The Ugly Truth About Wrinkle Free Shirts

Do you hate to iron? Many do, but the answer isn’t as simple as getting wrinkle free shirts.

The clothing and textile industries have long been trying to solve the problem of ironing dress shirts, i.e. how to avoid it.  The answer came in the form of resin finishes that were added to fabrics, making them wrinkle-resistant.  The first resins used to treat fabrics during the 1920’s was formaldehyde, and it is still used today.

The Dangers of Formaldehyde

Carcinogen– Formaldehyde is a highly toxic chemical and is classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.  The international standard for the minimum amount of formaldehyde that can be present in a fabric is less that 75 parts per million (ppm).  The U.S. Government Accounting office tested 180 products made of fabric, of these products 10 exceeded this cutoff with formaldehyde levels ranging from 75.4ppm to 206 ppm.  That highest level was found in a dress shirt for men.

Allergen- The biggest potential issue for those wearing wrinkle-resistant clothing can be a skin condition call contact dermatitis.  It can cause itchy skin, rashes and blisters, according to a recent government study on formaldehyde in textiles.

Makes Fabrics Brittle- Retailers warn that due to the change in molecular structure of the cotton shirts, the fabric becomes more brittle.  This means the life expectancy of a no-iron shirt may be cut by 25%.

So these wrinkle free shirts might save on some ironing, but create other problems for the environment, your health, and the the quality of the fabrics and longevity of the shirt.

At Davelle Clothiers we have avoided the wrinkle resistant world with these traits.  Instead, we have unique interactions with our clients so that we listen and learn from the personal experience of our clients.

We also do yarn only died fabrics that are wrinkle resistant.  This has offered better breathing ability and longer life for these shirts.

Ask us more about our custom dress shirts, what types of fabrics we use, and how it impacts the quality of the shirt, and possibly even your health!