Navigating the world of fabrics is difficult these days; with values of sustainability, quality, affordability, and texture all playing tug of war in our minds. With so many advances in fabrication technology, it’s easy to get confused about man-made vs. natural fibres, or even man-made from natural fibres vs. from synthetic fibres (tricky, right?). And, when is it best to choose one from the other?
I care about sustainability, but no matter how much I care, my budget doesn’t allow for a wardrobe exclusively filled with silks, linens, and wools. Aside from that, there are times when man-made fibres like polyester and rayon are the better choice, period.
Lately I’ve been especially interested in polyester, a fabric that when spoken, conjures up adjectives in our minds like cheap and low quality. Granted, there’s some pretty awful polyester out there that doesn’t help its bad rap, but over the past decade certain poly fabrications have made leaps and bounds in their quality and hand feel, and I think it’s only fair to educate consumers about those aspects as well.
Polyester is very durable, and some qualities have become so soft and lovely that it’s incredibly hard to decipher from a 100% silk style sitting right next to it (that also costs triple the price and is not durable).
If you’re going to a daytime summer wedding, well, unfortunately both silk and polyester will leave you a bit sticky at the end of it. However there are pros and cons to both options. A polyester dress will wrinkle less, resist stains (from all those drinks at the open bar), and you can wash it yourself. Silk, on the other hand, will always have a bit of a softer, buttery feel. It also gets cleaner, but you have to dry-clean it to get there. I say this because when poly does get stained and smelly, it can be pretty hard to get out.
In short, you can be proud of your polyester, it’s not the devil. No, it may not be fantastic for sustainability causes, but if you choose a beautiful poly in a timeless style, your garment will last you years to come.
Hope this helps as you start to think about what you’re shopping for this spring!
Follow Zoe on Instagram and her blog
_____________________________________________________________________