There is synthetic in my jacket, is it serious? – Readers’ letters #30

Il y a du synthétique dans ma veste, est- ce que c’est grave ? – Le courrier des lecteurs #30
How to choose a blazer? – Let’s Talk Clothing #30 Reading There is synthetic in my jacket, is it serious? – Readers’ letters #30 Next Editorial nuggets #36 – Benoit

Natural materials are good. We often tell you that .

There is no debate about knitwear : you should favor natural fibers. Not really a debate about the t-shirt either (except for sports or hiking use, at a pinch).

However, you sometimes find synthetics, especially in your mid-season jackets, even from brands that are recommended to you. Why?

green mac trench coat denim blue shirt

"I really like this Black Flag Mac but it's made of 65% polyester. Is there something fishy going on?"

Where synthetics pose a problem

In your questions, you often wonder about the breathability of a mid-season jacket containing synthetics , that is to say the ability of a garment to wick away perspiration, and thus avoid a steam room effect.

The iconic Petit Bateau yellow raincoat . A very waterproof product but not very breathable. Strongly not recommended if it's a bit warm, because you'll sweat inside.

Yes, such a garment will indeed be less breathable than if it were made of 100% natural material.

But also keep in mind that a mid-season garment is by definition worn at times of the year when it is neither very hot (a period when there is a real need for light and breathable clothing), nor very cold (a period during which thermal shocks between interiors and exteriors can be great, and where breathable clothing is appropriate).

The breathability issue goes down when the thermometer goes down.

The presence of synthetic is justified

Synthetics are used in rainwear for the simple reason that synthetic materials tend to repel water while natural materials tend to absorb water.

It is easier to make a synthetic material water-resistant if the fibers have these properties.

There is also a whole section of the textile industry dedicated to the development of these materials with advanced technologies. Benoît had the opportunity to share with you his visit to ISPO , a leading trade show for clothing, brands and technical materials.

So we are talking here about products that cost around €200 to €400.

In short, all these properties prove very useful for a garment that risks being exposed to bad weather.

Bonnegueule ripstop technical bomber green gourd

A good example is our bomber jacket in collaboration with Coldsmoke in 100% nylon: water-repellent, windproof, ripstop (increased tear resistance). Practical for braving the wind and other light showers.

So, there is no need to cry wolf as soon as you see polyester or polyamide in a mid-season coat or jacket.

Instead, take the time to see if the product sheet mentions a certain technical feature or a particular supplier.

beige trench coat blue jeans brown jacket white shirt scarf

Trench coat Suitsupply . 61% cotton, 39% nylon. Water-repellent material from the Italian supplier Olmetex, from whom we sourced our water-repellent cotton cargo in particular. The presence of synthetic is justified here.

When to be wary of synthetics?

However, you should be wary of using synthetic materials:

  • In entry-level and fast-fashion. I'm talking about products here between 50 and 100€ (or even 150€). Here, synthetic is used almost systematically to lower costs, and not really to add any technicality.
  • More generally, when nothing is indicated in the product sheet. A brand has every interest in letting you know when one of their products is windproof or water-repellent.

H&M quilted bomber jacket. €50, 100% polyester. No indication of any technical features. Despite the hood, I'm not sure the garment will hold up well in a downpour, especially since it's padded (there's a risk that water will soak through the material and damage the padding).

So if technical properties are not part of your purchasing criteria, you might as well choose a garment made from natural materials, right? : )

saharienne safari jacket green velvet brown tie blue shirt

Corduroy safari jacket from the Polish brand Poszetka. 100% cotton. Thermally and stylistically suitable for autumn.

Natural technicality

There are 100% cotton technical materials like Ventile, the history and properties of which were detailed by Benoît in the presentation article of our Mac .

As you can imagine, these materials are very expensive, so their use is logically quite rare.

beige trench coat long white pants espadrille

Another example of technical natural material with this Mac De Bonne Facture . 100% Japanese cotton and water-repellent. Price: around €750.

In summary

For a mid-season jacket:

  • If you are not interested in technical properties, choose a garment made from 100% natural materials, which is more interesting in every way.
  • If you want a garment to brave the elements, choose a garment containing synthetics, making sure beforehand that it has the properties that interest you. If you want more breathability, choose natural/synthetic fiber blends. or a material like Ventile, water-repellent and 100% cotton.

And if you're currently looking for a mid-season jacket, I had the opportunity to give you my brand recommendations in this episode of Readers' Letters .

David Hao, maximum soft tailoring

I think clothing can be a beautiful means of personal development. I like unstructured jackets, straight pants and loafers.

More articles by this author
Our items Related
LEAVE US A COMMENT Style questions, personal points of view, good tips to share? We validate your comment and respond to you within a few hours