Fabrics 103: Properties of fibers

[@josefrietveld219]

I personally switched as a young man from wearing socks with synthetics to 100 percent cotton and from sneakers to leather shoes and to be honest this made a huge difference. Before I had smelly feet afterwards not at all. Same with Business skirts. Generally I had the impression that I tend to sweat more while wearing mixed fabrics. I’ll never go back. Just my 2 cents. Keep up the good work.

[@jkboy789]

I tell people at the fabric store I'm allergic to polyester so they don't bother me with their plastic fabrics. Natural fibers are my personal preference but they're increasingly difficult to come by

[@vivienkoles1880]

I have sweaty armpits and one of my best decisions 4 years ago was to invest into a silk blouse. At home I tend to wear band t-shirts and thankfully most of them is still made from cotton, but in work I don't like to be too casual, so I was wearing polyester, polywhatever clothes because locally it's really hard to find pretty clothes in natural fibers. (This was 5+ years ago, and around that I was not comfortable to buy clothes online, I was afraid to get my size wrong.) But then Corona happened and everybody and their mother was shopping online, I started to follow fashion influencers and one of them showed a silk blouse. I just looked it up thinking it must be much to expensive for me to buy, but it was not. They are not cheap but I can afford yearly a couple of pieces if I don't really buy anything else (clothes). Best decision ever, I still sweat, but not that much. I have less problems with the skin on my back and I'm hoarding them like a dragon because they are really valuable. So I appreciate more my clothes and less likely to just drop them into the bin. I understand that natural fibers are not god's gift to humanity and they are not perfect, but on the scale of what is available for an average person they are still a better choice.

[@drhelenloney1426]

so interesting, thank you very much!

[@JM-gd3hr]

You may not be allergic to it but polyester does trigger my eczema, which is basically sort of an allergic reaction

[@drhelenloney1426]

It used to trigger my son's eczema as well, and here in Britain I had to order his school uniform trousers online. I think it is the sweatiness of the polyester which made him come out in a rash.

[@Soozit]

Yeah, I get on paper that an eczema trigger is different than an allergy, but if you have hives... is it THAT different to an allergy outside the semantics?

[@drhelenloney1426]

@@Soozit he also had asthma, allergies etc., so who knows.

[@mirjam3553]

I make an effort to avoid rayon/viscose/tencel etc, because I find them deceptive :D They get weirdly stiff when moist/wet and that's an actively unpleasant sensation for me. Also in my own personal experience my woven viscose garments (mimicking cotton, not silk) never want to dry nice or keep their shape - my mostly-cotton buttonups or dresses can be hung up to dry after washing and barely need an iron. Not so for the viscose ones - they just never look normal without pressing.

[@tomhrio]

Do you think human-sourced leather and ivory could be the answer to the sustainability crisis? Every day a lot of those go to waste and adding them to donor programs could easily help upcycle our remains into high quality raw materials for fashion and high end lutherie among others.

[@MinkaSchlossberger4ever]

Nice thought😮😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@MinkaSchlossberger4ever]

Itchy, sweating, short of breath....that s my reaction to Polyester....! And I hate to hear again and again: ,,But very expensive Clothes are Made from Polyester!!!".....Yes, and many idiots buy that.....but not me!!!

[@7lawaneeena]

what about modal/lyocell/tencel? I watch u so I can build a high quality wardrobe using knowledge while saving coins i luv ur channel

[@goog-t1g]

lyocell etc fall under semi synthetics like rayon and viscose