Polyester Dress Fabrics

Polyester has an image problem it hasn't really deserved since the 1970s. The scratchy, shiny, sweaty version people remember has very little to do with the modern crepes, satins and jerseys that now make up most of what's sold, and a lot of the fabrics that dressmakers reach for without thinking twice are polyester or contain it. It creases less than almost anything else, holds colour through repeated washing, doesn't shrink and costs a fraction of its natural equivalents.

This collection is polyester and polyester blends

Worth being clear about, because it changes what you'll find here. This page gathers every fabric we stock that contains polyester, not only the ones that are 100% polyester. That includes poly and viscose crepes, which drape more softly than pure polyester does, poly and cotton canvas and poly-cotton shirting, which take the crispness of cotton and the durability of polyester, and ponte and scuba with a small percentage of elastane for stretch and recovery. If you specifically need 100% polyester, use the 100% Yarn Content filter and set it to Yes. The blend is listed on every product page.

What's in the range

The crepes make up a large part of it, from triple crepe and satin-backed crepe with real body through to lighter, more fluid crepes for softly draped dresses and blouses. There are satins, taffetas and lace for occasionwear, jerseys, ponte and scuba for stretch, dress linings including anti-static and recycled options, and water resistant canvas, ripstop and rain coating for outdoor and bag projects. Winceyette, seersucker, faux fur, faux leather and interfacing sit in here too, which gives some sense of how broadly polyester spreads across a fabric range.

Pressing is where polyester gets ruined

This is the one thing worth knowing before you start. Polyester is a plastic fibre and it responds to heat by melting rather than scorching, which means an iron set for cotton can glaze the surface, flatten a texture or leave a permanent shiny patch in a single pass. Use a low setting, press rather than drag the iron, and use a pressing cloth on anything with a surface finish. Different polyesters behave differently, so test on a scrap or a seam allowance before you press the garment, and follow the guidance on the individual product page.

Choosing polyester for the job

The practical advantages are real: it holds its colour, resists creasing, keeps its shape and doesn't shrink, which makes it a sound choice for clothes that get worn and washed often, for linings that need to last as long as the garment, and for anything that has to travel in a suitcase. The trade-off is breathability. Polyester doesn't move moisture away from the skin the way cotton, linen or viscose do, so it's less comfortable in real heat. For a summer dress you'll be wearing all day, a natural fibre or a poly-viscose blend will be kinder than a 100% polyester. For an occasion dress, a jacket lining or a coat, that matters far less.

Static is the other quirk, and it's why anti-static linings exist. A polyester lining against tights or a dry synthetic jumper will cling, and an anti-static finish is the straightforward answer if that's a bother.

Sewing with polyester

Most polyester fabrics fray readily, so finish your seams with an overlocker, a zigzag or pinking shears. The smoother, more slippery ones cut more accurately with a rotary cutter and a weight than with pins, and a fine, sharp needle makes a noticeable difference on lightweight crepes and linings. Wash finished garments warm rather than hot, since heat is what damages the fibre over time, unless the care label states otherwise.