Acrylic fabric
Petroleum (polyacrylonitrile). A synthetic made to imitate wool; often blended with wool to make knits cheaper.
Also called: PAN
How it feels
Warm, fluffy and wool-like.
Season: Autumn and winter – it keeps you warm.
What it's used for
Sweaters, hats, scarves.
Bright beanies, scarves, kids' knits. For a quality sweater choose a blend that's at least half wool.
Pros
- Cheap, light and warm
- Machine-washable, won't felt like wool
Cons
- Pills a lot
- Static and sweaty
Care: a typical label
Always follow your own garment's label – blends and finishes change the care.
How it's constructed
Knit. One yarn interlocked in loops – so the fabric stretches sideways and creases less, but can stretch out.
A little history
Acrylic was developed by DuPont in 1941 ('Orlon') as a cheap wool substitute and boomed in post-war knitwear.
How to recognise it
Synthetics are smooth, often slightly shiny, light and crease-free. They melt as they burn, smell of plastic and leave a hard bead.
Sustainability
Made from oil, don't biodegrade and shed microplastics in the wash. Recycled polyester (rPET) cuts oil use but not microfibre shedding; filter wash bags catch it.
When buying
Synthetics are great for sport, but for next-to-skin wear choose blends with natural or regenerated fibres – they breathe better and hold less odour.
Frequently asked
01What is acrylic?
Petroleum (polyacrylonitrile). A synthetic made to imitate wool; often blended with wool to make knits cheaper.
02Is acrylic a natural fabric?
No – it's a synthetic fibre made from petroleum.
03Does acrylic shrink?
No – acrylic hardly shrinks, unless washed or ironed very hot.
04Is acrylic breathable?
Only so-so: acrylic doesn't absorb moisture, it moves it along – fine for sport, less so next to skin on a hot day.