Synthetic clothing is cheap but come at a cost.
Chemical leaching: Polyester, nylon, and spandex are plastic-based. They can contain residues from dyes, finishing chemicals, flame retardants, and PFAS (“forever chemicals”) that may transfer through sweat and friction.
Odor trapping: Synthetic fabrics hold onto sweat smells even after washing.
Microplastic buildup: Studies show microplastics in human blood, lungs, and placentas — meaning this isn’t just an ocean problem, it’s in us.
Everyday effect: People with sensitive skin often notice rashes, acne, or eczema flare-ups when wearing synthetic fabrics compared to natural fibers like cotton or merino.
Oil-based clothing origins:
Synthetic takeover: Polyester, nylon, and spandex make up nearly 98% of activewear.
Polyester and nylon are made from petroleum—every gym shirt starts as crude oil.
In our food chain: These plastics accumulate in oceans, fish, and ultimately inside our own bodies.
The textile industry is a major carbon emitter, and synthetics drive that footprint.
85% of clothing in the U.S. ends up in landfills, and synthetics take hundreds of years to break down
Plastics reduce sperm quality.
Toxins from synthetic fabrics leach into the skin and bloodstream, harming fertility and long-term health.
Plastics disrupt your hormones.
Microplastics and chemical additives act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with natural balance.
Plastics trap odors.
Synthetic fibers absorb sweat and bacteria, making smells harder to wash out.
What is Merino Wool?
Merino wool is nature’s performance fiber — a living material grown by Merino sheep and perfected over centuries. Each fiber is incredibly fine — one-third the diameter of human hair — creating softness, stretch, and breathability that synthetics can’t match. It naturally regulates your body temperature, keeping you cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold, all while resisting odor and moisture.
Unlike polyester or nylon, Merino is renewable, biodegradable, and plastic-free — grown, not made. Each year, the fleece regrows, ready to be shorn again without harm to the animal. When returned to the earth, it breaks down naturally, leaving no trace — proving that the most advanced performance fiber already exists in nature.
Technical Advantages of Merino
Moisture Management – Absorbs up to 30% of its weight in water vapor while staying dry to the touch.
Thermoregulation – Keeps you cool in heat and insulates in the cold.
Odor Control – Keratin proteins in the fiber naturally neutralize sweat bacteria.
Elastic Durability – Coiled structure bends 20,000+ times without breaking.
Sustainability – 100% renewable and biodegradable within 12 months in soil. make in image for shopify for image with featurs
Why Switch to Merino?
Plastic-free: No polyester, nylon, or spandex so you’re not wearing oil on your skin.
Naturally odor-resistant: Merino stays fresh for days, unlike synthetics that trap sweat stink.
Breathable & temperature-regulating: Keeps you cool when it’s hot, warm when it’s cold.
Biodegradable: Returns safely to the earth instead of lingering for centuries in landfills.
Safer for your body: No hidden PFAS, phthalates, or microplastics leaching into your skin.
Peace of mind: Choosing merino means healthier workouts, healthier oceans, healthier you.
Roanhorse Merino
- Natural fibers
- Low-impact dyes
- Breathable — helps stay drier
- Microplastic-free next to skin
- Renewable & biodegradable
Named Brands (Synthetics)
- Polyester / Nylon / Elastane
- Uses harsher dyes/finishes
- Traps heat & holds odor
- Sheds plastic microfibers
- Petroleum-based fabrics