Why You Should Throw Out Your Polyester (And What To Replace It With)

Take a look in your closet and read the composition labels on your favorite items. Chances are they’re made of polyester. And it’s not just our clothes – our accessories and bedding are often made of polyester too. We’ve gotten so used to living with this material that most of us don’t even bother asking what it is.

Americans turn a blind eye to staggering amounts of toxins in their daily lives: seed oils in food, endocrine disruptors in makeup and candles, and, yes, polyester. You might not think of clothing as a potential toxin, but the proof is in the pudding. Here’s why you should say goodbye to this textile ASAP.

What Polyester Really Is

Polyester’s full name is polyethylene terephthalate. Unlike cotton or silk, it isn’t derived from plant fibers – it’s actually plastic. Sometimes that plastic is recycled, but usually, it’s petroleum-derived. That means we’re literally wearing oil and gas.

Polyester has become so common because it’s 1) cheap to mass produce and 2) doesn’t require a whole lot of skill to work with. Fast fashion brands that pump out a hundred new styles every month can keep costs low and forgo actual craftsmanship when all their merchandise is just glorified plastic.

You might be thinking, Wait. Isn’t there a price to pay for walking around with oil and gas on your back? If so, you’d be spot on. Polyester is incredibly unbreathable, traps sweat, and holds onto odors much longer than natural fabrics do. It's also nonbiodegradable, which means it ends up in landfills that contribute to environmental waste. But polyester’s disadvantages aren’t just external – it might also be affecting your health.

As reported by The Guardian, flight attendants at Alaska Airlines reported skin irritation and breathing issues when new polyester uniforms were introduced in 2011. These are symptoms of what’s called a polyester allergy. But referring to it as an allergy implies that some people are biologically equipped to spend their lives wrapped in plastic, while others aren’t. The reality is that wearing processed fossil fuels is bad for all of us, whether it has immediate visible effects or not. That’s sort of common sense!

Even if you don't get itchy skin or shortness of breath as a result of wearing polyester, you’re not getting off easily. Polyester releases microplastics – small particles resulting from the degradation of plastics. Microplastics can shed from your clothes as a result of washing them, sweating in them, or just wearing them for any period of time. The health effects of microplastics are still being studied, but they look pretty grim, with heart attacks and oxidative stress being linked to exposure to these tiny particles.

Of course, health diagnoses are often multifaceted. Pre-existing conditions, genetics, etc. play a role in how external factors affect our health. But when analyzing the downsides of polyester alongside its convenience, it’s hard to make an argument for why convenience should triumph.

Everything Is Polyester

Polyester replaced cotton as the most commonly used fabric at the turn of the century. If you like to thrift or go vintage shopping, you’ve probably noticed a significant difference between the quality of clothes made before the year 2000 and those made after. You used to be able to walk into any store in the mall with a guarantee that most items were cotton or a cotton blend. Now, you have to purposely go looking for cotton or else you won’t find it.

You might not even realize how much of what you own is polyester. Because plastic is waterproof and doesn’t wrinkle, it’s the fabric of choice for most activewear companies. Polyester is also used to make vegan alternatives to leather (a.k.a. pleather – plastic leather) and faux fur. Activist groups like PETA will protest the use of real leather and fur on the grounds that they hurt animals and the environment. But are we supposed to believe that plastic (which inevitably ends up in landfills) is better for the ecosystem?

One of the most under-the-radar ways polyester might be sneaking itself into your wardrobe is through polyester satin. When something is advertised as being satin, most of us assume that it’s made of silk. After all, satin is fabric spun to look smooth and shiny like silk. While silk satin does exist, a lot of satin on the market now is made of polyester. So if you’ve been sleeping on satin sheets or pillowcases, double-check that composition tag to make sure it’s not just glossy plastic.

Is all polyester made equal? According to some fashion insiders, no. They say that “high-grade” polyester is superior. This is why some polyester dresses sell for $10 on Shein while others go for $600 at luxury retailers. But in my personal experience, wearing high-end polyester is only a better experience because it looks visually nicer than its cheap counterpart. The lack of breathability, itchiness, and rough texture are all the same. 

What To Replace Your Polyester With

Most people, including me, can’t just throw out their entire wardrobes and start from scratch. Fret not: Slow accumulation is the name of the game. If you’ve been ill-informed about polyester in the past, you can’t go back and change old shopping decisions, but you can definitely be more discerning about what you buy going forward.

Semi-Synthetic Fabrics

Cheap polyester and expensive natural fabrics aren’t the only options available. Semi-synthetic fibers are made of naturally occurring materials and processed to become fabric. Rayon, for example, is a semi-synthetic fabric made of cellulose, a substance found in the walls of plant cells. Other semi-synthetic fabrics include modal and viscose. 

While chemically processed, semi-synthetic fabrics are a step up from polyester because their base is natural, making them more breathable and environmentally friendly. Semi-synthetic fabrics are often mixed with organic fabrics like cotton and linen to create semi-synthetic blends.

Activewear

• The MOVE by MATE line features the cutest solid-colored sports bras, shorts, and leggings made of 92% organic cotton.

• Spun Bamboo’s leggings and yoga pants are a blend of viscose, cotton, and spandex.

• Pact offers solid-colored leggings, bras, and tanks that are 90% organic cotton and 10% elastane.

Loungewear

• Hill House Home’s 100% cotton pajamas and robes strike the perfect balance between practical and feminine.

• Organic Basics sells simple cotton loungewear that can be dressed up or down, depending on how you style it.

Everyday Staples

• Quince allows you to shop natural fabrics like silk, linen, and cashmere at a more accessible price point than most retailers.

• Everlane also offers organic cotton, linen, and cashmere tops, pants, and sweaters.

• UK-based label AYM’s Code Collection features tops, dresses, and trousers made entirely from organic fabrics like cotton and bamboo.

Sometimes, it can feel like every element of modern life is out to poison us. From overprocessed food to overprocessed clothes, the most convenient things are often the most hazardous to our health. While you may not be able to eliminate toxins from your life completely, you shouldn’t stay uninformed about them – especially one as common as polyester.