Fleece jackets

Apart from the fact they're really plastic, they're quite practical. Warm, comfortable, showerproof and very quick drying. But they are made from plastic.

I had a fleece (M&S) made from recycled bottles, Septimia - in fact I think it's still at the back of the wardrobe. I remember mentioning it in a sports shop and asking why they weren't more common. I was told that in fact many flecces are made from bottles, but that people didn't like the idea of buying something like that!

Some companies sell fleeces that are made from recycled plastic bottles. Still, plastic, but at least recycled, not new plastic. In fact, we had fleeces made from recycled bottles 25 years ago - still got them and they're even moderately waterproof.

I have a recently-bought fleece jacket which I use either as a cardigan or to go under my waterproof jacket which doesn't have a lining. Comfort is more important than fashion!

If those of us who can wear wool, organic cotton or bamboo viscose do so, it leaves more room for those who can't, and we can all be careful about how, and how often, we wash our plastic-containing clothes.

I wear my fleeces and don’t care about not being In fashion. Mine are years old from LandsEnd and M&S. through the colder months they come into their own. I also have fleece trousers.

NfkDumpling

I have three fleeces in different colours, and all over ten years old. They don't wear up, just get slowly less fleecy. I try not to wash them very much as I know they're bad for the environment but, as I can't wear wool and need something to keep the cold out, wearing them up seems the best option.

Same here. Can’t wear wool.I look on them as being a bit like coats anyway so don’t think they need washing very often. I often wear one tied round my waist, even in summer, and feel cold without it.

I have three fleeces in different colours, and all over ten years old. They don't wear up, just get slowly less fleecy. I try not to wash them very much as I know they're bad for the environment but, as I can't wear wool and need something to keep the cold out, wearing them up seems the best option.

Just looked online- they are called guppy friends and are also avail from Lakeland and Other outlets.
I wouldn’t burn the bag MayBee ? at £25 a time it could get a bit pricey!! Don’t burn the plastic either, as wheniwasyourage said put it in the bin.Or maybe with the non recyclable bags you take to the supermarket. I m not sure about that though, this eco friendly life is all very confusing.

So many comments - thank you - they won't be going to charity or landfill now I shall wear them until they are no more lol!!

Lexisgranny

Baggs the word Gansies really took me back. I haven’t heard it for years. My mother dug out a disreputable garment which she referred to by that name, any time snow was forecast. In those days we had snow half way up the front door, as opposed to a light covering that ground everything to a halt.

Nice memory, Lexis. I have a 23-year old gansy that has already done some garden service this autumn. As well as warm and breathable, it's also pretty tough, which is handy for all the times I bump into twigs and what not.

Why not just wear them in the house and around the garden but not for going out? If something had any life left in it at all my Gran used to say, "It'll do a turn." We need to be conserving clothes now because of the environmental impact of producing new ones.

Lexisgranny

Baggs the word Gansies really took me back. I haven’t heard it for years. My mother dug out a disreputable garment which she referred to by that name, any time snow was forecast. In those days we had snow half way up the front door, as opposed to a light covering that ground everything to a halt.

The word’s a version of ‘guernsey’. I presume the original jumpers came from Guernsey, just as jerseys came from Jersey.

I can’t wear wool. I itch just thinking about it. I do burn some stuff so could burn the guppy bag. Again, not ideal Thinking about it, I do have a spin dryer. Bought it so I always had a means of washing and drying clothes if my washing machine broke down so I could wash my fleeces, spin them and pour the water on the garden. Will still work it’s way into the water system eventually I suppose but at least I’ve tried.

You take it out and put it in the bin, MayBe70. It goes to landfill, which is not ideal, but at least it doesn't go into the sea and end up in our food.

I got my guppy bag from Natural Collection a while ago and have used it for washing my e-cloths, but haven't had massive amounts of plastic to throw away, it must be said.

I'm another who will not buy any more fleeces, and I do prefer knitting with pure wool rather than acrylic or nylon, unless it's for a DGC who is allergic to wool . Why does 'baby wool' consist of plastic? I know, it's because it washes, but if a baby's finger gets trapped in a hole in a woollen garment, it's much less likely to have a serious injury than if it happens with a plastic one.

You can buy recycled Fleeces.

lucyandyak.com/collections/fleeces/products/stevie-recycled-polyester-fleece-in-sand

I’ve still got one gansie. I’ve had that one for 40 years.
I did have 2 ( the tan colour) but when we sold our boat the new owners daughter loved the fact that the boats name was embroidered on the gansie, so I gave it to her.

Had no idea they were currently unfashionable. I love mine and wear them regularly. I'm such a coldie. Couldn't imagine life without them and don't intend to. Love cardigans too and often wear one underneath my fleece. No fashion statements here. Strictly comfort. Don't think I look particularly scruffy. Just...... happy?

I don’t remember them ever being fashionable! But I live in fleeces of various styles and lengths. Good tip off about the National Trust washing bag, though as I do worry about washing them. Having said that, as they’re worn over other clothes I very rarely wash them anyway. But what do you then do with the plastic caught in the guppy bag?

I love my fleeces and wear them with polo neck thermal vests when it gets really cold. I also love wool and cashmere too. None of the fleeces or wool/cashmere garments I've got are new. Some are decades old but I happily wear one or other of them every day.

Baggs like you I would never buy a fleece because of the damage they do.
I do have some old ones though that I don’t want to wash so I haven’t been wearing them.
I have just found a bag on sale at a National Trust shop that catches the plastic bits,that are too small to be filtered out by the washing machine, so it’s on my Christmas list. I think it’s called the guppy bag.

Baggs the word Gansies really took me back. I haven’t heard it for years. My mother dug out a disreputable garment which she referred to by that name, any time snow was forecast. In those days we had snow half way up the front door, as opposed to a light covering that ground everything to a halt.

I worry about the plasticity of fleece fabric so probably won't buy any more.

I have a couple of fleece jackets which I do use, especially in the garden, but I don't find them as warm or breathable as wool. If I wear two thick woollies in the garden in winter, the outer one usually keeps drizzle at bay for long enough. It's not like I'm out for an entire day on a fishing boat in the pouring rain when gansies still with their lanolin in the wool protected fishermen from yucky weather.

If anyone's interested in that idea, I can recommend Tim Severin's book, The Brendan Voyage, a recreation of Irish monks' voyage to Newfoundland in an open boat.

I wear an old one, must be 20 years old, of my daughters for gardening and any outside jobs on a cold day. They are very warm but I would never wear it out because it has a swathe of white Snowcem on the sleeve.

I've never bought one for myself.

Early on this year I have bought 2 x new fleece jackets from Damart in their sale I now have about 5 in different colours.
I wear them most days when in doors they are so comfy and I don't have to have any heating on at all.
I would keep them and forget about sending to the Charity shop.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202111/medium-995479-b3f8a952-6658-4cda-8108-f2b0f28245c0.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202111/medium-277258-733a8db2-0920-4136-aa77-a6d1a9fd55c3.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202111/medium-176953-f1976e60-6453-4dad-a9e7-084b46b588fc.jpeg

Who cares if they are not fashionable if they are warm ? When Putin has cut off our gas supplies you will be glad of them!
I have actually just bought 2 fleece long hooded jackets/coats for dog walking - black with a black and white tartan lining and scarlet with a red/blue/white tartan lining and they are wonderful! (I only just resisted buying a third in blue! )