Ten years ago I would have stuck a fork in my own eye rather than utter the phrase in the title. But I've changed my mind. Sometimes I feel like I need to come to the defense of modern day synthetics. They aren't your mother's synthetics. Heck, they aren't even your synthetics from the 80s and 90s. I used to hate synthetics with a passion. Does anyone remember the Natural Fiber Fabrics Club? I was a long-standing member, maybe even a charter member. I would look down my nose at any polyester or nylon or acrylic, even rayon - especially rayon, actually. To me, rayon was a synthetic that tried to masquerade as natural thanks to the fact that it's made from wood chips.
So what changed my mind? Technology. Synthetics used to have an oily, heavy feel. They didnt breathe. They came in fugly colors and prints and if you wore them you were likely to overheat in 70-degree(F) weather. But times they have changed. Nowadays, many of the polyester (note that I am saying many, not all) and other synthetic fabrics on the market breathe as well as Egyptian cotton, don't retain heat, and wash beautifully. Check out high end designers - Versace, Chanel, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein - you name it, they all use synthetics, even in the Haute Couture. The fabrics have gotten that much better.
Yeah, I know, I sell these types of fabrics. That's not my ulterior motive for posting here. I actually wear those fabrics. They've improved them that much. So do keep an open mind about synthetics. They're not all bad. After all, if it weren't for synthetics, Malden Mills would never have invented Polar Fleece, right? And Gore-Tex? Fabulous stuff. And there are lots of non-technical synthetics that are great. Give them a try - you might surprise yourself like I did and find that you actually like them!
Happy Sewing!
9 hours ago
9 comments:
I agree; I love natural fibres but the quality and versatility of some of the synthetics have conquered me already.
I agree. Some of them are more affordable than their natural counterparts and can be cleaned at home versus a trip to the drycleaner. I use a poly blends for work clothes because they wear well and have the machine wash factor.
Besides, I have other good uses for polyester fabrics, which *might* include the V&A dress. I just need to run a few experiments first.
Yes, polyester has gotten so good, so natural-fiber-like that you can now find polyester that is dry clean only and wrinkles like a son of a.......wrinkles a *lot*. We've come a long way, baby.
Me too, I'm a convert. I love the "new" poly/lycra jerseys like I've bought at your place.
Also, for real exercise, cotton is the worst! Synthetic wicking fabrics are infinitely better.
Oh I agree poly is no longer just a four letter word... totally loving how they've worked up the fibers to make them wear-friendly.
Dawn I agree about wicking fabrics. Supplex is one of my favorites. It's soft and plush but it doesn't show the sweat which means we're not limited to black and white only anymore for gym wear YEAH!
I'm a recent convert to synthetics myself. Living in the South with the heat I'd always had a horror of them because of the non-breathing issue. Now I just love them.
Just my two cents on the matter. If you are offended by environmental awareness, don't read on!
Although the wearability of synthetics may have improved over the years, I think that there is one good reason to continue to avoid them. It might even be a reason to avoid them even more. That reason is that synthetic fibres are often petroleum-based. Even if you don't believe that we have reached, and passed, "peak oil" (and I do believe it), oil is a non-renewable resource.
Lana it's true that much (possibly most these days) is made from petroleum products. There are some notable companies, and I'll use MM again as an example, that make their fibres from recycled plastics. To me, that's a good thing.
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