeah I've found this especially true if they're an acrylic blend, it's the worst! One time I used hair conditioner to soften a a 100% wool sweater and it worked well. Otherwise I just wear a long sleeve shirt underneath to get a barrier between my skin and the fabric.
I do! I've been on the hunt for a used cashmere sweater recently but they're proving to be a bit hard to find at my local thrift stores. Hoping for some better luck soon!
When it comes to clothing it is possible to avoid it completely with a ton of effort. But the goal isn’t perfection, even I don’t avoid it all together if it’s a smaller % as mentioned in the video
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Hi friends! A few things.
1. Lessening your consumption altogether is the best step towards a mindful lifestyle and something I frequently talk about in my videos. But I recognize a majority of us still shop, myself included. My aim with this video, along with my other videos, is to help others make thoughtful choices when they do shop.
2. There’s been a lot of discussion in the comments about polyester in activewear, something I don’t discuss in the video (oops) and an incredibly valid point. Polyester activewear is one of the things where it’s not ideal but because of the lack of alternative options, sometimes the only solution. With that, if you need activewear I always recommend buying secondhand above all else.
3. One correction I need to make from the video. I mention how polyester is polluting water in communities where clean water isn't always easily accessible. What I meant to say is it's reducing water in communities where water isn't always accessible due to the sheer amount of water needed the produce the fabric. However, it is still polluting water with microplastics which affects everyone.
Appreciate all the discussion, thank you all for your support!
I appreciate what you're trying to accomplish but to be honest I think you're going about it the wrong way.
If your end goal is to be more sustainable we shouldn't be buying anything new, period, doesn't matter if its natural or not.
Also there is no such thing as a bad fiber or fabric, what we have is a fabric that is more overused(or improperly used) in the industry then it should! Which is the case with synthetic fibers in general.
What should be "put on blast" or criticized is consumerism, not polyester itself.
Sorry if I come of as rude, that was not my intention. This is just a topic that I have some strong feelings about as a textile designer.
@@claclabpthat’s what a majority of my videos are about (and what the end of this video talked about) , showing people that the best way to be a sustainable “shopper” is to wear what they own over buying new. And if they have to buy “new”, to buy secondhand first. I hope you can check some of them out to know that we are very much on the same page!
@@FeelingGoodAsHailI did see another video of yours afterwards and I'm now subscribed. Love to see this kind of content being spread out!
@@claclabp I really appreciate that! I've worked my entire career in the fashion industry but generally on the business/consulting side, not directly in product/supply chain. So I'm grateful to have your wisdom here :)
@@FeelingGoodAsHail awsome, love seeing other people in the industry do their part! If you have any questions about textiles feel free to ask me if you want. I'm not a textile engineer but as a textile designer i do know a little bit more than most! 😊
I remember a fire safety expert saying it’s best to wear natural fibers whenever possible because fires causes synthetic to melt onto the skin causing the awful injuries.
If someone is in a crash, automotive or aviation, and there is flame/heat, the synthetics are really a problem. Now that people wear mostly plastic, you know that there must be quite a few people whose injuries were compounded by their synthetic clothes melting into their skin like molten sugar. The entire layer of skin has to come off when hospitals treat them because it is melded to them. We really shouldn't be wearing so much plastic masquerading as clothes.
THIS. I’m tired if plastic being given all these other names: vegan leather, acrylic, nylon, polyester, rayon, elastane, etc. It's like having different names for it makes people forget or not care that all their clothes are plastic.
rayon is not plastic, its plant matter (celulose)
@@molihua15 🤯 Well, I learned something new today!
They are called different names because they are different fabrics. Just because they come from the same raw material doesn't mean they have the same characteristics or made in the same way. It's like wanting cotton, linen and rayon/viscose to be called the same name just because they come from plants.
@@magicivy but is actually a semi synthetic bc of the chemicals needed for its production, it’s no longer environmentally friendly
@@AngelicWitch444 that is not true, not all artificial fibers are created the same. Tencel for example has a closed loop production process that creates no final by product! Making it much more sustainable than rayon for example. Sure they are not as sustainable as natural fibers, but that doesn't mean it's a bad or not sustainable fiber!
