Poly-cotton: The Petroleum-Derived Material Lurking In Your Activewear
When I got these Nike joggers, I thought they were amazing, and never considered what material they were made from. They’re a cotton-polyester blend.
What is poly-cotton?
Polyester is a kind of plastic derived from petroleum. Adding polyester is cheap, adds anti-wrinkle properties, and helps the garment dry quicker. We see this blend a lot in activewear.
Will this material end up in landfill?
Probably, yes. There’s a new-ish patented (😩) technology that can separate poly-cotton blends, but it’s unlikely that most of our activewear will actually end up recycled using this technology anytime soon.
We’re so used to getting everything we want as consumers: wrinkle-free, moisture-wicking, cute to look at. Until very recently, my motto was “if it needs ironing, it doesn’t belong in my wardrobe” 😅 but we won’t get positive change without a little compromise. ⚖️
I’m still learning, always learning, and below is my current stance on activewear fabrics.
What to do about synthetic activewear?
I use what I already have (as I was a yoga teacher & personal trainer pre-baby, I have a lot of old polyester activewear).
Wash all synthetic materials in a Guppybag to catch the microplastics. 💧
I’ll READ labels now, and buy organic cotton or Tencel when needed - loose tees, loose joggers. 🌿 Tencel is a lighter fabric, and absorbs 50% more than cotton.
For technical clothing, buy second-hand, or brands who use recycled materials (@finisterreuk, @patagonia). ♻️
I used to wear a lot of skin-tight activewear that had to be breathable. Now it’s like... if it’s loose, it doesn’t need to be so breathable 😂. Makes sense, no?!
I’d love to hear what your favourite fabrics for working out are. 🙏
My no1 tip would just be:
DON’T Just Do It ✔️ 🙈... read the label first!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on activewear materials. Performance first, or planet first? Is there a way of doing both?!
