Which Fabric Is Not Good For Summer?
Last summer, I made a big mistake. I wore my favorite black polyester shirt to an outdoor party on a 90-degree day. Within minutes, I was sweating like crazy and feeling like I was wrapped in plastic. My friend, meanwhile, looked cool and comfortable in her light cotton dress. That’s when I realized how much the fabric we wear matters when it’s hot outside. Not all fabrics are created equal when it comes to summer comfort. Some trap heat, block air, and hold sweat against our skin – creating a personal sauna we can’t escape. In this post, I’ll share what I’ve learned about which fabrics you should avoid during hot weather, why they make you uncomfortable, and what to choose instead. This knowledge has made my summers much more comfortable, and I hope it helps you too!
Why Fabric Choice Matters in Summer
How Fabrics Affect Body Temperature
Our bodies have a built-in cooling system. When we get hot, we sweat, and when that sweat evaporates, it cools us down. This is why fabrics play such a big role in summer comfort – they either help or hinder this natural cooling process.
Good summer fabrics:
- Let air flow through them, creating a cooling breeze
- Wick moisture away from your skin so sweat can evaporates quickly
- Feel light and don’t trap heat against your body
Bad summer fabrics do the opposite – they block airflow, trap moisture, and hold heat close to your skin. The wrong fabric can raise your body temperature by several degrees, making a hot day feel much worse.
Beyond Comfort: Health and Hygiene
Wearing the wrong fabrics in summer isn’t just uncomfortable – it can lead to health issues. When sweat can’t evaporate, it creates a damp environment where bacteria thrive, leading to body odor. The trapped moisture can also cause heat rash, chafing, and even fungal infections in some cases.
For people who work outdoors or exercise in the heat, proper fabric choice becomes even more important. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are real risks when your body can’t cool down properly.
The Worst Fabrics for Summer Weather
Polyester: The Sweat Trap
Polyester is probably the worst offender when it comes to summer discomfort. This synthetic fabric is essentially made from plastic (specifically, petroleum-based chemicals). Like most plastics, it doesn’t breathe well at all.
When you wear polyester in hot weather, several things happen:
- Your body heat gets trapped between the fabric and your skin
- Sweat can’t evaporate easily, so it stays on your skin
- The fabric often sticks to damp skin, feeling clammy and uncomfortable
- Bacteria grow in the moist environment, creating stronger body odor
Polyester does have some benefits – it’s cheap, durable, and resists wrinkles. But these advantages don’t make up for how miserable it can make you feel when the temperature rises. Even polyester blends (like poly-cotton) can cause similar problems, though to a lesser degree.
The only exception might be specially designed athletic polyester that’s engineered to wick moisture. But even these performance fabrics usually feel hotter than natural alternatives.
Nylon: The Clingy Companion
Like polyester, nylon is a synthetic fabric made from petroleum products. It shares many of the same summer problems – poor breathability, heat retention, and sweat trapping. Nylon has an additional summer drawback: it tends to cling to your body when you sweat, which can be both uncomfortable and unflattering.
Nylon is often used in swimwear because it dries quickly after getting wet. But for regular summer clothes, its quick-drying properties don’t make up for how hot it makes you feel while wearing it.
The fabric is also prone to static cling in dry conditions, which makes it stick to your body even more. This prevents the small air gap between fabric and skin that helps cooling.
Acrylic: The Heat Magnet
Acrylic fabric was created as a synthetic alternative to wool. Like wool, it’s warm and insulating – which is exactly what you DON’T want in hot weather! Acrylic actually traps heat even more effectively than polyester, making it one of the worst possible choices for summer clothing.
Besides trapping heat, acrylic has very poor moisture management. It doesn’t absorb sweat well, nor does it allow it to evaporate quickly. The result is a sweaty, sticky feeling that gets worse the longer you wear it.
Acrylic is often found in inexpensive sweaters and knit items. Even lightweight acrylic garments can be surprisingly hot to wear. Save these items for fall and winter, and keep them far away from your summer wardrobe.
