When Siya Gautam first appeared on my feed, she was ditching all her polyester activewear. I thought it was a waste. And the caption piqued my interest. “My first investment in cleaning activewear with skin-healthy fabrics.” The content creator chose Tencel Modal instead, which she noted is made from wood fibers and is certified environmentally safe.
As a dancer, I’ve come to class wearing the same stretchy, sweat-resistant clothing every day. Curious, I opened her page and discovered a series of videos in which she recommends replacing underwear, sleepwear, gym wear, etc. with non-toxic items on a daily basis. I was surprised and wondered if these casual clothes were causing invisible harm to my body.
Gautam is among a growing number of self-proclaimed investigators on social media who are questioning the chemicals in their clothes and on their bodies. Nearly every company is highlighting endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) used in processing synthetic fibers (petrochemical derivatives such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex, and elastane commonly used in activewear, swimwear, innerwear, jackets, sweaters, and blended fabrics) and working to make your wardrobe plastic-free. It’s not just fast fashion, they point out. The wool-blend sweaters and starched cotton skirts found on the high end of the market almost always contain large amounts of acrylic, polyester, and acetate. Consumers are beginning to ask whether premium prices are consistent with material integrity, and are we really paying that price for our health?
The Endocrine Society, the leading organization that studies hormones, defines EDCs as chemicals from outside the body that prevent hormones from working, often by mimicking or blocking them. The 2020 report Plastics, EDCs and Health highlighted that plastics are a major concern because they contain many of these chemicals and can leak into our bodies and the environment. In the 2026 documentary, plastic detoxenvironmental and reproductive epidemiologist Shana Swan is investigating a potential link between chemical additives in plastics and infertility.
For many people, the first signs appear on the skin. Dr. Kiran Sethi, a dermatologist and medical director at Isya Aesthetics, frequently sees patients with mysterious rashes on their thighs and waistbands. These are often caused by chemicals used to dye, treat, and finish the fibers, she says, and can be caused by the types of chemicals found in new performance leggings or wrinkle-free shirts. “The skin’s main defense is a brick-and-mortar structure of dead cells embedded in a lipid matrix,” she explains. “Many textile additives, such as anti-wrinkle resins, anti-microbial treatments, and stain-resistant finishes, are fat-soluble or low molecular weight, allowing them to cross the skin barrier under heat, sweat, and friction.” Skin reactions are visible, but EDCs interfere with the body’s hormonal systems, making them more difficult to track.
