Polyester is a type of man‑made fabric and plastic made from chemical compounds called polymers. It is widely used in clothing, furniture, and packaging because it is strong, light, and resistant to wrinkles.
From *poly-* “many” and *ester*, a type of organic chemical compound. The name describes the material’s structure: long chains made from many ester units joined together.
When you wear polyester, you’re basically wearing long chains of lab-built molecules. The “poly” in its name quietly links your shirt to plastics, bottles, and even high-tech materials used in industry.
Polyester, as a synthetic textile, has been heavily used in mass-market clothing where women’s garments are often designed with aesthetics prioritized over durability and comfort. Fast fashion—frequently targeted at women—has relied on polyester in ways that tie into gendered expectations around appearance and consumption.
When discussing polyester use in fashion, avoid blaming any gender for environmental impacts and instead focus on industry practices and structural incentives.
Women designers, labor organizers, and sustainability advocates have been key in critiquing polyester-heavy fast fashion and advocating for better materials and labor conditions.
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