Vinyl and Pleather: The No-Breathe Zone
Vinyl, pleather (plastic leather), and similar synthetic leathers might look stylish, but they create what amounts to a personal greenhouse when worn in summer heat. These materials have zero breathability – they form a complete barrier that blocks all airflow to your skin.
Wearing vinyl or pleather in hot weather will make you sweat profusely within minutes. Since the material doesn’t absorb any moisture or allow it to evaporate, that sweat just pools against your skin. Not only is this extremely uncomfortable, but it can lead to skin irritation as well.
The only time these materials make sense in summer is for very brief periods, like a quick evening out. Even then, be prepared to feel the heat!
Thick Denim: The Heavy Weight
Regular denim isn’t necessarily bad for summer if it’s lightweight. But thick, heavy denim – especially dark-washed varieties – can be brutally hot in warm weather. The tightly woven cotton doesn’t allow much airflow, and the sheer weight of the fabric holds heat against your body.
Raw denim or selvedge denim is particularly problematic in summer, as these types are often heavier and stiffer than regular denim. They also typically aren’t washed frequently, which can lead to odor issues in hot weather.
If you must wear jeans in summer, opt for the lightest weight denim you can find, preferably in a lighter wash and looser fit to allow some airflow.
Less Obvious Summer Fabric Mistakes
Rayon: The Deceptive Natural-Synthetic
Rayon is confusing because it’s made from natural materials (wood pulp) but processed with chemicals until it’s essentially synthetic. Some types of rayon, like viscose, can actually be decent summer options. But standard rayon has some surprising downsides in hot weather.
While rayon breathes better than polyester, it doesn’t handle moisture well. It absorbs sweat but takes a long time to dry, which can leave you feeling damp and clammy. Rayon also tends to lose strength when wet, leading to sagging and stretching in high-sweat situations.
What makes rayon especially tricky is that it feels cool to the touch initially, so you might think it’s a good summer fabric. But after wearing it for a while in hot conditions, you’ll notice it doesn’t perform as well as truly summer-friendly natural fibers.
Blended Fabrics: The Hidden Polyester Problem
Many summer clothes are made from blends – like 60% cotton/40% polyester. These blends are popular because they combine the breathability of natural fibers with the durability and wrinkle resistance of synthetics. But even a relatively small percentage of polyester can significantly reduce a fabric’s summer comfort.
Check labels carefully when shopping for summer clothes. Terms like “poly-cotton blend” or “cotton-rich” often mean there’s enough polyester to compromise the fabric’s breathability. For the best summer comfort, look for 100% natural fibers or blends with less than 20% synthetic content.
Tight Weaves: When Natural Fibers Fail
Even natural fibers like cotton can be problematic in summer if they’re woven too tightly. Fabrics like canvas, twill, and oxford cloth don’t allow as much airflow as lighter weaves, making them warmer to wear despite being made from summer-friendly materials.
The weave matters almost as much as the fiber content. A loosely woven linen will be much cooler than a tightly woven cotton, even though both are natural fibers. Look for visible space between the threads when you hold the fabric up to light – this indicates a breathable weave.
Comparing Fabrics for Summer Weather
Here’s how different fabrics compare for summer comfort:
| Fabric | Breathability | Moisture Management | Heat Retention | Weight | Skin Feel When Sweating | Best For Summer? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester | Very Poor | Poor | High | Light-Medium | Clingy, Sweaty | No |
| Nylon | Poor | Poor | High | Light | Sticky, Clingy | No |
| Acrylic | Very Poor | Very Poor | Very High | Medium | Hot, Sweaty | No |
| Vinyl/Pleather | None | None | Extreme | Medium-Heavy | Very Sweaty | No |
| Heavy Denim | Poor | Medium | High | Heavy | Hot, Stiff | No |
| Rayon | Medium | Poor | Medium | Light | Damp, Clingy | Sometimes |
| Poly-Cotton Blend | Medium | Medium | Medium | Light-Medium | Slightly Damp | Sometimes |
| Cotton | Good | Good | Low | Light-Medium | Slightly Damp, Then Dries | Yes |
| Linen | Excellent | Excellent | Very Low | Light | Quickly Dries | Yes |
| Hemp | Very Good | Very Good | Low | Light-Medium | Quickly Dries | Yes |
| Bamboo | Very Good | Excellent | Low | Light | Cool, Dries Well | Yes |
| Silk | Good | Good | Low | Very Light | Varies (Can Be Clingy) | Yes |
Better Options for Hot Weather
The Summer Fabric Champions
Instead of the problematic fabrics mentioned above, here are some excellent choices for hot weather:
Linen: Perhaps the ultimate summer fabric, linen’s loose weave allows maximum airflow. It absorbs moisture quickly and dries fast. Linen actually feels cooler than other fabrics in hot weather because it conducts heat away from the body so efficiently.
