'Polyester' means 'many esters' — with 'ester' from German for 'vinegar ether.' Chemistry in the fabric name.
A synthetic polymer made by the condensation of polyhydric alcohols and dicarboxylic acids, widely used to make fabrics, bottles, and films.
A compound of 'poly-' (from Greek 'πολύς,' polys, 'many') and 'ester' (a chemical term coined in 1848 by German chemist Leopold Gmelin, probably a contraction of German 'Essigäther,' 'vinegar ether,' from 'Essig,' 'vinegar,' from Latin 'acetum,' 'vinegar'). A polyester is thus a polymer made of many ester linkages. The fabric form (polyethylene terephthalate, or PET) was developed by British chemists John Rex Whinfield and James Tennant Dickson in 1941. Key
Polyester's reputation as cheap and uncomfortable belongs to the 1970s, when early polyester leisure suits became a symbol of tastelessness. Modern polyester technology has transformed the material: today's performance fabrics, moisture-wicking sportswear, and luxury blends are largely polyester-based. Over 60% of the world's fibre production is now polyester, making it by far