Ngl I also hate synthetic fibers because of how brands have started putting it in **everything**. Cotton shirt? 60% polyester. Wool sweater? 96% acrylic. Anything linen these days is mostly synthetic fibers 😭 It’s so ridiculous at this point 😭😭😭
That can also be explained in the fact that 100% linen and 100% cotton will shrink by at least 1 size in the first wash. And for the wool: making it stretch and allowing you to wash at home. But it could be other fabrics than poly and obviously it should always be the case they have 60% of the natural fiber at least.
Well, it wouldn't shrink if it was decated on the factory, as it was in the old time clothing production
@ it naturally shrinks.
@@thelidiaedit hence the process of decating or decatising, which shrinks the fabric before a garment is sewn out of it. It involves treating fabric with moisture and heat to shrink the fibers and settle them
I do have old polyester fast fashion pieces which are still in great quality that I wear regularly. However it’s true that the standards of production have deteriorated in recent times.
I hear so many people say this, it's such a bummer how the production quality has gone down over the years. That's why vintage shopping is the best though!
That won't last as a solution for long. Older pieces are harder to come by. My local thrift shop is mostly fast fashion rejects now, and the good stuff is marked up dramatically. I thrift, but in 10 years at this rate that won't be as available as an alternative. Really good video. I'm glad your generation is having this discussion.
It's so difficult to avoid polyester in lining! This is where I usually give up and take it if it's not something that's going to touch my skin.
You can have the lining replaced by a seamstress.
I never used to pay much attention to what my clothes were made of, but more often things I bought from department stores within the past few years have started to pill quickly. I once wore a new shirt to work and it pilled over the course of the day where my forearms rubbed up against my work desk. I was livid. I've since noticed my lowest quality clothes have had a high polyester percentage. Now I'm reading what things are made of before I purchase them.
I feel like we've all had that "aha" moment with an item! Mine was also with a shirt that pilled too soon. Lesson learned!
This is why I started sewing my own clothes. I can control the quality of the clothing. Polyester is also easier to hide crappy seam lines.
I've been wanting to start making my own clothes (and filming the process here). You've inspiring me to get started!
@@FeelingGoodAsHailTake your time learning. It’s a pretty difficult skill if you want to make good quality items. But it’s worth it.
For me the final drop was learning how bad cotton is for the environment. I can't in good conscience keep buying mostly cotton clothing. Starting to wear linnen and virgin wool was shocking. Linnen doesn't stink after a days wear like cotton does (or an hour like polyester does. I can wear the same shirt for days now! Before trying pure linnen I would say "gross!", because I had only tried linnen-cotton blend before, and the difference is mindblowing. Virgin wool isn't sweaty like super wash wool. I wore a wool skirt comfortable in 25-30°C. I feel blessed to be able to make my own clothes.
@@mariaborgvall7350 I can't wear neither linen nor wool because they're scratchy.
@barbthegreat586 That's unfortunate. I notice that linnen made of remie can be very itchy indeed, and sellers don't inform buyers whether their linnen is made from flax or remie. I find you have to be a bit of a detective to figure it out. For me ironing on the hottest setting is enough so that I can still wear remie, but if you are sensitive you really can't wear it next to the skin, only flax will do.
I made a decision about a year ago to stop wearing poly and other synthetic materials. It's taken some time to thrift my way out of it because nearly everything in the stores (even high end!) contains poly. My clothes look better and I'm more comfortable. If you're on the fence about this, I highly recommend taking the leap. It's also helped me to curb shopping because it's a hard stop for me if the material isn't right.
Its trickled down to the thrift stores now too that 90% of whats in those stores are in the thrift stores now too. You have to really search for something that is NOT poly. And it’s usually cheap tees.
Same here! Between eliminating polyester and also learning what colors truly look best on me, I have hardly purchased any new clothing compared to years past. It's been frustrating at times but has mostly made shopping very easy, lol
Polyester is dominating not only because of money.
We have limited farm land on the planet. There's a limit in growing cotton. We are all buying too much clothes, synthetic the only solution.
