Polyester is the most widely used synthetic fibre in the world, produced from petroleum by-products. Its chief advantages are practicality and price: it is strong, barely creases, holds its shape and colour, dries quickly, does not shrink and is cheap to produce. Because of this, polyester is present in a vast share of modern clothing — from blouses and dresses to sportswear and outerwear, often blended with cotton or wool. Its drawbacks: it breathes less well than natural fibres, can build up static and hold odours, and, ecologically, it degrades slowly and sheds microplastic.
