Cotton X Polyester: Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Material

Women are in frequent contact with pieces of clothing. Whether it’s time to make new purchases, wash them, store them or simply wear them on a daily basis. Exactly for this reason it is interesting to know a little about the different types of existing fabrics, knowing their properties, advantages and disadvantages.

Two well-known fabrics are cotton and polyester, which make up the most varied pieces of women’s clothing: dresses, skirts, pants, blouses, coats, etc. But they have quite different characteristics between them, although not always visible at first sight.

Cotton cloth

Cristina Zanetti and Fernanda Resende, personal style consultants, owners of Oficina de Estilo and authors of the book “Vista que você é – discover and perfect your personal style”, explain that cotton is part of the group of fabrics made with natural fibers (when wool, linen and silk side).

“This type of fabric ‘behaves’ naturally, ‘breathes’, which is its biggest advantage. That is, the air from outside can penetrate the piece, and it allows the heat of our body to escape. That way, the thermal sensation is better, the garment doesn’t have a bad smell, it’s fresher”, says Cristina.

Another important feature concerns its durability. “Cotton clothes last longer, are more resistant to machine washes and ironing. There is no denying that it is a higher quality piece, it has a better appearance, without shine”, explains Cristina.

However, as everything has two sides, cotton items also have their disadvantages: they wrinkle a lot, so you need to be more careful when ironing them, storing them at home, putting them in your suitcase for a trip. “In addition, as they are made from a natural fiber, they can ‘lace up’ after use or shrink more easily after washing”, highlights the style consultant.

Polyester

Polyester is made from artificial/synthetic fibers. “It has the appearance of a fabric, but, in fact, it is a strand of oil”, highlight Cristina Zanetti and Fernanda Resende.

Its biggest disadvantage is the fact that it blocks the entry of air and does not allow the heat to leave our body. “In this way, it is a type of piece that heats up a lot, in addition to holding odor, causing the bad smell”, says Cristina.

Polyester is even less durable, can form bubbles, burn in the iron if not ironed correctly, in addition to having a “less attractive” appearance (although there are many beautiful pieces in this fabric and some even with very high prices).

But it also has its perks! “It doesn’t crumple, it’s great for those who travel a lot. It can be a good option for colder days, to be placed under a coat, for example. In addition to drying very quickly after washing”, highlights the style consultant Cristina.

prices

In general, polyester garments are cheaper than cotton ones. Which is extremely acceptable, as clothes made from natural fabrics are more durable. “But nowadays, we find everything. There are beautiful pieces in polyester with a high price, as well as cotton pieces with a very commercial price, etc.”, says Cristina.

Keeping an eye on the tag

The style consultants add that many pieces still mix these two fabrics: cotton and polyester. “What can be useful: the piece doesn’t wrinkle so much, but it’s also fresh, doesn’t cause a bad odor, etc.”, they explain.

To make good choices, according to Cristina Zanetti and Fernanda Resende, it is essential to observe the label at the time of purchase. “You have to look at the composition of the piece and also see what care is needed when washing and ironing it. All clothing must contain this information”, they explain.

That way, you choose a piece that meets your goals. For example, if your idea is to invest in a piece to take on a specific trip, polyester can be a good option. If you are looking for a piece with greater durability, for example, for work, cotton fabric is the best bet.

“Looking at the composition of the piece, you buy quality or, even if you choose not to buy it, you will be doing it consciously. And not buying a pig in a poke”, concludes Cristina.

It is worth noting that nowadays many women have the habit of buying clothes on the internet as well. As it is not possible to observe the label at this moment, it is essential to seek more details about the products: what is their composition, what care is needed with the piece, etc.

Cotton and polyester garments: where to buy and prices

Check out some options for cotton and polyester pieces below:

Attentive to this information (composition, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of fabrics, necessary care), it is much easier to make good choices, opting for beautiful, quality pieces that meet your objective at the time of purchase.