Besides, the condition to grow pima cotton is also the condition to grow peanuts. Farms would switch between the crops depending on the market prices.
When you demand natural fibers but continue to buy the same amount of clothes, it can decrease food yield. We should just buy less.
Couldn't agree more, we need to buy less at the end of the day. I didn't know about the farm land, thank you for the info!
Yes please make a video with the pros and cons of each natural fabric. Very interested in this information.
I always tell people that I don’t wear polyester because I hate how it feels and smells. They never understand what I’m saying.
You have made me feel seen!
I like the same fabrics you like, but I also enjoy rayon and I don’t really know why.
Because rayon is a natural material.
@@barbthegreat586 Semi-Synthetic
Yes, I wish people would actually smell the garment and discern the chemicals!
Polyester cotton blends have some great moisture wicking properties, far batter than cotton itself. A good wicking fabric/yarn needs to be slightly hydrophilic (attracted to water) and slightly hydrophobic (slightly repellant). Combining polyester and cotton allows us to get this combination and when the yarn is structured well, it uses capillary action to move moisture away from the skin. The best thermal innerware for hiking and sports is made from such fabric.
That sounds like a marketing strategy- wool is best overall.
If I thrift I’m okay with a small percentage of synthetics if it’s something I really love. If I buy new I never buy synthetics.
That's the best way to go about it imo!
that's a good, practical approach!
Got two guppy bags a few years ago for my workout clothes. I still have not found any natural fibres in active wear, really. All my running gear is 100% synthetic, but I've heard about merino wool functional tops recently. Would love to see more videos on how to be more sustainable in sports, i.e., running, swimming, cycling etc.
It's definitely an untapped market! Hopefully in the next few years some activewear brands will come out with better options
There are some great merino options out there now. I'm a HUGE fan. It's breathable and comfy.
There’s a brand in South Africa that makes bags out of recycled plastic bottles, but their technique allows the bag to be recycled again. They also found a way to create environmentally friendly dyes. The brand is called Virobag. They also pay staff 35% above minimum wage.
My Dermatologist told me to wear only natural materials due to atopic dermatitis/exzema. Synthetics, especially polyester only irritates skin issues.
I had to stop wearing polyester for this reason. My skin has gotten so better since I stopped wearing polyester 😊 hope your skin is nice and doing well btw!
I have a beautiful brown leather jacket my husband bought me last year for Christmas. It had polyester lining in it. Every time I tried to wear it, I would become instantly hot! Well a couple of days ago, I decided to cut OUT the polyester lining! Yep! It looks different now because you see all the leather stitching. But I wanted to be able to wear this thing! Now I can! Your 4 materials are exactly my 4!! It's all I buy now.
I’m older, and can remember when care of fabrics was taught in the home. Generally people have become lazy and just want to throw everything into the machine and dryer. The knowledge on caring for fabric is being lost sadly. That’s why manufacturers add synthetic- less complaints from consumers.
nowadays I always filter on thredup to only include cotton linen etc. polyester shirts and sweaters are just worse in every way. the only sacrifice is sometimes you miss out on the more interesting patterned pieces but ah well
This is an option other brands really need to have! So smart
Another aspect I've heard to consider is how since Polyester is plastic based, if god forbid you're ever in or caught on fire, the Polyester will melt on to your skin creating a higher chance you'll be burn by it compared to cotton and other natural fabrics that will of course still burn but at least won't stick to your skin during it. An important aspect to consider for those who may be near campfires, stoves and so on.
Shout out to hemp, rattan, and curpro textiles since they’re all cruelty free and natural. Silk requires that the worms get cooked alive, and cupro doesn’t have that cruel component.
Advice for wearing your existing synthetic upper pieces - if possible, wear them with a cotton or wool undershirt . This minimizes rubbing on the skin and also should reduce the need for washing the piece since it doesn’t get as sweaty. My partner sweats a lot and does this all the time. He just washes his 100% cotton undershirts daily instead.
I do this as well! It also minimizes static electricity, lol
Yes!! Polyester SUCKS! I was going to film a similar video, because I’ve found that wearing synthetic fabrics send my sensory disregulation into overdrive. Natural fiber clothing is so much more comfortable!
