You already know the difference between organic cotton and synthetic substitutes. You also know that polyester is not the scratchy, smelly material it used to be. Yet, some shoppers and apparel makers seem to be out of the loop on polyester's advancements.
The new movement Cotton or Nothing is demanding 100 percent organic cotton in all apparel. (The "movement" is actually an advertising tactic for Cotton Inc., but it is gaining support so it is worth mentioning.) CottonorNothing.com allows visitors to join the movement, track the actions of its members, and share their experiences with synthetic shirts. The site lists the most common fabric fails as pilling, odor, fading, static cling, discomfort, shrinking, loss of shape and wrinkling. The manifesto urges consumers to check tags and "Get the scoop. Don't get duped." Being aware of what materials are used in apparel is important as a consumer or a reseller, but the manifesto seems to be missing an important point when championing cotton-only garments: Not all synthetic materials are created equal.