Cotton: Specifically lightweight cotton varieties like cotton voile, lawn, poplin, or jersey. Cotton breathes well and absorbs moisture, though it dries more slowly than linen. Look for loose-weave cotton for the best summer performance.
Hemp: Similar to linen in performance but often a bit softer. Hemp breathes extremely well and has natural antimicrobial properties that help reduce odor even on the hottest days.
Bamboo: True bamboo fabric (not bamboo-derived rayon) wicks moisture even better than cotton and has natural cooling properties. It’s also hypoallergenic and has anti-odor qualities.
Chambray: This is a lightweight cotton fabric that looks similar to denim but is much airier and cooler to wear. It gives the denim look without the summer discomfort.
Smart Summer Fabric Strategies
Beyond choosing the right fabrics, these strategies can help you stay cooler:
- Choose loose-fitting clothes that allow air to circulate between the fabric and your skin
- Pick lighter colors that reflect heat rather than dark ones that absorb it
- Look for clothes with built-in ventilation features like mesh panels or vents
- Consider the total weight of the garment – lighter is generally better
- For activewear, specialized moisture-wicking fabrics might be worth the synthetic trade-off
Frequently Asked Questions
Is polyester ever okay for summer wear?
Polyester is rarely ideal for hot weather, but modern “performance polyester” designed for athletics can be acceptable. These specialized fabrics have moisture-wicking properties and mesh construction that make them better than regular polyester. Still, natural fibers typically feel more comfortable in truly hot conditions unless you’re doing high-intensity activities where rapid sweat evaporation is critical.
What about cotton-polyester blends?
Cotton-poly blends (like 60/40 or 50/50) are a compromise. They’re more breathable than 100% polyester but less breathable than 100% cotton. They’re also more durable and wrinkle-resistant than pure cotton. For moderate heat, these blends can work fine, especially if the garment is loosely fitted. In extreme heat, however, you’ll notice the difference between a blend and pure natural fiber.
Does fabric weight matter more than fabric type?
Both matter significantly. A very lightweight polyester might feel cooler initially than a heavyweight cotton canvas, but as you start to sweat, the polyester’s poor breathability will make it feel hotter. Ideally, summer clothes should be both lightweight AND made from breathable natural fibers. If you must choose, a medium-weight linen will usually be cooler than a lightweight polyester in hot, humid conditions.
Why do my jeans feel so hot in summer?
Traditional denim is hot in summer for several reasons: it’s relatively heavyweight, tightly woven, and often dark-colored (absorbing more heat). Skinny jeans compound the problem by eliminating the air gap between fabric and skin that helps cooling. If you love the denim look for summer, try lightweight chambray or very lightweight denim in a looser fit and lighter wash.
Are moisture-wicking fabrics better than absorbent ones?
It depends on the conditions. In dry heat, absorbent natural fibers like cotton can actually feel cooler because they hold moisture against your skin longer, creating an evaporative cooling effect. In humid conditions, moisture-wicking fabrics might perform better because they move sweat away from your body rather than holding it. The best summer fabrics (like linen) both absorb moisture AND dry quickly.
What’s the coolest fabric for sleeping in hot weather?
Lightweight, 100% linen is widely considered the coolest fabric for summer sheets and sleepwear. It absorbs moisture without feeling wet and allows maximum airflow. Lightweight cotton percale is a good second choice. Avoid polyester, microfiber, or satin sheets in summer – despite feeling smooth and cool initially, they trap heat and moisture throughout the night.
