Re:Microbial Odor Profile of Polyester and Cotton Clothes Af...
by aitchnyu on Tuesday August 01, 2023 @09:46AM
(#36955880)
How different is nylon + wool and $biodegradable_fiber + wool for the environment?
Re:Microbial Odor Profile of Polyester and Cotton Clothes Af...
by rattray on Wednesday August 02, 2023 @10:39PM
(#36980731)
Probably depends on the biodegradable fiber? Organic cotton uses a _ton_ of water. I'm not sure about viscose/rayon/tencel but I imagine it's often less water-intensive but it can be pretty chemical-intensive.
I don't know how bad nylon is to produce, but the durability it adds to clothes is probably an overall net win for the environment; compared to other plastics we consume, it does a lot of work (I've worn some items for years).
Note Prana has recycled nylon in their Brion II line, but unfortunately the quality is way worse; it pills immediately. Environmentally, I'd much rather buy non-recycled plastics that last a lot longer, so I consume/waste less overall.
But the tldr is that I don't know :)
I find Ibex makes the highest quality tees (their tencel/merino/nylon shirts are incredible for hot summers) and underwear. Icebreaker also makes a variety of good stuff.
I generally look for some amount of nylon for durability, but I have a few 100% merino shirts from icebreaker that I've worn intensively for years with no problems.
I did have some pilling issues with the merino/tencel blend from ibex which is a shame. Gorgeous fabric at first; still feels luxurious.
Laundry is a bigger deal since it's wash cold and dry flat with many of these; that can be a cost, equipment, and/or lifestyle adjustment.
I'm often able to wear the same clothes many days in a row without issue.
For pants, I prefer nylon+elastane blends, but it's hard to find. Prana used to make good things here but their Brion II line was a significant drop in quality.