It's the worst! Couldn't agree more
As you mentioned, I have noted where I've seen better quality polyester, and for a time I took my first step toward better comfort and sustainability by simply looking for items with minimal synthetic fibers, but ever since learning about microplastics and toxic dyes, I have made it my mission to avoid plastic _everywhere_ at all cost. It's quite startling to realize just how pervasive it is -- toys, craft supplies, product packaging, small appliances.... Obviously there's no way at this time to fully avoid it, but my thought process is, the more that we as consumers do our best to tell companies that we don't want it, the more they will have to conform in order to make a profit. Some will simply find sneakier ways of incorporating it, but others will innovate and, I believe, help improve the overall market!
Thank you for this great summary. Looking forward to checking out more from your channel 😊
Jumped on this video so fast. I primarily wear cotton, tencel and merino wool. Thank you for hitting all the points ❤
Wanted a black velvet top. Even high end shops, all made of polyester, viscose etc Found vintage velvet jacket online made of cotton. Used to be cotton and silk for velvet, not any more.
I also ditch 95% of my polyester clothes! It heats the body up, is bad for environment with every wash and the list goes on.. thank you for that video! ❤
A great video idea would be brands that focus on avoiding synthetic materials because it is so hard to find! Thanks for the information in this video 🩷
I'd love to see the bamboo marketing scam get more exposure. FTC has gone after the scummy marketing associated with bamboo.
I have some fast fashion I bought online when I didn't have time or transportation to shop a thrift store. I tried very hard to choose 100% cotton. The tshirts are not great and look older after a year then some I know are at least ten years old so I won't repeat that experiment. Some "linen" skirts and dresses I also got are still looking pretty good and since they are cotton I can practice visible and invisible mending to extend their functional lifespan. I also very rarely use the dryer and instead prefer to hang dry (outdoors, weather permitting) which seems to significantly extend the longevity of almost any fiber. I've even had great success with machine washing "dry clean only" items as long as they aren't washed with rough items like denim, no hot water, and drying on a hanger.
Nearly all textiles can be reused too, though it could take quite some time to learn the many ways to do so. Consider gifting unwearable items to a fiber artist who can use them whenever possible.
I’m actually in the process of replacing all my synthetic clothing with natural. (And my toothbrushes and throw blankets)
This was so informative! I'm not a fan of how polyester feels. Thank you for showing us alternatives.
I became more vigilant about natural materials because of my middle child’s fragrance allergies. Polyester and acrylic retain fragrances, like you said, and that can be a problem with shopping second hand. I’ve found that putting clothes in an airtight container with a bunch of baking soda -sometimes for as long as two weeks-helps the best. Then after washing, airing them in sunshine. I did breakdown and buy a second hand polyester velvet dress for my youngest and she adores it.
Got sick of my blanket and decided to look at the material. 100 percent polyester. I replaced all my polyester material with linen and cotton, the linen feels great on my skin by miles.
I like that polyester rarely bobbles under friction as long as its not combined with cotton. I have a bobble phobia so I'd literally freak out if I was forced to wear wool.
