should i avoid 5 to 15 percent synthetics in knits?
i love wool sweaters and typically aim for 100 percent wool or wool/cotton/cashmere blends when purchasing, mostly out of the desire to avoid synthetics.
i am avoiding synthetics such as nylon and poly primarily out of concern for quality, construction, and durability since I am happy to pay more for a nice sweater with the expectation it will last me years to come, and to me those materials, in this context, are associated with a cheaper construction and a higher likelihood of wearing out.
Is this an unfounded concern? I can’t say i’ve experienced a 10 percent nylon sweater falling apart on me, but yet again there are few items i’ve owned and worn consistently for more than 5 years at this point
25 Replies
I can't imagine 10% making a huge difference.
for example:
i love this shade and style of sweater from 3sixteen, but upon seeing its 10 percent nylon i am much more hesitant to shell out the higher price point
https://www.3sixteen.com/collections/knits/products/alpaca-crewneck-forest
Alpaca Crewneck
The Alpaca Crewneck is a classic crewneck sweater knit of soft and luxurious alpaca yarn. It features chunky ribbed cuffs, collar, and a bottom band with racking detail. The yarn has a plush hand and spongey feel that will continue to get better with every wear. Knit in Peru.
SIZING:Please note that our measurements are taken as the sweater is ...
I also don't know if it's entirely true that you can make the association that they're cheaper in construction now.
like all things, poly quality can range from fast fashion to actual quality. i have some missoni scarves made of synthetic fiber that feel great and have held up well
usually poly blends with natural fibers is to help give the sweater structure and hold its shape. it's not inherently a bad thing and could make the sweater more durable/keep it from stretching out
alpaca fiber is more delicate, so it's not uncommon to see it blended with poly
i own some lovely blends and in particular it can be useful to accomplish some things with structure if you're trying to do something funky but if you want a sweater like that thats pretty simple i dont think it would be insane to hold out for wool for warmth reasons but its not really going to have anything to do with the quality phenomena you're describing and i dont think that small of a percentage would be a big deal
Nylon can help durability. It's not always a bad thing.
I've also heard that some poly fibres can be easier to dye, so colorful sweaters will often have some content.
yeah theres a lot of very dye-efficent synthetics
The biggest factor in longevity is how you treat and clean your garments tbh
yeah i’m always rocking the cold wash and hang dry/lay flat which i think is more than half the battle
sounds like brand reputation is a factor here for sure then
in terms of construction i mean
poly/nylon being more expensive than cotton and wool now?
There are a quite a few wool yarns where the wool is spun around a nylon core to help prevent stretch/changes in shape. This is quite often a good thing.
I mean as an indicator of quality
I like 100% wool
Mostly because I romanticize natural fibers though
There’s no practical reason, synthetics, if high quality, can be good for various reasons even in knots
barring brand considerations, what is threshold/ratio of synthetic to natural at which point i should walk away?
obviously going to be case by case basis but wondering if anyone has a good rule of thumb
Hard to say, but I have a mohair cardigan that is 30% nylon because it's a really loose oversized knit and it would likely stretch too much under its own weight if it didn't have a fair amount of nylon.
honestly, i love a bit of synthetics. got some vintage jumpers, some up to 100% acrylic that are lovely.
My armpits started sweating just reading that
perhaps this will be against common opinion here but if you like the jumper who cares what the synthetic to natural ratio is. if you like how it looks and how it feels that’s more important than some number
thanks all !
Sometimes they add synthetics, polyamide (nylon) in particular, to aid in the care and toughness of wool garments. 10-20% nylon usually means you reduce shrinking potential to basically zero and it can make the knit more resistant to stretching as well
There's a larger question here about if one can at all tell the difference in online shopping between "quality" synthetics and manufacturers effectively cutting their material with cheap alternatives.
I sometimes get worried that composition is such a visible signal in online shopping that manufacturers may target a high non-synthetic content even at the expense of quality.
But how can one tell?
Brand reputation? Are there certain % ranges or items that are more plausible?
you either learn to trust a brand or stop caring so much. Imo material comp is way overblown by people who don't really know what they're talking about.
I mean, I certainly don't know what I'm talking about. But everyone talks about material comp - right up to the top tailors.
What's the judgement on regional or special fibres then, like shetland wool or a Yak + Camel blend undershirt. 🥸
Not that I own a Yak/Camel wool undershirt. That would be absurd! Who would spend $499 on THAT!?
Please don't derail this thread
want me to start a new one?