Can you spot the fabric myth?
When it comes to fabric, most of us inherit what we “know” from marketing tags, quick sustainability claims, or what a friend once told us in a store. That creates fertile ground for myths — simple rules of thumb that sound right but don’t hold up under scrutiny. And when myths stick around, they shape how we shop, what brands promote, and even how companies source.
This post is part quiz, part guide. I’ve lined up 15 common statements about fabric. Some are myths, some are truths, but each deserves a closer look. As you go through, keep track of how many you get right.
🌱 Natural Fibers & Sustainability
1. “Natural fibers are always more sustainable than synthetics.”
❌ Myth. At first glance, natural sounds synonymous with better, but the reality is more complicated. Cotton, for example, is a thirsty crop with high pesticide use in conventional systems. Viscose requires dissolving wood pulp in chemicals, which can devastate ecosystems if not properly managed. Meanwhile, synthetics like polyester can offer durability and recyclability when designed with intention.
2. “Organic cotton is always better than conventional cotton.”
❌ Myth. Organic farming avoids synthetic pesticides and supports soil health, which is a meaningful improvement in many growing regions. But yields are lower, which can mean higher land use, and water savings are not guaranteed. Adding to the complexity: true organic cotton accounts for less than 1% of global cotton production, and watchdogs have uncovered widespread fraud in the supply chain. That means “organic cotton” on a label isn’t always what it claims to be. As a fabric developer, I’d rather prioritize regenerative cotton or recycled cotton over organic due to the convoluted supply and history of organic cotton.
3. “Linen has naturally low water requirements compared to cotton.”
✅ Truth. Flax, the plant used to make linen, typically grows well with rainfall and requires fewer inputs than cotton. That makes it a lower-water crop under most conditions. However, processing steps like retting (separating fiber from stalk) and dyeing still require resources, so “low impact” doesn’t mean impact-free.
4. “Wool is naturally biodegradable.”
✅ Truth. Untreated wool will break down in soil or compost, releasing nutrients back into the ground. This property makes it a more circular material than many synthetics. The catch is that coatings, blends, or chemical finishes can slow or block biodegradability, so “pure wool” matters.
5. “Bamboo fabric is sustainable.”
❌ Myth. Bamboo as a plant is fast-growing and low-input, which is why it’s often marketed as green. But most bamboo clothing is chemically made by turning the pulp into viscose rayon using toxic solvents in resource-intensive processes. Only mechanically processed bamboo (sometimes sold as “bamboo linen”) retains bamboo’s natural sustainability, and that’s extremely rare. So most often if you’re seeing a made from any cellulose based material [bamboo, pineapple, orange peels, etc] claim, it’s usually almost always chemically processed and converted into a type of rayon.
♻️ Recycling & Performance
6. “Polyester can’t be recycled.”
❌ Myth. Polyester is actually the most recycled fiber globally, thanks to PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle-to-fiber conversion. Recycled polyester (rPET) has become common in activewear and fast fashion. The limitation is that bottle-to-fiber recycling isn’t truly circular, and large-scale textile-to-textile systems are still emerging.
7. “Recycled fibers are always more sustainable than virgin fibers.”
❌ Myth. Recycling sounds like the obvious better choice, but context matters. Mechanical recycling can shorten fibers, lowering quality and durability. Chemical recycling is energy- and solvent-intensive. Recycled is usually preferable as a method of reducing the use of more non-renewable resources, but it’s not automatically the best option in every case. Again, considering the total tradeoffs and reverse engineering from the preferred goal/priorities is key to fabric engineering.
8. “Performance fabrics are only made from synthetics.”
❌ Myth. Polyester and nylon dominate athleticwear, but natural fibers have performance built in. Wool resists odor and insulates, linen regulates heat, and cotton can be engineered to wick moisture. Performance isn’t just about the label “synthetic” it’s about how the fabric functions and fibers’ inherit qualities thanks to ✨science✨.
9. “Polyester can be engineered to mimic silk, cotton, or wool.”
✅ Truth. Through yarn structure, weaving, and finishing, polyester can be designed to look and feel like many natural fibers. This is why you’ll see “silky” polyester blouses or “wooly” poly fleece. While it doesn’t always match natural fibers in breathability or comfort, its versatility makes it a common substitute.
10. “Fabric quality is determined solely by fiber content.”
❌ Myth. Many shoppers assume that cotton equals quality, while polyester equals cheap. In reality, quality depends on yarn spinning, yarn size, fiber length, weave or knit construction, finishing processes, and testing (to name the bare basics). A poorly woven 100% cotton shirt can feel and perform waaaay worse than a well-made polyester blend.
👕 Consumer Perceptions & Care
11. “Higher thread count always means better quality.”
❌ Myth. Thread count beyond around 400 is often marketing rather than performance. Manufacturers can inflate the number by using multi-ply yarns without improving softness or durability. What matters more is fiber quality and finishing, not the count on the package.
12. “Synthetic fabrics shed microplastics in the wash.”
✅ Truth. Polyester, nylon, and acrylic shed tiny microfibers that can enter waterways. This has made them a focus in conversations about microplastic pollution. Natural fibers shed too, but they biodegrade much faster than synthetics.
13. “Silk is always cruelty-free.”
❌ Myth. Conventional silk requires boiling cocoons while the silkworm is still inside, making it far from cruelty-free. Alternatives like peace silk allow worms to emerge, but those fabrics are limited in availability and cost more (if something costs more it’s mainly because time = money, so slower processes = $$). “Cruelty-free silk” exists, but it’s the exception, not the rule.
14. “Fabric blends are harder to recycle than mono-fiber fabrics.”
✅ Truth. Blended fabrics (like polyester/cotton) complicate recycling because fibers need to be separated. Technologies are emerging to address this, but separation is energy-intensive and not yet widely scaled. Mono-fiber fabrics are easier to recycle and often preferred for circular design.
15. “Not all viscose is the same; some has lower impacts.”
✅ Truth. Traditional viscose (type of rayon) uses harsh chemicals and often lacks wastewater treatment. But alternatives like lyocell (usually branded Tencel lyocell) and closed-loop viscose systems recycle solvents and water, making them far less harmful. It’s a reminder that process matters just as much as fiber type.
If you felt surprised by how many of these statements turned out to be myths, you’re not alone. Marketing thrives on simple narratives like “natural is good, synthetic is bad,” but reality lives in the gray areas. Understanding the nuances helps us shop, design, and source with more intention.
For me, this exercise is a reminder that fabric literacy isn’t just trivia; it’s a tool. Each of these myths could (and will) become a deeper dive in future posts. By building that literacy, we shift the conversation away from buzzwords and back to informed choices.
📅 What’s Next
Starting in October, Fabric First will move to a twice-weekly publishing schedule:
Thursdays will feature deep dives into fabrics, sourcing, and sustainability — just like how it is now. 🙂
Tuesdays will alternate between Fabric 101s and myth-busting posts like this one.
💬 Join the Conversation
Which fabric myth did you used to believe or still find the hardest to shake?
Comment below with your answer, and let’s compare notes. I’ll feature some of your responses in a future post.