Here is an idea on what to do with old unusable polyester clothing. Do you know how comfy a pillow filled with shredded polyester clothing is? Very. Much better then the polyfill pillows (fake polyester down that is even worse then fabric because it's tiny fluffy loose polyester fibers). Firmer and more substantial and I have control over how filled up the pillow is. So for anyone looking to get rid of old unusable polyester clothes making a pillow or 2 is an option. Shredding the material takes work but slowly as you get enough to fill a pillow it's just satisfying. Also making a rectangle from a fabric to be a pillow shell is super easy even if you don't know how to sew. Especially if you use nice non-stretchy woven fabric like linen or silk and starch it before cutting it out so you can get crisp corners when you are cutting and sewing your project. And as long as the pillow cover and the pillow protector are cotton, silk or linen it will feel nice. So any old clothes that can't be taken apart to be used for something else and also any scraps too small to be used in my sewing projects get shredded and added to my pillow project. I am overweight and need a lot of pillows (I have 2 body pillows and 3 standards). So far I have replaced just 1 of my body pillows like this. Very nice. It's a long term way for me to get rid of my used up clothing. Also when you are frustrated or angry or anxious it's kinda therapeutic to shred a piece of fabric or old clothing. I am hoping someday all my pillows will be ones filled by me. The most available pillows on the market are ones with polyfill (too soft and unsupportive), ones with foam (it wears and deflates and becomes hardened over time), and the ones with real goose feathers/down (can be an allergic nightmare for sensitive people plus kinda horrifying to me). You can probably do this even faster by thrifting used polyester clothes with a lot of imperfections that people will not want to wear as is. Personally I think it's wastefull to pay money since I will be shredding it anyway and someone else could probably buy and use the item still. Sometimes if I feel I am progressing too slow I will supplement by collecting old polyester clothing from all my family and friends as an ongoing way for them to offload stuff they were gonna throw away (as long as you make stringent rules on what is and isn't allow and also tell them to ask you beforehand that you still need the material instead of just assuming you will take it off their hands, this is a good way to help your family clear out the closet from things they were holding on to because of "reasons" since it makes them feel like giving away stuff they couldn't seem to throw out but also couldn't use). I kinda like that I am doing this organically as I happen to accumulate waste that becomes something useful. My sister has recently started crocheting those little plushies and she can use it as fill for the plushies as well (instead of polyfill). And since things like pillows and plushies don't generally get washed it's a good way to not release so many microplastics (but the items are still more washable then ones with polyfill - I hate that stuff can you tell?). All in all while this is not a perfect solution to polyester pollution it's at least a way to minimize it for me personally.
There is a brand called “Pact” that has leggings that are organic cotton. They feel great.
The priority is not less polyester. Is less consumption, altogether. Less polyester would be the second step
Yes I Agree! It’s such a hard long search to find linen, cotton fabrics when shopping in store. ❤ Great video 🎉
Online!
Son de flor, pyne and smith. Im sure there are more around.
As someone new to satin/silk I didn’t (and still don’t lol) know quite the difference but it’s important to really look at the composition of the garment bc sometimes as satin/silk like fabric is made of polyester or other synthetics
Over the past year I recently got more into silk items so from what I understand, satin is made up of synthetic materials or a blend of silk/synthetic materials. And silk is just pure natural fiber. The only bummer about silk is the price but I've found some great vintage options at the thrift store and new at Quince as well! Highly recommend. Thanks for watching :)
Silk is the fiber, satin is the woven structure of the fabric. Meaning you can have a satin fabric with polyester, rayon and silk.
@@claclabp also with cotton. Cotton satin is used mostly for bed linen and pillow covers and is regarded as a more luxury material.
@@Vienna1902absolutely! I mentioned those fibers as examples but you can make satin using any fiber
Slow fashion brands use polyester happily and you pay the premium for it. Please recommend honest brands which sell pure fabrics
Read the little white tag on the inside of the seam. Usually on the side seam on a top. I NEVER buy plastic clothes because it is so uncomfortable against my skin. Your skin can't breathe. Especially in warm weather it's like wearing a garbage bag.
Could you inform us about ramie and bamboo. Are they less polluting?
I'm definitely not an expert on those fabric but in my opinion, I'd view them in the same category as cotton in terms of being better for biodegradability but still coming with their own set of environmental issues. Nothing will ever be perfect unfortunately so the best thing you can do is buy less and if you do buy, buy used! If anyone reading this has better insight on these fabrics feel free to chime in
I broke up with polyester after i had weird itching and sweating in the beginning of this year i started thrifting cotton only for me and my family its so comfy and airy
I have been working for the last couple years on moving away from synthetics entirely. It can be hard to find good quality clothing even at the thrift store nowadays but it’s worth it. My caveat is I am vegan and I also will not support animal cruelty for the sake of clothing. I think that’s an important conversation that is often lacking within this topic
Natural fabrics do not align well for performance fabrics. What do you consider to be good replacements for nylon and polyester?
Cotton tee/sweats
Thanks to people in the comments, I just discovered a brand called Woolly that looks quite promising 😊
Super informative video! Thank you! I am curious to know why are most of the sportswear clothes made out of poliester if it's not a breathable material?
