Most activewear today is made from synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, and elastane (or a blend of all three). These materials dominate the industry as over 60% of all clothing globally is now made from polyester alone. It’s cheap and easy for big brands to scale, but it comes with tradeoffs: less breathability, more odor retention, higher toxicity, and a lifetime of microplastic shedding.

Polyester, also known as PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), is a man-made fiber created from petrochemicals. It’s made by turning crude oil into plastic pellets, which are then spun into yarn. It’s the most common textile on Earth and is produced at higher volumes than cotton, wool, linen, and hemp combined.

Recycled polyester (rPET) is another form of polyester. It is made by melting down plastic scrap such as used plastic bottles or industrial waste. It’s marketed as a sustainable solution, but the core issues remain. It’s still plastic that will shed microplastics and requires heavy chemical processing.

Recycling is good when the material stays in a closed loop. But when plastic becomes clothing, it enters a constant shedding cycle every time it’s worn or washed. Recycled or not, polyester breaks down into microplastics that move into waterways, air, soil, and ice.

The impact is huge and these microplastics take decades to biodegrade. In fact, recycled textiles contribute to 35% of global microplastic pollution. So while recycling does reduce waste in some capacity, its use in clothing introduces its own problems. 

The short answer is: yes. Synthetic fibers don’t breathe the same way natural fibers do. They trap heat, sweat, and bacteria against the skin, which can lead to irritation, odor, and discomfort.

When polyester heats up, the chemical finishes used for stretch and wicking can also release more easily. And with every wear and wash, the garment sheds hundreds of thousands of microplastics.

These nano particles have clear links to health issues and have been detected in human bloodstreams and reproductive organs, signaling how quickly they can move into the body and environment.

Natural fibers come from plants and animals. Think organic cotton, merino wool, hemp, linen, silk, leather. They’re made by nature, not in a chemical reactor, and they behave differently on your skin: they breathe, they regulate temperature, they absorb moisture, and they don’t trap odor the way synthetics do.

Unlike polyester, which is a petroleum-based plastic, natural fibers don’t shed microplastics and they biodegrade instead of sitting in landfills for centuries. They keep you cooler, drier, and more comfortable than their synthetic counterparts.

Because what you put on your body matters just as much as what you put in it. Most activewear is made from synthetic fibers (polyester, nylon, spandex) which are all forms of plastic. And that plastic doesn’t just sit passively on the surface. With heat, sweat, and friction, these fibers shed microplastics and chemicals that move into the air, into the water, and eventually into us.

What does that mean long-term? Science is still catching up, but one thing is clear: plastic was never meant to live inside the human body.

Wayve’s philosophy is simple: natural living isn’t just about food. Everything you consume matters — sunlight, movement, the content you take in, the air you breathe, the water you drink… and yes, the clothing you wear for 10–16 hours a day. Your environment shapes your biology. Clothing is part of that environment.

We make plastic-free activewear because we believe your daily habits should work with your body, not against it. Natural fibers breathe, regulate heat, absorb moisture, and eventually return to the Earth without leaving toxins behind.