Posted by Mansour AbdulBaki
on October 21, 2025
The science is clear: clothes don’t just cover your body - they interact with it.
Most people think of clothing as passive; as a fabric that shields and decorates. However, if one just takes a minute and thinks about it: the clothes you wear are not just decoration; it’s the environment you choose for your body – a warm sweater when you’re cold, an airy tee to enjoy a spring breeze. It’s the environment you put around your body. And now serious scientific studies are increasingly showing that what you wear can interact with your body in more ways than just thermally. Per the Textile Exchange’s Material Market Report of September 2024 (1), the synthetic fibers polyester and nylon continue to dominate (and grow) as the #1 and #2 fibers in the global textile market.
“The production of virgin fossil-based synthetic fibers increased from 67 million tonnes in 2022 to 75 million tonnes in 2023. Polyester remained the most produced fiber globally, accounting for 57% of total fiber production.”
Meanwhile, their impacts on human health are only beginning to be understood. At Namarie, we believe consumers deserve full transparency, grounded in peer-reviewed evidence. In this article, we’ll briefly summarize take-aways from peer-reviewed journal publications that we found well-designed and carefully interpreted.
The textile and clothing industry encompasses a wide range of processes, from the initial treatment of raw materials to finishing operations such as bleaching, printing, dyeing, impregnating, coating, and plasticizing. These processes introduce various chemical pollutants into textiles, with dyes being the most prominent. These dyes may contain carcinogenic amines, metals, pentachlorophenol, chlorine-based bleaching agents, halogen carriers, free formaldehyde, biocides, flame retardants, and softening agents.(2)
1. Dietary Intake and inhalation are the most significant and primary exposure routes to any of the chemicals noted here. And while someone might say, “So, just don’t eat your clothes.” This is the main reason the issue of micro and nanoplastics is so important. Synthetic polymer microfibers are released from clothes during wear but more importantly in every wash cycle – into the air and water streams for drinking and farming where they make their way into fish, beef, chicken, drinking water, fruits, vegetables, and humans. (read more)
2. Dermal exposure is a factor. Studies show that chemicals used in synthetic fabrics, such as dyes, flame retardants, and finishing agents, can migrate into sweat or oil (sebum) and be absorbed through the skin. Phthalates and bisphenols, present in polyester fibers and coatings, are linked to hormone disruption, reproductive health issues, and potential breast and thyroid cancer risks.(3) Though still under-studied, some reports are urging more research due to indications of contributions to developmental problems, genetic mutations, and potential heart-related issues.
3. Heat, Sweat, and Friction show accelerated leaching of chemicals out of fibers is suggested by the research.(4)(5)(6) Herein, heat and perspiration increase the release of chemicals from synthetic textiles.(4) From a chemistry perspective, this varies with the type of chemicals. Some may show less compatibility with sweat and more with oils and fats. Either is a concern as both of these pathways are present in the human skin environment and fat-soluble chemicals also pose the risk of remaining in the system longer in adipose tissue.
4. Fiber Physics may be an issue, even without considering the dermal absorption of small molecule chemicals from synthetic textiles. There is a little known swath of research that suggests the molecular level electronics (the electron structure) and electrostatic effects of nylon and polyester inherently have an impact on cellular function due to proximity and friction with the skin. There will be more on this in another article, but a link has been shown between polyester underwear both male and female fertility.(7)
Namarie’s Alternative: Clean Hemp Innovation
- Non-Synthetic, Non-Toxic: Our fabrics are made from hemp grown regeneratively without pesticides or fertilizers, eliminating synthetic chemical exposure.
- Performance without Plastics: Hemp fibers are naturally breathable, antimicrobial, and durable — ideal for activewear without relying on polyester or nylon.
- Restorative Value: Every garment contributes to soil regeneration and rainforest restoration, turning your clothing into a tool for healing.
Synthetic textiles may be convenient, but science shows they’re not harmless. From hormone disruptors to microplastics, what touches your skin matters. Namarie is committed to providing evidence-based, non-toxic alternatives that support both human health and planetary health.
Explore our hemp-based collection and learn more about how Namarie is shaping the future of clothing.
References
- Textile Exchange, Materials Market Report 2024, September 2024. Materials Market Report 2024 - Textile Exchange
- Human health risks due to exposure to inorganic and organic chemicals from textiles: A review, Environmental Research, Volume 168, 2019, Pages 62-69, ISSN 0013-9351, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.09.027. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935118305140
- Phthalate esters in clothing: A review, Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, Volume 108, 2024, 104457, ISSN 1382-6689, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2024.104457. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1382668924000978
- The Health Impact of Fast Fashion: Exploring Toxic Chemicals in Clothing and Textiles. Encyclopedia 2025, 5, 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia5020084
- Biver M, Turner A, Filella M. Antimony release from polyester textiles by artificial sweat solutions: A call for a standardized procedure. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2021 Feb;119:104824. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104824. Epub 2020 Nov 19. PMID: 33221423.
- Sweat-amplified dermal transfer and combined toxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and organophosphate esters mixtures in children's textiles, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 1000, 2025, 180426, ISSN 0048-9697, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180426. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969725020662
- Shafik, A. (1992). Semen quality in men wearing polyester vs. cotton. Journal of Reproductive Fertility, 94(2), 381–384.
This article was written by Dr. Mansour AbdulBaki.
Mansour is the Chief Science Officer and a Founding Partner at Namarie. He earned his PhD from the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department at the University of Houston. In the textile industry, he led R&D and commercialization of patented nylon and polyester fiber technologies used in performance flooring and consumer applications where his main focus was always improving product performance and compatibility with human and environmental health. His work resulted in the ability of carpet manufacturers to produce stain and soil resistant products without the need for fluorochemical (PFAS) treatments as well as other consumer-focused innovations. At Namarie, he now applies his expertise to rethink performance textiles, innovate in manufacturing processes, and lead the development of our Sylvendel fabric.