What Is Polyester Made From — And Is It Actually Bad For You (And The Planet)?

Polyester is made from crude oil — it's essentially plastic spun into thread. I know, not exactly what you want to hear when you're holding up that gorgeous blouse in a changing room. But before you swear off the stuff entirely, the full picture is a lot more nuanced than "synthetic = evil." I've spent years dressing clients and, honestly, I've probably put more people in beautiful polyester than I'd care to admit. Here's everything you need to know.

So, What Exactly Is Polyester?

Polyester — or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) if you want to get technical at a dinner party — is a synthetic polymer created by reacting ethylene glycol with terephthalic acid. Both are derived from petroleum. The result? A fibre that's incredibly strong, crease-resistant, dries in minutes, and holds colour brilliantly. It was developed in the 1940s and has dominated fashion ever since. The world produces about 55 million tonnes of it every year. That's... a lot of blouses.

Is Polyester Bad?

Honestly? It depends on how it's made, used, and disposed of. Let me break it down properly.

The genuine concerns:

• It's derived from non-renewable fossil fuels — oil isn't exactly a sustainable resource

• It's not biodegradable — a polyester top could sit in landfill for over 200 years

• Every wash releases microplastics — tiny fibres that wash into waterways, oceans, and ultimately our food chain. A single wash can release hundreds of thousands of microfibres

• Virgin polyester production is energy-intensive and emits CO2

Where it gets more complicated:

• Recycled polyester (rPET) is made from plastic bottles and post-consumer waste — it diverts plastic from landfill and uses significantly less energy to produce than virgin polyester

• Polyester is incredibly durable — a well-made polyester piece worn 300 times causes far less environmental damage than a cheap cotton one worn five times before falling apart

• It requires no pesticides to produce (unlike conventional cotton, which is one of the most pesticide-heavy crops in the world)

• It's lightweight and low-maintenance — you're using less energy on washing and ironing over its lifetime

How To Be Smarter About Polyester

I had a client once — lovely woman, very eco-conscious — who threw out her entire wardrobe because it was "mostly polyester." She replaced it all with fast-fashion cotton. The irony. The real villain here isn't the fibre; it's volume. Buying less, buying better, and wearing things longer is always going to trump material choice alone.

That said, here's how to minimise the impact when you do buy polyester:

• Wash in a Guppyfriend bag — it captures up to 86% of microfibres before they reach the water supply

• Wash on cold, short cycles at 30°C

• Look for recycled polyester (rPET) labels — more brands are using it now

• Buy quality over quantity — a well-made polyester piece from a reputable brand will outlast three cheaply made ones

Where To Shop: Brand Recommendations

If you're buying polyester pieces, here's where I'd actually spend my money — brands that tend to use better quality fabrication, better construction, and increasingly, recycled fibres:

High Street Picks:

• Cos — Brilliant for structural polyester pieces that genuinely hold their shape. Their blouses and tailored trousers are wardrobe workhorses.

• Massimo Dutti — Elevated high street with a lot of smart poly-blend suiting that feels far more expensive than it is.

• Whistles — Known for quality construction; their occasionwear often uses polyester beautifully — fluid, drapey, long-lasting.

• Reiss — Great for polished occasionwear and workwear using premium polyester blends that genuinely drape like a dream.

• Mango — Increasingly transparent about using recycled fibres; their printed midi dresses in poly-satin are a consistent sell-out every season.

• Me&Em — One of the better high street options for quality poly-blend knitwear and dresses that don't pill or lose shape.

• Phase Eight — A go-to for occasions; their poly chiffon and jacquard pieces photograph beautifully and hold up brilliantly wash after wash.

• Sweaty Betty — For activewear, their recycled polyester performance pieces are excellent and increasingly sustainable.

Premium Picks:

• Patagonia — The gold standard in recycled polyester. They've been using rPET for decades and are fully transparent about their supply chain. Not just activewear — their fleeces and outer layers are genuinely brilliant.

• Girlfriend Collective — Stunning activewear made almost entirely from recycled plastic bottles. The quality is exceptional and the fit is inclusive.

Independent Finds:

• Fanfare Label — A brilliant British independent brand entirely focused on circular fashion. Their recycled polyester pieces are properly considered and incredibly wearable.

• Ninety Percent — An independent brand that donates 90% of distributed profits to charity and uses a significant amount of recycled polyester. Gorgeous basics with real substance behind them.

Luxury Options:

• Stella McCartney — Has been pioneering sustainable polyester and alternative fabrics in luxury fashion for years. If you want to invest, this is where to do it.

• Gabriela Hearst — Luxury with genuine sustainability credentials, including use of recycled and deadstock fabrics.

The Sizing Problem Nobody Talks About

Here's the thing I always tell clients about polyester pieces specifically: fit is everything. Because polyester doesn't stretch or breathe the way natural fibres do, a poor fit is going to feel uncomfortable quickly. And because sizing is an absolute disaster across brands — a 12 in Reiss is not the same as a 12 in Mango, trust me, I've seen the chaos firsthand in a dozen fitting rooms — finding your precise size before you buy makes a real difference.

🔍 Never Guess Your Size Again — Tellar.co.uk

This is exactly why Tellar.co.uk exists. It's the UK's leading free sizing tool — matching your measurements to over 1,500 brands instantly. No more size guide squinting, no more guessing. Just measure once (bust, waist, hips, or use a brand you already know fits you well), and Tellar tells you your exact size across every brand you love.

Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in brands like Cos, Reiss, Phase Eight, Me&Em and hundreds more. It's completely free, works in your browser — no downloads, no sign-ups.

And if you want more honest, stylist-led advice on what to wear and where to buy it, the Tellar Fashion Hub is a free library of posts covering everything from the ultimate clothing sizing guide to the best jean trends for 2026, the ultimate guide to dresses, and the ultimate guide to jackets. Always honest. Always independent. Always free.

The Bottom Line

Polyester isn't going anywhere — and honestly, it doesn't need to. The answer isn't to avoid it entirely; it's to buy it better. Look for recycled versions, buy quality pieces that'll last, wash them thoughtfully, and use a tool like Tellar to make sure you're getting the fit right first time. Because a piece you love and keep for years is always going to be the most sustainable choice — whatever it's made from.