Did you know almost all of the big brand names such as Zara, H&M, Adidas, and Nike use a material called polyester in their clothing? In fact, you most likely own a piece of clothing made from polyester or are even wearing it right now. But what is it?

Polyester fabric is a synthetic material (man-made rather than naturally grown) known for its durability and affordability that has taken the world by storm. Invented in 1941, the material has grown to be the one of the most popular materials used in the world. It is made from a polymerization process involving ethylene glycol derived from petroleum and purified terephthalic acid. This fusion results in polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is where its more commonly known name “polyester” comes from. Manufacturers then extrude the molten PET through a spinneret to form semi-crystalline fibers. These fibers are often subjected to chemical treatments before being interwoven to produce polyester fabric.

What makes polyester so popular?

  1. Durability
    Polyester fabric is often preferred due to its inability to tear, stretch, or pill easily like cotton and other natural fibers. Clothes made with polyester can be thrown into the washing machine and are easily taken care of, making it popular for everyday clothing.
  2. Wrinkle Resistance
    Many garment manufacturers choose polyester for their ability to resist wrinkling making the clothes low maintenance and require minimal ironing or steaming for a consistently neat look.
  3. Moisture Resistance
    Polyester is able to wick away moisture rather than soaking it up due to its fiber’s ability to resist liquid droplets. Since moisture ends up beading up on the surface of the fabric, it is quickly evaporated making this quick drying fabric versatile for many types of clothing.
  4. Versatility
    Polyester is often blended with other fibres to enhance specific properties to cater to different uses. For example, many of our polyester fabrics also contain spandex to give the fabric the elasticity needed for a more comfortable feel and fit. Our polyester fabrics are also blended with cotton, nylon, rayon, and silk cotton which can combine the durability and wrinkle resistance of polyester with the breathability and softness of the other fibres.

    Finding the right company to source your fabrics from can be difficult. If you need help choosing a type of fabric for your garment or would like a sample to touch and feel the quality of our fabrics, please reach out to us at anytime. See our selection of polyester fabrics here.