Polyester fabric is a synthetic material made from polymer fibres. The cloth was first produced and used for clothing in England in 1941. By 1945, the USA Company DuPont bought the production rights, and within five years, production commenced. By the 1960s, polyester became the cheapest fabric available.
Polyester materials are durable, hard-wearing, and sturdy. They are also:
- Stretch resistant.
- Wrinkle free.
- Mildew resistant.
- Resistant to mild chemicals.
- Shrink-free.
- Abrasion resistant.
- Shape-retaining.
- Easy to wash.
- Quick drying.
Its fabric types range from lightweight and soft materials to coarse and textured heavy-weight cloth. Polyester is great for the fashion industry because it is available in numerous patterns, designs, colours, and styles. Virtually half of the world’s apparel and home furnishings are polyester.
Polyester Fabric: Positives and Negatives
Polyester clothes are budget-friendly and readily available far and wide, and many people wear products made from it, but how good (or bad) is it for clothing?
Outfits made from 100% polyester material are not so good. They can be termed as unsatisfactory.
The material is not absorbent, so it does not absorb sweat, which is not good. Because it doesn’t stretch, the fabric does not breathe. This makes many people sweat when they wear polyester clothes.
However, because the fabric in its pure form is hydrophobic, it is an ideal choice for cooler weather and damp environmental conditions.
The good thing is that polyester fibres blended with other fibres (cotton, flax, and wool) counterbalances the disadvantages of 100% polyester. This makes polyester blends a better and more desirable material choice by consumers.
Because polyester is cheaper than cotton, it is tempting to buy. However, though it may cost much less than cotton materials, it doesn’t mean it is a low-quality material. It always depends on what you decide to use it for.
Polyester fabric is ideal for bed sheets, linen, curtains, sleeping bags, and home décor products. It is also good if you want something cheap, sturdy, and durable like sportswear, t-shirts, climbing and windsurfing suits, parkas, and anoraks.
Polyester will withstand wear and tear. It is fade-free and holds dye well. If it is a high-quality type, it will keep its shape for as long as you wear it. And if you hate ironing, a good polyester blend fabric will work best for you.
Different Blends of Polyester Materials
Cotton and Polyester Blend
Fabrics made of polyester and cotton blends are multipurpose and made into a vast range of clothing – from skirts and jackets to shirts, suits, and dresses. Because of the cotton fibres used for its construction, this blend won’t shrink or change shape as 100% cotton does. The cotton component also allows the fabric blend to be more breathable, unlike 100% polyester fabrics.
Polyester, Rayon, and Cotton Blend
Clothing fabrics produced from this three-fibre combination are stretchy, durable, comfortable and soft. The blend makes the perfect fabric for loose-fitting clothes.
Spandex and Polyester Blend
Spandex (or Lycra) is a synthetic fibre known for its stretching properties. A blend of spandex and polyester makes the perfect fabric for active-wear clothing that is soft to the touch and hard-wearing. Because the fabric is elastic, it will always retain its original shape.