Polyester backlash grows over fast fashion and microplastic pollution
Polyester has become a Gen Z insult for things perceived as cheap, artificial or disappointing, reflecting growing unease with its association with fast fashion. The backlash matters because polyester is the world’s most-produced synthetic fibre, and critics link it to uncomfortable clothing, potential chemical exposure and environmental harm.
The material is fossil-fuel-derived, does not biodegrade and releases microplastics during washing, while research into chemicals in synthetic clothing remains developing. Recent complaints about Gap Studio’s polyester-and-elastane “fake knit” garments illustrate consumer frustration; Shein remains strongly associated with polyester, with nine of the first 10 dresses viewed by the author made from it.
- Polyester is becoming shorthand for cheap, fake-looking fashion.
- Concerns include microplastics, comfort and possible chemical exposure.
- Fast-fashion brands face growing scrutiny over synthetic fabrics.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Critics argue that polyester’s low cost and widespread use encourage disposable fashion, while its fossil-fuel origins and shedding of persistent microplastics impose environmental costs beyond the wearer. They also point to discomfort and unresolved questions about chemicals in synthetic clothing as reasons to favour natural fibres and more durable garments.
The case against
Defenders argue that polyester is affordable, versatile and useful for making durable, easy-care clothing, so treating the fibre itself as a mark of poor quality oversimplifies the choices facing consumers and manufacturers. They would also caution that research on chemical exposure is still developing and that environmental impacts depend on how clothes are made, used and cared for, not simply on the fibre label.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “‘It gives Shein’: how did polyester become the world’s most-hated material?”.