What they don't tell you at the clothing store. No marketing, no greenwashing — just the comparison your clothing label won't make.
A plant fiber
Cotton is cellulose — nature's fiber. It returns to soil instead of sitting in a landfill for two centuries.
Every wash of a synthetic garment sends fibers to rivers and oceans. Cotton sends nothing.
Cotton wicks moisture off your skin and breathes. That's why cotton feels cool in summer.
Breathable natural fibers harbor far less bacteria than synthetics. Less stink, fewer washes.
Recommended for sensitive skin and babies for a reason.
A petroleum plastic (PET)
Every polyester garment ever made still exists. The same polymer as a water bottle.
35% of ocean microplastics come from washing synthetic clothing. They end up in fish, then in you.
Plastic doesn't breathe. Sweat gets trapped against your skin — that's the sticky, hot feeling.
Warm, low-breathability synthetic fabric is a bacteria incubator. That's why gym poly stays stinky.
Contact dermatitis, itching, and acne mechanica are documented reactions to polyester.
The hidden chemical treatments in synthetic clothing that never appear on the label.
Polyester “wrinkle-free” fabrics are treated with formaldehyde resin — the same chemical used to preserve lab specimens. It's absorbed through your skin. CottonTruth garments carry no such treatment: real cotton can wrinkle, and that's fine.
Used as a catalyst in polyester production and classified as a possible carcinogen. Trace amounts remain in the finished fabric and release during wear.
Polyester absorbs almost zero moisture (0.4%) while cotton absorbs up to 24% of its weight. This is the physics behind why you sweat more in synthetics.
| Factor | Polyester Tee ($12) | CottonTruth Tee ($24.99) |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | 1–2 years (pills, holes, odors) | 3–5+ years |
| Cost per year | $6–12 | $5–8 |
| 5-year total | ~$30–60 | ~$25–42 |
| Microplastics shed | ~100M+ fibers | Zero |
Polyester costs less to buy but more to own — and that's before counting the health and environmental costs. It's not cheaper; it's subsidized by your body and the ocean.
Ready to wear what's real?
See the 230GSM Heavyweight Tee — $24.99