A friend has been making clothes from 100% certified ocean plastic: https://seathreads.co/
As a business owner, I don't envy his margins, but I certainly hope to see more companies doing similar in the future. We need to make re-use cool and something to brag about.
Plastic is bad because it degrades into microplastic which is mechanically toxic to life (gets stuck in yer body). Why would you want to wear something toxic? That's like taking asbestos out of the walls and rubbing it on your body. Also, (machine) washing plastic clothes further degrades them into microplastics. Bad idea all around.
Hmm I'm a runner and pretty much everything I wear for running is plastic. The common advice I've gotten is to avoid cotton and it's worked well for me. Anywhere I can read more about this?
Modern merino wool is a super material, I've moved away from synthetic jerseys entirely. Substantially less stinky, works well in all temps, and not created from plastics.
Eventually we'll understand how to synthesize something as good or better than wool, but for now merino is where it's at.
"Cotton kills" is a common refrain in rowing because when its wet in cold environments, it can lead to hypothermia. Additionally, cotton is very heavy in water. Basic water safety used to teach that you should strip down, even use your jeans as a flotation device.
I know microplastics are bad and stuff but I also have to recommend Got Bag (https://got-bag.com/), which is supposedly made out of recycled ocean plastic. I'm not sure if it is or isn't, but they make a great bag. I've had one for a few months now and it's held up well to being knocked around, no frayed material or even any significant scuffs, and it's at least water resistant (if not waterproof) in the rain.
As a business owner, I don't envy his margins, but I certainly hope to see more companies doing similar in the future. We need to make re-use cool and something to brag about.