The Fabric Cheatsheet
Is Your Activewear
Actually Plastic?
Your quick-reference guide to decoding labels, spotting greenwashing, and choosing fabrics your skin actually deserves.
The Plastic Decoder
These fabric names all mean one thing: plastic on your skin.
| Label Name | Also Called | The Truth |
|---|---|---|
| Polyester | PET, Dacron | Petroleum-based plastic. Sheds microplastics every wash. |
| Nylon | Polyamide, PA6, PA66 | Petroleum plastic. Takes 30-40 years to decompose. |
| Spandex | Elastane, Lycra | Polyurethane-based. Always blended, never biodegradable. |
| Acrylic | Modacrylic, PAN | Plastic wool imitation. Highest microplastic shedder. |
| Recycled Polyester | rPET, REPREVE | Still plastic. Still sheds microplastics. Better than virgin, but not safe for skin. |
Safe Fabric Guide
These are the fabrics your skin actually wants to wear.
Merino Wool
Feel
Soft, temperature-regulating
Best For
High-intensity, cold weather
Note
Naturally antibacterial
Tencel / Lyocell
Feel
Silky, cool to touch
Best For
Yoga, pilates, everyday
Note
From eucalyptus. Closed-loop production.
Organic Cotton
Feel
Soft, breathable
Best For
Low-impact, casual
Note
No pesticides. Biodegradable.
Hemp
Feel
Textured, durable
Best For
Outdoor, hiking
Note
Zero irrigation. Gets softer over time.
Alpaca Wool
Feel
Luxuriously soft, warm
Best For
Cold weather, layering
Note
Hypoallergenic. Stronger than sheep wool.
Linen
Feel
Light, crisp
Best For
Warm weather, recovery
Note
From flax. Minimal water usage.
Greenwashing Red Flags
Marketing words that sound green but still mean plastic.
"Eco-friendly polyester"
Still plastic with a marketing budget.
"Plant-based nylon"
Partially bio-derived, still not biodegradable.
"Sustainable blend"
Often 80%+ synthetic with 20% token organic cotton.
"Ocean plastic"
Marketing story. Still sheds microplastics on your skin.
"Carbon-neutral polyester"
Offsets don't remove the plastic from your pores.
Microplastic Wash Guide
If you still own synthetic gear, these tips reduce microplastic shedding while you transition.
Wash synthetic clothes less frequently (every 3-4 wears)
Use a Guppyfriend bag or Cora Ball to catch microfibers
Wash on cold — hot water releases more microplastics
Air dry instead of tumble drying
Avoid fabric softener on synthetics (breaks fibers faster)
Transition: replace synthetics with natural fibers as they wear out