You might want to chat to brandtotter - he's done plastics and polymers courses industrially and can probably tell you about manufacturing methods as well as toxins, break down, and use in fabric manufacture.
I can't tell a lot of things by feel, though that might be because my fingertips tend to be damaged a lot by the stuff I do at home. I can usually tell the difference between poly and raw silk by scent though. I think...actually, can you? Raw silk has that 'soft' 'real' smell to me.
Hm, I'm going to have to try that "smell" thing. Haven't tried that one before.
Interesting about Brandt's experience. I'm a bit scared about this polyester stuff - the more I read the scarier it gets. All that chemical equation stuff *shakes head*. It just seems wrong.
You could always try rubbing fabrics on your cheek if your hands aren't so good. That could be fun.
I don't have the details with me, but yeah, polyester is a common plastic. In fact that street people were walking down would likely have ten times as much polyester on street signs etc. as on the people.
I'm a huge fan of the feel of microfibre. Along with the fact that they are really hard to crumple, and are pretty much wash and wear (Also, no trace of pilling at all) I like silk too, but (being the slob that I am) I tend to choose fabrics for function or ease of care. (i.e. natural fabrics for working with flames, and synthetics for wash-n-wear ease.
My place of work requires that I wear entirely natural fibres (for fire hazard reasons.)
They provide cotton, I tend to wear hemp button up work shirts, as hemp is very good at not looking increased. I'm currently wearing a hemp shirt I've worn for at least once a week for a year, I'm hard on clothes, and it still looks good.
The only thing I know about Polyester is that you should never wear it while riding a motorbike. If you come off and hit the pavement the friction can melt it and then it fuses to the skin and they can't remove it unless the skin goes too.
I have no idea how true this is but I've always tried to avoid polyester in clothes.
Thank you! Excuse my dead fox, she's been dead a very long time.
Yes, pilling usually denotes synthetics like poly or acrylic. Natural fabrics like wool and cotton do pill but it takes a lot longer, and you'll find the pills in stress points like underarms. Poly pills happen all over.
That's interesting. If I had to compare it to anything, I'd say it was like a very fine twill wool. But really - it's polyester and can't convince me it's anything else. Maybe I haven't seen enough different kinds of it. I have some microfibre tights and they're like a delustered satin so maybe you're right?
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I can't tell a lot of things by feel, though that might be because my fingertips tend to be damaged a lot by the stuff I do at home. I can usually tell the difference between poly and raw silk by scent though. I think...actually, can you? Raw silk has that 'soft' 'real' smell to me.
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Interesting about Brandt's experience. I'm a bit scared about this polyester stuff - the more I read the scarier it gets. All that chemical equation stuff *shakes head*. It just seems wrong.
You could always try rubbing fabrics on your cheek if your hands aren't so good. That could be fun.
Reply
I'm a huge fan of the feel of microfibre. Along with the fact that they are really hard to crumple, and are pretty much wash and wear (Also, no trace of pilling at all)
I like silk too, but (being the slob that I am) I tend to choose fabrics for function or ease of care. (i.e. natural fabrics for working with flames, and synthetics for wash-n-wear ease.
Reply
They provide cotton, I tend to wear hemp button up work shirts, as hemp is very good at not looking increased. I'm currently wearing a hemp shirt I've worn for at least once a week for a year, I'm hard on clothes, and it still looks good.
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I'd be interested in those fabric work shops!
Unbelievable stuff!
I think I may be wearing a PET dress right now... eek!
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If you come off and hit the pavement the friction can melt it and then it fuses to the skin and they can't remove it unless the skin goes too.
I have no idea how true this is but I've always tried to avoid polyester in clothes.
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Besides, avoiding polyester when biking means you look much cooler :)
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Yes, pilling usually denotes synthetics like poly or acrylic. Natural fabrics like wool and cotton do pill but it takes a lot longer, and you'll find the pills in stress points like underarms. Poly pills happen all over.
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