Polyester
The dominant synthetic fibre — strong, wrinkle- and shrink-resistant, quick-drying, but low in breathability.
Also known as: PET fabric, Poly
beginner Attributed to John Rex Whinfield and James Tennant Dickson · PET fibre patented by Whinfield and Dickson, 1941
Polyester is a synthetic fibre spun from PET plastic and made into woven or knit fabric. It is strong, durable, wrinkle- and shrink-resistant and quick-drying, but less breathable and absorbent than natural fibres.
What it is
Polyester is a synthetic fibre made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the same polymer family as drink bottles, extruded and spun into filament or staple yarn. It is the most-produced textile fibre in the world. Fabrics are strong and abrasion-resistant, hold their shape well, resist wrinkling, stretching and shrinking, dry quickly and take disperse dyes to bright, colourfast shades. It is hydrophobic, absorbing under 1% of its weight in water, which is why it dries fast but feels clammy and non-breathable next to skin.
Polyester can be engineered into microfibres, moisture-wicking activewear (via channelled cross-sections), fleece and technical shells. Downsides include a tendency to hold odour, to feel less breathable than cotton, to generate static, and to shed microplastics in the wash. It is frequently blended with cotton to combine easy care with breathability, and increasingly made from recycled PET (rPET).
How to apply it
Use polyester where strength, wrinkle resistance, colourfastness and quick drying matter — activewear, outerwear shells and easy-care garments — and blend with cotton for better breathability.
Related entries
Sources & further reading
- Polyester — Wikipedia contributors (article)