Can you filter out polyester on Zara or H&M?

No. Neither Zara, H&M, nor most major retailers offer a fabric composition filter. You'd have to click into every single product and scroll to the details section to find the composition. This is why tools like Fibr exist — it shows fabric composition directly on the product image while you browse, so you can skip polyester-heavy items without clicking into each one.

What percentage of polyester is acceptable in clothing?

It depends on your priorities. For maximum comfort and breathability, look for garments with 0% synthetic content. If some stretch is needed (jeans, fitted tops), up to 5% elastane with natural fibre base is fine. Avoid anything where polyester, nylon, or acrylic makes up more than 30% of the composition — that's where comfort noticeably drops.

Are there any clothing brands that don't use polyester?

Very few brands avoid polyester entirely, but some use significantly less: Patagonia uses recycled polyester but is transparent about it. Linen-focused brands like Linenfox, not PERFECT LINEN, and Piglet in Bed use primarily natural fibres. For affordable options, look at Uniqlo's linen and cotton ranges, or use Fibr to filter individual products on any retailer.

How to Avoid Polyester When Shopping Online (Without Checking Every Product Page)

You've decided: less polyester, more natural fabrics. Better comfort, better quality, fewer clothes that feel like wearing a plastic bag. Great decision.

The problem? Online retailers make it almost impossible to shop by fabric. There's no "cotton only" filter. No "hide polyester" button. Fabric composition is buried in tiny text at the bottom of product pages — if it's shown at all.

Here's how to actually avoid polyester without spending hours clicking into every product.

Step 1: Know What You're Looking For

Before you start shopping, know which fibres you want and which to avoid:

Natural fibres (the good stuff)

Cotton — breathable, soft, versatile. The everyday workhorse.
Linen — extremely breathable, gets softer with washing, ideal for warm weather.
Wool / Merino — temperature-regulating, naturally antimicrobial, excellent for layers.
Silk — lightweight, temperature-regulating, hypoallergenic.
Hemp — durable, breathable, gets softer with age.

Semi-synthetics (usually fine)

Tencel / Lyocell — made from wood pulp, behaves like natural fibre. Breathable and soft.
Modal — similar to Tencel, very soft against skin.
Viscose / Rayon — plant-based but chemically processed. Breathable but less durable.

Synthetics (what you're avoiding)

Polyester — plastic. Traps heat, breeds bacteria, pills easily.
Nylon — slightly better than polyester but still plastic. Common in swimwear and outerwear.
Acrylic — cheap wool substitute. Pills aggressively, retains odour.
Elastane / Spandex — stretch fibre. In small amounts (2-5%) it's fine for fit.

Step 2: Use the Right Tools

The most effective way to avoid polyester online is to make fabric composition visible before you click.

With Fibr installed, you can scan an entire product grid and immediately see which items are natural and which are polyester-heavy. It turns a 30-minute hunt into a 30-second scan.

Step 3: Learn the Warning Signs

Even without tools, these clues suggest a garment is probably polyester:

Very low price for structured garments. A blazer for $30? Almost certainly polyester. Natural fibres cost more to produce.
"Easy care" or "wrinkle-free" claims. This almost always means synthetic or synthetic-treated fabric.
Shiny or slightly slick-looking fabric in photos. Polyester has a characteristic sheen that natural fibres don't.
Bright, uniform colours on cheap items. Polyester takes dye differently — colours look more "perfect" and saturated than on natural fibres.
Marketing terms like "performance", "technical", or "moisture-wicking" outside of genuine activewear context.

Step 4: Shop Smarter Categories

Some clothing categories are more likely to be natural-fibre than others:

T-shirts and basics — often still cotton, even from fast fashion brands. Check for 100% cotton, not "cotton blend."
Denim — typically cotton with small elastane content. Usually safe.
Linen collections — most retailers have a summer linen range. These are genuinely linen (or linen-blend).
Knitwear — higher risk. Cheap knitwear is often acrylic. Look for cotton, wool, or cashmere knits.
Dresses and blouses — highest risk category. These are overwhelmingly polyester at fast fashion retailers.
Outerwear — often synthetic for weather protection, which is one area where synthetic actually makes functional sense.

Step 5: Check Before You Checkout

Before completing any purchase, do a final fabric check on everything in your cart. If you're using Fibr, you've already filtered as you browsed. If not, click into each product and scroll to the fabric composition section.

Ask yourself: would I still buy this if the label said "94% plastic"? Because that's what polyester is.

The Reality

You probably won't eliminate polyester entirely — and that's fine. Some categories (swimwear, activewear, raincoats) genuinely benefit from synthetic properties. The goal isn't purity. It's awareness.

Once you start seeing fabric composition, you'll naturally gravitate toward natural fibres. Clothes that breathe, that feel good, that don't trap heat or breed bacteria. Clothes that feel like clothes, not like wearing a plastic bag.