Natural Materials vs. Synthetic Clothing – The Big Overview

Short answer: Natural materials like cotton, wool and nature based bamboo viscose breathe, take up moisture and smell less. Synthetic fabrics like polyester are cheap and quick drying, but they hold on to odour and shed microplastics. For clothes against your skin, the natural materials almost always win.

The big difference: moisture and odour

Natural fibres take up moisture and let it evaporate. Synthetic fibres take up more or less nothing, so the sweat stays between your skin and the fabric, and odour bacteria thrive. That is why a polyester top smells after one day, while a bamboo T-shirt stays fresh for longer.

Where does bamboo viscose sit in the overview?

Bamboo viscose is nature based: the raw material is bamboo, but the fibres are made chemically. On your body it behaves like the best natural materials, soft, breathable and moisture wicking. Read the honest run through in the guide to bamboo viscose and the environment and the comparison in bamboo vs. cotton T-shirt.

How to choose in practice

Closest to your skin: nature based. Choose bamboo underwear, socks and nightwear in bamboo viscose, and save the synthetics for something like your rain jacket, where the properties make sense.

Frequently asked questions

What counts as natural materials in clothing?

Cotton, wool, linen and silk are the classic natural materials. Bamboo viscose is nature based: the fibre comes from bamboo, but it is processed chemically.

What is the problem with synthetic clothing?

Synthetic fabrics like polyester breathe poorly, hold on to odour and shed microplastics in the wash.

Is bamboo viscose a natural material?

It sits in between: the raw material is natural bamboo, but making it requires chemistry. On the other hand, the fabric behaves like a natural material on your body.