Polyester doesn't breathe but it does wick away moisture, whereas cotton, for example, retains it, so using polyester can help keep clothing more comfortable during long workouts especially. I would be curious to see, though, how much more quickly a person gets sweaty in synthetic versus natural fibers. Speaking of which, somebody brought up that wool workout clothes are becoming a thing, which is so awesome because it is both breathable _and_ it wicks away moisture!
@@Jessica_Jones sportswear made from merino wool is incredible! at least in Finland, it's becoming more and more of a thing, especially in Finnish brands that already used it previously
Agree. We are not barbie, we do not need plastic homes, p shoes, p clothes, p cars ets.
The sad reality is that even furtiture is often made of plastic these days
What about outerwear? Do you only buy coats/jackets made of natural materials? Most of my outerwear is made from polyester, like from brands like Patagonia.
Thanks for the vid, really enjoyed this one!
I‘d love a video about natural materials
Adding it to my list! Thank you for watching :)
There is one more con when it comes to durability: although polyester will not biodegrade for a long time,the garment made from it can become unsightly way quicker than the ones from (quality) natural materials. So basically you have an acrylic sweater that starts pilling faster, or something that contains elasthane and the stretchiness will be gone in approx. 5 years.
Btw, today's fast fashion items are shittier even if made from natural materials. The cotton and wool they use is usually a shorter fibre length than in previous times, so it will pill and wear out faster.
Buy second hand :) and buy vintage.
I like wool, but the material is very itchy on my skin. Do you perhaps have tips on that?
I've heard that the origin and quality can make a huge difference there. Wool that is itchy tends to be either naturally more coarse (lamb vs alpaca, etc.), or simply poorer quality fibers that are used to make a garment more affordable. A higher cost does not necessarily mean better quality, but generally I have found that better quality comes at a higher cost.
Poliester takes 200 years to degrade.
The teflon in the airfryer , pots and pans takes 800 years and you wash it out in your sink
That's just awful!
That's why we should avoid both. Cast iron ftw :)
I used to like Lyocell because of how smooth it feels and the fact that it's considered semi-sustainable. However, here in Spain, we’re currently facing a significant issue with it.
Inditex has set up a massive factory in Galicia to produce Lyocell, and it's raising serious environmental concerns. The production is impacting local ecosystems, particularly water sources, and there’s growing opposition from environmental groups.
This shows that even materials labeled as ‘sustainable’ can have a hidden environmental cost if not managed responsibly.
So I guess it always depends mostly in the brand we're buying and not the material itself right?
Greetings from Spain
I have cut it out completely. Great video. We no longer wear real fur.. polyester should have the same stigma. It needs to be phased out.
I try to avoid polyester, but for things like bras, yoga pants, severe weather parkas etc I can't find any options out there. Any advice?
03:57 The thing about talking about the production process is that, in the oil industry, everything is very tighly integrated. No one is processing oil specifically to polyester, it's probably a by or co product. So the process is energy demanding sure, but it's creating simultaneously lots of products that make the world work.
Now, should we be using less oil altogether? Sure. But if everyone stopped using polyester right now, the energy consumption of the oil industry would be fairly the same
I never buy polyester etc., but must admit, that it is sometimes hard to find clothes made from natural fibers. Plus size garments tend to be in polyester 😮
i hate polyester on my skin, it’s so itchy so uncomfortable i only can wear for several hours and i’m overstimulated 😢
Thank you. 🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼😊
when i’m thrifting i try my best to only get natural fibers unfortunately it’s hard! ☹️ but gotta be picky and choose your battles. but i’ve also noticed most of the pieces i gravitate to do end up being a natural fiber it’s just sizing that gets me.
What about clothes to exercise in, like swimwear, running pants, cycling shorts, etc?
I’d say those are definitely exceptions but still want to make sure you’re caring for them to last as long as possible
Thanks to people in the comments, I just discovered a brand called Woolly. They sell activewear, underwear, and more! No swimsuits, but perhaps in the near future??
