What makes a quality article of clothing?

When’s the last time you bought a piece of clothing and looked at the fabric tag to see what it was made of? If you did, there’s a good chance that what you picked up was at least partly made from polyester. Around 60 percent of the clothes we wear consist of synthetic fibers like polyester, acrylic, and nylon, according to the U.N.

This wasn’t always the case — and some people are pushing for a change, citing the environmental cost and potential health hazards of polyester.

What makes a quality article of clothing? Is the divide over synthetic fibers versus natural ones legitimate? And has the quality of our clothing declined or does it just feel that way?