Sustainability

Why Material Choices Matter

Fashion today is more accessible than ever. But behind the convenience, affordability, and performance of modern clothing lies a growing environmental challenge: our dependence on synthetic fibers, particularly polyester.

According to the Textile Exchange Materials Market Report 2024, polyester remains the world's most widely used fiber, accounting for approximately 57% of global fiber production. In 2023 alone, around 71 million tonnes of polyester were produced worldwide, while overall production of virgin fossil-fuel-based synthetic fibers increased significantly[1].

Polyester has become dominant for understandable reasons. It is durable, lightweight, wrinkle-resistant, and inexpensive to manufacture. These qualities have helped fuel the growth of modern fashion and performance apparel. However, the scale of its use has also created environmental consequences that are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Polyester Is Made From Fossil Fuels

Most polyester begins its life as petroleum. Unlike natural fibers that come from agricultural or biological sources, conventional polyester is a plastic-based material derived from non-renewable fossil resources.

As global demand for clothing continues to rise, so does demand for synthetic fibers. Textile Exchange reports that virgin synthetic fiber production grew from 67 million tonnes in 2022 to 75 million tonnes in 2023, highlighting the industry's continued reliance on fossil-fuel-derived materials[1] .

The Microplastic Problem

One of the most concerning impacts of polyester is its contribution to microplastic pollution.

Research highlighted by UNRIC (United Nations Regional Information Centre) explains that every time synthetic garments are washed, tiny plastic fibers known as microfibres can be released into waterways. These particles are often too small to be fully captured by wastewater treatment systems and can eventually reach rivers, lakes, and oceans2 .

UNRIC notes that:

  • Washing a polyester garment regularly can release tens of thousands of microplastic fibers each year.
  • A single load of polyester laundry may release up to 700,000 microfibres.
  • Synthetic textiles are estimated to contribute roughly 35% of the microplastics entering the world's oceans2 .

Microplastics have now been detected throughout marine ecosystems and increasingly within the wider environment, raising concerns among scientists about their long-term ecological and human health impacts2 .

Recycling Helps — But It Is Not a Complete Solution

Recycled polyester has become a popular sustainability initiative across the fashion industry. While it can reduce demand for virgin fossil fuels, current recycling systems face significant limitations.

Textile Exchange reports that although recycled polyester production increased slightly in 2023, its overall market share actually declined from 13.6% to 12.5% because virgin polyester production grew even faster. Less than 1% of the global fiber market currently comes from recycled textiles, demonstrating how far the industry still has to go in achieving true circularity[1] .

Recycling is an important step, but reducing overall dependence on virgin synthetic materials remains a critical challenge.

A More Thoughtful Approach to Materials

The conversation around sustainability is often oversimplified. No fiber is entirely impact-free. Natural fibers can require significant land, water, and agricultural inputs, while synthetic fibers create challenges related to fossil fuel use and microplastic pollution.

The goal is not perfection, but progress.

Our Commitment 

We believe sustainability starts with transparency. Understanding where materials come from, how they are produced, and what happens at the end of their life cycle allows us to make more responsible decisions.

That is why we are committed to not using virgin polyester in our products and to minimising our use of synthetic materials wherever practical and responsible alternatives exist. We continuously evaluate emerging innovations in textile development and actively seek lower-impact materials that can deliver durability, performance, and quality without relying on newly extracted fossil-fuel resources.

We recognise that no material is completely free from environmental impact, and there is no single solution to the challenges facing the fashion industry. However, by choosing recycled, renewable, and next-generation materials whenever possible, we aim to reduce our environmental footprint while creating products designed to last.

Sustainability is a journey of continuous improvement. As better materials and technologies become available, we remain committed to learning, adapting, and making choices that support a more responsible future for fashion.

References

[1] Textile Exchange, Materials Market Report 2024, 2024. Available at: Textile Exchange.

[2] United Nations Regional Information Centre (UNRIC), From Petroleum to Pollution: The Cost of Polyester. Available at: UNRIC Article.