How Did Polyester Become Gen Z's Latest Insult?

The fabric that helped make fashion cheaper has become the internet's latest insult. But how did polyester go from being one of the most popular fabrics to something nobody wants to be caught wearing?

Is Polyester an Insult Now? Apparently, Yes!

On social media, some Gen Z users have started calling things polyester when they look cheap or fake. The insult isn't necessarily about someone's clothes anymore and even an influencer's carefully curated lifestyle can be called polyester.

The trend gained enough attention for The Guardian to explore it in August 2026, reporting how the material had become associated with cheap-looking fast fashion and the expression "it's giving shein."

When polyester became popular in the 1950s, it was celebrated for making clothes easier to maintain. It was affordable, resisted wrinkles and didn't need as much ironing as many other fabrics.

Polyester remains the world's most widely produced textile fibre and is found in almost every wardrobe, sometimes knowingly and sometimes without us even realising it, thanks to the many fabric blends available, sadly.

According to Textile Exchange's 2025 Materials Market Report, polyester accounted for 59% of global fibre production in 2024.

Fast Fashion Gave Polyester a Bad Reputation

Polyester is made from plastic, usually derived from fossil fuels. Its low cost and versatility make it particularly attractive to fast fashion brands producing clothes in enormous volumes. And you know how they cashed on it and built huge empires, using poor materials and extracting resources without zero thought for the consequences.

But the Problem Goes Beyond How Polyester Looks

There's the environmental problem, where producing virgin polyester relies on fossil fuels and generates greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike natural fibres, polyester doesn't readily biodegrade, meaning discarded clothes can remain in the environment for decades.

Synthetic clothes also release tiny plastic fibres when washed. Some of these microplastics eventually make their way into rivers and oceans, where they can harm aquatic ecosystems. 

And what about our skin?

Some polyester clothes can feel sweaty or uncomfortable, especially in hot weather. For people with sensitive skin or eczema, friction and trapped sweat can make itching and irritation worse. Certain textile dyes and chemical finishes can also trigger contact dermatitis, although polyester itself doesn't cause skin problems for everyone. 

The bigger problem is how much clothing we produce and how quickly we discard it.

Maybe Gen Z doesn't hate polyester as much as it hates what fast fashion has made polyester represent.