Why You Shouldn’t Wear Man-Made Fabrics This Summer

As we progress into warmer temperatures come summer, the same struggles we face regarding the heat resurface too. We’ve all been there; the sun’s beating through the window and you begin to experience the daily panic of what to wear. Am I gonna be too hot in this? Will it show my sweat patches? Is this lightweight enough? The list goes on. 

There are a lot of subtle tweaks and considerations we can make to our wardrobe to make summer just that bit easier. Imagine packing for your summer holiday and not having to shove your whole wardrobe into your suitcase in the hope that at least something you take will agree with you in the midday sun. Bliss! One of these tweaks comes down to the textiles our clothes are made of, as they all have a significantly different relationship with how they combat the heat. Or, more importantly, should we avoid man-made textiles in the summer completely? 

There are three main categories of textiles: man-made fibres, natural fibres, and synthetic fibres. The ways in which they’re manufactured, behave, react to heat, and their lifespan all vary, which are factors all to take into consideration when swapping in our summer wardrobes for the year. It’s worth noting that there’s no ‘perfect’ material for summer, as they all have their own properties.

Linen shirt dress from Toast. Shop here.

Let's take a look at what we know about man-made textiles already. Hence the name, human effort is required to make them as they undergo numerous chemical processes before they enter our stores. The two types split off into synthetic staple fibres such as polyester and acrylic, and cellulosic fibres such as bamboo, modal and viscose. Although materials made from bamboo include more of a natural element, it’s chemically processed in a way that makes them more ‘synthetic’ than natural.

Moving onto polyester – in all its well-known, overproduced glory! As common as it is, buyers might fall victim to assuming it’s universally the most go-to material. Polyester fibres are essentially solid plastic strung together, which makes air and moisture incredibly difficult to pass through in a breathable, comfortable fashion. As the fibres are made from petroleum and plastic polymers, this also makes them incredibly durable and long-lasting (it’s the fast fashion houses that produce the polyester garments, and their subsequent poor quality, which makes them less likely to last).

The disadvantages of man-made textiles include little ability to absorb moisture, being non-biodegradable, and by their nature, they tend to trap heat in our body due to the lack of airflow. Fast fashion manufacturers often use polyester as it’s a cheap option, but because of the haste to mass-produce the material into clothes, that is what makes it not last as long.

However, there is credit where it’s due as manufacturers are constantly creating new weave structures and methods to result in more breathable material, hence the surge in polyester athletic wear.

With natural fibres – fibres sourced from plants and animals, such as linen and cotton – this breathable quality is already built into their structures, making it a timeless summer staple. They’re often manufactured without the need for harsh chemicals, making this a more sustainable, biodegradable option. 

To conclude, if you lean toward man-made textiles due to their easy care and lightweight nature, consider thrifting to extend life of existing pieces. Alternatively, this could be your sign to experiment with more natural materials this summer!