I totally agree. Another thing, maybe not so related to polyester but to synthetic material in general. What about footwear? Or underwear? Any thoughts on how we can be more sustainable there?
I’m going to look more into that cause I feel like it’s nearly impossible to avoid in footwear! And same thing with underwear outside of cotton of course. It’s everywhere! 😅
I'm admittedly a bit extreme. I ditched all my regular underwear for linnen shifts. It's amazing! Only works for skirts and dresses though. The equivalent for pants would be long shirts where you can put the tabs between your legs, or drawers. Not sure where you could buy any of that, I sew my own. The comfort and health improvements of breathable underwear compared to tight fittings cotton with elestan makes it worth while for me. Never going back!
Cool, everything you said is right, but: have you checked prices for natural material things? I can't afford a 30% cashmere sweater for 150 eur or wool dress for 400 eur, and damn sure natural silk clothing. I do check labels and try to buy less plastic items, I do try to save money and buy a natural wool coat instead of plastic coat, I realize the worth of natural stuff but I just can't afford to build my whole wardrobe out of it.
we need to accept that plastic has been our biggest mistake and start to move on from using it immediately. also "recycling" is horrible for the environment. melting down plastic to reuse it one single time is WORSE than throwing it away.
Where do yall find natrual fabrics? I find it hard to find anything that's not a blend of bs poly
First should be not to buy more clothes and only if you NEED something new, then buy alternatives, of course!
I agree that polyester is bad, but when it comes to outerwear, tights, bras, etc., there is literally no "natural material" option. The problem is not the polyester itself, it is the fast fashion and extreme consumerism that led to poor-quality items being made and sold. We, as consumers, can avoid these synthetic materials in the items where they can be avoided and we can hope for more options in the future.
Lyocel is ok?
08:29 yes please
Citation needed: @3:27
“One of the biggest polluters of our earth. Period.”
Polyester falls beautifully but has no other redeeming fearure for me. I avoid it in clothes now. If it's polyester, it doesn't matter how nice it looks, I move on.
Same! Because it literally gives me hot flashes!
I would add...whatever you buy, treat it with care when washing etc, make it last as long as possible. Stick to your rules for clothing purchases as much as possible, you'll be buying less overall. I still buy polyester when it ticks all my other style rules as being a small woman i just cant find much anyway. I just keep to a certain number of purchases and look after all of them. Im considering keeping my extra favourites as they wear out and getting them remade with a good dressmaker in fabrics of my choice...ie preferably cotton etc. No, its not a perfect system but there is not a one covers all solution right now, so we need to try our best with what we have. Sorry for long comment..ive also started learning sewing by mending and altering things myself, i think we all need to learn this skill if we want better control ! Greetings 🦘
I hate how polyester makes you sweaty and uncomfortable when it's not even hot. I'll be freezing in winter and still have to wash the clothes after wearing them just a few hours
Polyester is a must for exercise or if you generally sweat a lot. They have saved my good quality shirts from getting soaked in sweat.
Agreed! That’s definitely an exception
Wait a minute, I thought I read that wrong. You’ve got it completely backwards as when your pores are open that’s when the polyester micro plastics can be absorbed. And don’t forget lingerie.
Wool and cashmere make me itch.
Yeah I've found this especially true if they're an acrylic blend, it's the worst! One time I used hair conditioner to soften a a 100% wool sweater and it worked well. Otherwise I just wear a long sleeve shirt underneath to get a barrier between my skin and the fabric.
Polyester melts and warps in the dryer.
Polyester is the devil!
When I buy fabrics, I try to avoid polyester.
Do you like cashmere?
I do! I've been on the hunt for a used cashmere sweater recently but they're proving to be a bit hard to find at my local thrift stores. Hoping for some better luck soon!
Yes I can’t stand polyester
❤❤❤
Stop demonizing fabrics, check your privilege
Polyester is in everything. Not even practical to avoid it completely. This take is laughable.
When it comes to clothing it is possible to avoid it completely with a ton of effort. But the goal isn’t perfection, even I don’t avoid it all together if it’s a smaller % as mentioned in the video
I avoid it completely. I hardly EVER wear things now with poly.