Viscose vs polyester
Viscose breathes and drapes but creases and shrinks; polyester is the opposite: crease- and shrink-proof but doesn't breathe.
Choose viscose
Summer dresses
Choose polyester
Travel, when there's no iron
Viscose
- Looks like silk for less
- Breathable and cool
- Loses up to half its strength when wet
- Shrinks and creases
- Chemical-heavy production
Polyester
- Hardly creases or shrinks
- Quick-drying, durable and cheap
- Breathes poorly, holds odour
- Sheds microplastics in the wash
- Melts under a hot iron
| Viscose | Polyester | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Regenerated (from cellulose) | Synthetic |
| Made from | Cellulose from wood pulp (eucalyptus, pine, bamboo). | Petroleum (PET plastic); recycled polyester comes from PET bottles. |
| Feel | Soft, slippery and fluid – silk-like. | Smooth and light; can feel warm and sweaty. |
| Shrinks? | Yes – viscose shrinks in hot water and the dryer, especially as a knit. Wash at 30 °C and dry without heat. | No – polyester hardly shrinks, unless washed or ironed very hot. |
| Used for | Dresses, blouses, linings, summer clothes. | Sportswear, dresses, coats, linings, fleece. |
More comparisons
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
01Which is better, viscose or polyester?
Viscose breathes and drapes but creases and shrinks; polyester is the opposite: crease- and shrink-proof but doesn't breathe.
02Which is more breathable?
Viscose breathes better.
03Which creases less?
Polyester creases less.