Polyester not silk - would this matter to you? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Polyester not silk - would this matter to you?

pil

Veteran

I recently laundered this navy BR "silk" top for the first time and was surprised to see the tag said machine wash 100% polyester! The tag on the orange top I bought at the same time says 100% silk.

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....=381151012

I still like the top and will continue to wear it, but am perplexed. I've emailed customer service to ask if all of the navys are polyester but have yet to hear back.

General

37 replies

Latest reply was from Deborah

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Wow, that is strange. I'd be bummed if I paid for silk and got polyester. Not that I don't like or wear the latter, but the cost is usually significantly different.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

That is weird, were the two shirts the same cut? Just different colour?

Anonymous

That is not cool -- it is common for different colours/fabrics to maybe have a different composition, but they are supposed to indicate that in the product listing! And they are selling these as 100% silk! (And not "silk hand" or "silky fabric")

Anonymous

It would matter to me, especially if for summer. I think they owe you an explanation and should be willing to give you a full refund if you want one because what you got is not as described on the site.

pil

Veteran

They are exactly the same cut, different colors. I did get them on sale, but I probably still wouldn't have paid that much for a poly tank. Joy, this is my first foray into silk which I did buy specifically for summer.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

What Firecracker said.

K. Period.

Veteran

Interesting! Even though the shirts may have been in stock at the same time, they may have been different rounds of the same item. I've had that happen. One color is on sale (older) and another not (newer) and it seems like it happens often at Banana Republic. Deep dye colors don't keep well in silk when you wash them in my experience. They always fade. It usually winds up that dark colors are not washable and lighter colors are, so you get a dark color in washable poly or dry clean only silk. It wouldn't bug me unless I was sure that they said it was silk (your situation!). Then I'd be totally ticked.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'd be really angry and I would ask for my money back. Nicely, but I would explain the situation and ask.

I guess on the plus side, it's certainly washable if it is poly!

I always hand wash my silks in the machine, regardless, and I've never had a fading problem so far. I do it in cold water with Woolite. And hang to dry. And then iron.

cciele

Veteran

Wow, that's odd and disappointing. Hope you get to the bottom of this!

Thistle

Veteran

It would matter to me. Partially because of price, but also because of the way my body reacts to different fabrics. I sweat more in polyester even though i Appreciate its easy care.

pil

Veteran

It will be interesting to hear what BR has to say if they respond.

Gaylene

Veteran

Well, the navy shirt that you've linked to on the website says 100% silk, so I think BR has some explaining to do...

To my mind, it's not about the price as much as it is about the misleading product description. Silks can sometimes be quite inexpensive, while some polyesters can be costly BUT, as a consumer, you shouldn't be misled about what kind of fabric you are getting in a garment.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I'm interested to hear what BR has to say too - I wonder if the poly version is less expensive?

deb

Veteran

It would matter to me. I would exchange it for a silk one.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I'd be mad. I don't mind "silky" as a descriptor, but I wouldn't be too impressed if I thought I was buying a silk blouse or shirt and it turned out to be polyester.

I don't mind polyester either - but not when I think I'm buying silk.

I'd complain - even if you like the blouse. This just isn't right. False advertising in a way, if you ask me.

Helen

I would print out the description from the web page and return the item to the store for a full refund. So I guess the answer is yes it would matter to me!

Anonymous

I hand wash my silk tops in the sink and have not had fading and some of the oldest, most washed are black or ink blue. I always use cold water and very mild soap, sometimes baby shampoo.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

If you like the top, keep it - but BR lets you review items, right? I think you should give it a middle-of-the-pack rating, and open with something along the lines of "Caveat: this top is NOT SILK. It is polyester". If the company doesn't respond to your email in a timely manner (I think 72 hours is timely), I would note that in the product review as well. It is very uncool to misrepresent an item in that manner.

Deborah

Veteran

I happily wear both as long as the quality is good, however if I bought something that was promoted to be silk (as it is on your link) and found it was poly, I would following up as you have and I would expect some kind of remuneration.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

If I bought it as silk and it turned out to be polyester I would expect my money back. I have polyester tops that I like very much but I knew what they were when I bought them and paid accordingly.

kkards

Veteran

hmmm, did you get them at BR or at a BR outlet store? the outlet stores will often take an item from the "main" store, and duplicate it in less expensive fabrics so they can sell it for less but still make money. them sometimes, if the "main" store has more of the orignal item than they can sell, they transfer some to the outlet.

Marthe

(website)

No.. this is so weird..

pil

Veteran

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.
The shirt was purchased online - I'd take it to a store but the nearest one is an hour away. There was a bit of color bleed when I washed it - wonder if it could be mislabeled? And the review is a good idea, particularly if I don't hear back.

JennyAnne

(website)

Veteran

Very strange. I'm with most of the others - I have no problem wearing polyester, but not when I pay for and expect silk!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I won't wear poly so yes, it would bother me a lot. If you want a refund...Print out the description for proof as they could quickly change the description after getting a complaint. I've seen it done. Then, if BR won't refund you (I think they will), your credit card company will.

Peri

Veteran

I had the same experience with that top! the polka dot was poly and the green was silk!

Funny though, my reaction was reverse of yours...I was disappointed the green was silk! The poly is easy care, washes great, and this is important to me especially in the summer. I almost returned the green one when I realized it was silk and would have to be babied and probably not see as much wear.

But you raise an important point...why is the poly one not cheaper? I didn't think of that....maybe because I got them both about 40% off so I was feeling like they were bargains.

Parsley

Veteran

I wonder if it's mislabeled.
I found this online for telling whether an article is silk or polyester- not that you want to burn your top to find out!

http://www.ehow.com/how_856151.....ester.html

cade

Also, there is a huge quality span in polyester fabrics. It is not that stiff uncomfortable fabric that would cling to you. And not all silks are created equal either. So, I guess it depends.

Anonymous

I don't mind poly, but this would bother me because it's advertised as silk. At the very least, I'd make a big point out of it. Advertisers need to be 100% truthful.

On the other hand, the fabric could indeed be silk and the wrong label was attached to the garment. I can see how this could happen. It occasionally happens with sizes. I've bought more than my fair share of incorrectly sized garments over the years.

12