Acrylic
A synthetic fibre made from acrylonitrile, designed as a cheap, light wool substitute. It's soft, warm and holds bright colours, but pills, holds static and odour, and doesn't breathe like wool. Modacrylic is a related fibre with less acrylonitrile, used for flame resistance and faux fur.
How it’s made
- 1Acrylonitrile, from petrochemicals, is polymerised into polyacrylonitrile (PAN). Under EU and US rules acrylic contains at least 85% acrylonitrile; modacrylic contains less (the thresholds differ between EU and US definitions).
- 2The polymer is dissolved in a solvent and wet- or dry-spun into filaments.
- 3Usually crimped and cut into staple fibre, then spun into bulky, wool-like yarn, often blended with wool or cotton.
What to look for
- In knitwear, a lower acrylic share in a wool blend usually wears better.
- Tight, dense knits pill less than loose, fluffy ones.
- Recycled acrylic exists but is rare; ask for certification (GRS/RCS).
Pros
- Cheap
- Light, soft and warm
- Bright, colourfast dyeing
- Machine washable, not eaten by moths
Cons
- Pills quickly
- Holds static and odour
- Less breathable than wool
- Sheds microfibres
Typical use
- Streetwear:
- Budget knitwear, beanies, scarves, fleece blends, faux fur (modacrylic).
Sustainability
Fossil-based and not biodegradable. Acrylic knits have been found to shed many microfibres in washing studies, though results vary by fabric. Short garment life from pilling adds to the impact.