Why fabric matters

Most clothes today are made of plastic. Here's what that means for your closet, your laundry and your skin, with every number linked to where it came from.

What your closet is made of

69%

of all fiber produced worldwide is synthetic1

59%

is polyester alone, up from 57% the year before1

88%

of polyester is made from new fossil-fuel feedstock. Most “recycled” polyester comes from plastic bottles1

Cotton, by comparison, is about 19% of fiber production1.

Every wash sheds plastic

~500,000

microfibers from one 6 kg load of polyester in a lab washing study. Acrylic shed over 700,0002

~35%

of primary microplastics reaching the ocean are estimated to come from washing synthetic clothes, the largest single source3

500,000

tonnes of textile microplastics may enter the ocean every year (estimates range from 200,000)54

These are estimates and lab measurements; real-world shedding depends on the fabric, the machine and how you wash.

How it feels to wear

Everyday comfort

Polyester holds on to odor

In a fitness study, polyester shirts smelled significantly worse than cotton after exercise, and odor-linked bacteria grew almost only on the polyester6. An earlier textile study also rated polyester highest for odor, with cotton and wool lower7.

Small studies · single sessions

Wool and sleep

In a small trial, adults 65+ sleeping in a warm room fell asleep in about 12 minutes in wool, versus about 22 in polyester and 27 in cotton14. A 2024 review says the overall evidence is limited and mixed15.

36 people · funded by the wool industry

Wool handles moisture

Wool can absorb up to about 30% of its weight in water vapor without feeling wet16.

Educational source · some people find wool itchy (see below)

On your skin

Dyes that can irritate skin

“Disperse dyes” used to color polyester, nylon and acetate aren't chemically bound to the fiber and can move onto skin. They're considered the most important textile allergens, and some affect over 1% of people referred for allergy testing1011.

It's the dyes, not the fiber itself · many people have no reaction

Cotton for eczema-prone skin

Dermatology groups recommend soft, breathable fabrics like 100% cotton (or silk) next to eczema-prone skin, and list wool and synthetics as common irritants1718. They also suggest washing new clothes before wearing them17.

Expert guidance · triggers vary by person

Cotton where it counts

Women's health organizations recommend cotton or cotton-crotch underwear to help keep the vulvar area healthy and reduce the risk of yeast infections192021.

General advice · not proof cotton prevents infection

Chemicals and safety

“Forever chemicals” come from finishes

PFAS were found in children's products labeled water- or stain-resistant12, and in every stain-resistant school uniform tested, including 100% cotton ones13.

Tip: this is about finishes, not fiber. Watch for “stain-resistant” labels

Formaldehyde in wrinkle-free clothes

A U.S. government review found formaldehyde levels in clothing are generally low, but some wrinkle-resistant items, mostly cotton, exceeded strict limits, and it can cause allergic skin reactions in some people. Washing often reduces it22.

2010 report · 180 items · a finish issue, not a fiber issue

Antimony in polyester

Polyester is usually made with an antimony catalyst. Lab tests show small amounts can leach into artificial sweat23; one risk model found most wear below safety thresholds, with one shirt above24.

Few textiles tested · health effects not established

Synthetics can melt in a fire

U.S. safety regulators warn that polyester, nylon and other synthetics can melt and stick to skin in a fire, making burns worse2526.

Workplace and firefighter guidance

In the air and our bodies

Plastic fibers in indoor air

Researchers have found synthetic fibers in indoor air, including inhalable microplastics, mostly polyester, in apartments tested with a breathing mannequin89.

Few homes tested · sources not traced to clothing · no health effects shown yet

Microplastics in our bodies

Microplastics have been found in human lung tissue, about half of them fibers27, and plastic particles in most blood samples tested, including PET, the polymer used in polyester28.

Small studies · not traced to clothing · health effects not yet known

Dryers vent fibers outside

One study found home clothes dryers vent synthetic microfibers from polyester fabric directly into outdoor air29.

Two dryers · one fabric

Kids and household dust

Textile fibers, including synthetic ones, build up in household dust, and researchers estimate young children may swallow them through dust830.

Few homes sampled · modelled estimates

See what your clothes are made of

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Sources

  1. Textile Exchange, Materials Market Report 2025 (data year 2024). textileexchange.org
  2. Napper & Thompson, “Release of synthetic microplastic plastic fibres from domestic washing machines,” Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2016. doi.org
  3. Boucher & Friot, Primary Microplastics in the Oceans, IUCN, 2017. portals.iucn.org
  4. Ellen MacArthur Foundation, A New Textiles Economy, 2017. www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
  5. European Environment Agency, Microplastics from textiles, 2022. www.eea.europa.eu
  6. Callewaert et al., “Microbial Odor Profile of Polyester and Cotton Clothes after a Fitness Session,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2014. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  7. McQueen et al., “Odor Intensity in Apparel Fabrics and the Link with Bacterial Populations,” Textile Research Journal, 2007. doi.org
  8. Dris et al., “A first overview of textile fibers, including microplastics, in indoor and outdoor environments,” Environmental Pollution, 2017. doi.org
  9. Vianello et al., “Simulating human exposure to indoor airborne microplastics using a Breathing Thermal Manikin,” Scientific Reports, 2019. doi.org
  10. Carlsson et al., azo disperse dyes in synthetic garments, Contact Dermatitis, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  11. Malinauskiene et al., “Contact allergy from disperse dyes in textiles: a review,” Contact Dermatitis, 2013. doi.org
  12. Rodgers et al., PFAS in children’s products, Environmental Science & Technology, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  13. Xia et al., “Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in North American School Uniforms,” Environmental Science & Technology, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  14. Chow et al., wool sleepwear and sleep in older adults, Nature and Science of Sleep, 2019 (funded by Australian Wool Innovation). doi.org
  15. Li, Halaki & Chow, “How do sleepwear and bedding fibre types affect sleep quality: A systematic review,” Journal of Sleep Research, 2024. doi.org
  16. Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato, “Wool fibre properties”, 2010. www.sciencelearn.org.nz
  17. American Academy of Dermatology, “Atopic dermatitis: Skin care”, 2023. www.aad.org
  18. National Eczema Association, “’Tis the Season for (Eczema) Triggers”, 2025. nationaleczema.org
  19. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Vulvovaginal Health” FAQ, 2026. www.acog.org
  20. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Preventing Candidiasis”. www.cdc.gov
  21. NHS, “Thrush in men and women”, 2023. www.nhs.uk
  22. U.S. Government Accountability Office, Formaldehyde in Textiles (GAO-10-875), 2010. www.gao.gov
  23. Biver, Turner & Filella, antimony release from polyester, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2021. doi.org
  24. Rovira et al., antimony in polyester clothing and health risk, Textile Research Journal, 2017. doi.org
  25. OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.269 Appendix E (protective clothing). www.osha.gov
  26. USDA Forest Service, “Tests of Undergarments Exposed to Fire”, 2008. www.fs.usda.gov
  27. Jenner et al., microplastics in human lung tissue, Science of the Total Environment, 2022. doi.org
  28. Leslie et al., plastic particles in human blood, Environment International, 2022. doi.org
  29. Kapp & Miller, “Electric clothes dryers: An underestimated source of microfiber pollution,” PLOS ONE, 2020. doi.org
  30. Zhang, Wang & Kannan, PET microplastics in house dust, Environment International, 2020. doi.org

Figures are quoted as published. Where a study is small, early, or industry-funded, we say so. Something out of date? Email support@trutag.app.