Why is polyester fabric so widely used?

Polyester, also known as PET fiber, is currently the most widely used synthetic fabric on the market. With its advantages of high cost-effectiveness, durability, and stable shape retention, it covers a broad range of apparel categories including outerwear, sportswear, fashion garments, and home textiles. As the most mainstream synthetic fiber, polyester has properties that are completely opposite to those of natural fibers, offering low-maintenance care, excellent shape retention, and strong abrasion resistance – making it an indispensable base fabric in garment manufacturing.

The core advantages of polyester fabric lie in its wrinkle resistance and excellent shape retention. After high-temperature setting, the fabric structure becomes stable, resisting wrinkling and deformation during both daily wear and washing, requiring minimal ironing and offering convenient care. At the same time, polyester has outstanding abrasion resistance and tensile strength, making it resistant to damage and sagging, with exceptionally high durability. It also has almost no shrinkage issues, with dimensional stability far superior to that of natural fabrics. In addition, the fabric is lightweight and quick-drying, as moisture does not easily stay in the fibers – making it suitable for sportswear and outdoor apparel.

However, the drawbacks of polyester are also quite evident. The most significant issue is its poor breathability and weak moisture absorption. The fiber structure is dense and non-absorbent, so when sweating, moisture cannot be absorbed or evaporated, often causing stuffiness and clinginess against the skin, making the wearing comfort far inferior to that of natural fabrics. In addition, pure polyester is highly prone to static electricity, attracting dust and clinging to the body during autumn and winter. Long-term wear may also result in slight pilling, and low-end polyester fabrics tend to feel stiff and coarse to the touch.

Polyester fabrics primarily offer durability, low-maintenance care, stable shape retention, and high cost-effectiveness – making them suitable for outerwear, workwear, sportswear, and other garments that do not directly contact the skin. However, due to their poor breathability and skin-friendliness, they are not recommended for underwear, sleepwear, or other garments that come into direct contact with the skin. Most blended fabrics on the market incorporate polyester to enhance garment shape retention and durability.