Fabric composition matters more than price for predicting how clothes will feel, age, and last. A £40 cotton T-shirt outlasts a £100 polyester-blend top in most cases. Reading the label takes 10 seconds and changes buying decisions.
What to look for
100% cotton, wool, linen, silk — best longevity, comfortable, repairable, recyclable at end of life. Cotton/elastane blends (3-5% elastane) — okay; degrades over years. Polyester/viscose blends — feel synthetic, often pill, hard to recycle. Pure polyester — sweat-locking, pills fast, environmentally poor.
Where blends genuinely work
Activewear (technical performance requires synthetics). Tailored pieces (small elastane content for stretch). Specific waterproof outerwear (Gore-Tex etc.). Avoid blends in basics where natural fibres are available.
Make 'check label' a habit. Most cheap clothing is cheap polyester regardless of brand reputation; most expensive clothing is similar polyester for the same reason.