10 REASONS WHY MEN ARE DITCHING POLYESTER SHORTS FOR ORGANIC COTTON
Connor E. | JUNE 11TH, 2026
MARO SHORTS VS. MOST SHORTS
- Fabric
- Waistband
- Microplastics
- Temperature
- Freshness
- Fabric100% Organic Cotton
- WaistbandNatural Tree Rubber
- MicroplasticsZero
- TemperatureBreathes All Day
- FreshnessLike New After Each Wash
- FabricPolyester (Plastic)
- WaistbandPolyester & Spandex
- Microplastics100% Plastic
- TemperatureTraps Heat And Sweat
- FreshnessSmell Never Washes Out
THE LABEL SAYS "PERFORMANCE." THE CHEMISTRY SAYS PETROLEUM.
Most athletic shorts, including ones from premium brands, are 88 to 92 percent polyester. Polyester is plastic. It's made from petroleum, one of the cheapest raw materials on the planet, sold under performance-sounding names. Check the label on yours.
COTTON BREATHES. PLASTIC JUST HOLDS EVERYTHING IN.
Polyester sits against your skin and holds heat and moisture against it. The fiber does nothing to help your body regulate temperature. Organic cotton breathes the way your skin needs it to: air moves, moisture escapes, and your body does what it's supposed to do.
POLYESTER HOLDS ODOR AT THE FIBER LEVEL. WASHING DOESN'T FIX IT.
Bacteria get stuck in synthetic fibers in a way washing can't fully clear. It's why athletic shorts smell within an hour of wearing them. Cotton doesn't hold odor the same way. MARO shorts stay fresh between wears.
YOUR PORES OPEN WHEN YOU SWEAT. PLASTIC FIBERS TAKE THE OPENING.
When you exercise, your pores open. Microplastic fibers shed from polyester giving harmful chemicals them have a direct path. Every workout in synthetic fabric is an argument for what you're wearing against your skin.
Evidence: University of Birmingham Study
MOST "COTTON" SHORTS STILL HAVE A PLASTIC WAISTBAND.
Brands use a phrase: "exclusive of trim." It lets them call their shorts cotton while the waistband, the part sitting against your skin all day, is still spandex and polyester. MARO's waistband is 60% organic cotton and 40% natural rubber. Nothing synthetic. Anywhere.
BUY 3, GET 1 FREE. REPLACE THE WHOLE DRAWER IN ONE ORDER.
Most men who switch end up tossing all their plastic shorts. Do it in one order and get the best price available. Buy three, get one free. When a size sells out, it can stay out for months.
IT'S CHEAP TO MAKE. EXPENSIVE TO BUY. YOU'RE PAYING THE DIFFERENCE.
Polyester costs a fraction of what organic cotton costs to produce. The margin gets spent on marketing. The premium price on most athletic shorts is about the logo, not the material. MARO puts the money into what's actually touching your skin.
RESEARCHERS HAVE MEASURED WHAT POLYESTER DOES TO MALE HORMONES.
Polyester contains chemical compounds that function as endocrine disruptors. Studies have documented their effect on testosterone levels and sperm quality in men who wear synthetic fabric against their skin. The chemicals absorb through skin. They're in contact all day. Organic Cotton carries none of those compounds.
PLASTIC FRAGMENTS ARE TURNING UP WHERE THEY SHOULDN'T.
Microplastic fragments from synthetic clothing have been found in blood, lung tissue, and reproductive organs. Switching what you wear against your skin is the simplest move you can make.
TRY THEM. IF THE FIT ISN'T RIGHT, WE MAKE IT EASY.
97% of our customers keep what they ordered. But if the fit isn't what you expected, returns and exchanges are easy. Nothing to lose in finding out what plastic-free actually feels like.
BUY 3, GET 1 FREE
One pair of shorts, two inseams. Buy 3 pairs and the 4th is free.
BUY 3, GET 1 FREE →
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
The shorts are very comfortable and breathable. They actually feel healthy!
Great fit. I'm able to move freely during my workouts. Easy to care for. No plastic! All of my boxes are ticked. Get a pair.
It's more breathable than my cotton-blended or synthetic shorts, which makes it more comfortable to wear, and doesn't reek of body odor after a day of wearing it. It has deep pockets unlike some exercise shorts.
My husband loves them! Quality seems great and we love that they're organic cotton.
Love this organic cotton shorts. Perfect fit to train in the gym without plastic fibers.
Lululemon who? Ditch the stretched out plastic and get these instead. Comfiest shorts I've ever owned. I'm a 32 waist and 5'11, bought a medium hoping for a short-ish fit and they're perfect. Quality is top notch and they look nice enough to wear for any occasion.
DUE TO HIGH DEMAND AND THE FACT THAT LESS THAN 3% OF THE WORLD'S COTTON IS ORGANIC, THERE IS A VERY HIGH RISK OF SELLING OUT
BUY 3, GET 1 FREE →
FAQS
Most brands get there through a loophole called "exclusive of trim." The main fabric is cotton, but the waistband is still spandex and polyester. MARO's waistband is 60% organic cotton and 40% natural rubber. Nothing synthetic. Anywhere.
Cotton is a durable natural fiber. With normal use and proper washing it holds its shape well. The advantage over polyester is that cotton doesn't permanently trap odor, so the shorts stay fresh longer without needing a wash after every wear.
Yes. The 2-inch outseam slit gives you a full range of motion. Cotton breathes better than polyester during activity, so you sweat less, not more.
The 5" sits above the knee on most builds and works for everyday wear and most workouts. The 7" has more coverage and suits taller guys or anyone who prefers a longer cut. The model on the site is 6'1" in a Medium.
No. The shorts are pre-shrunk. Wash cold and dry low heat and they'll hold their shape wash after wash.
S, M, L, XL, and XXL. Both the 5" and 7" inseam come in all five sizes.
Machine wash cold, dry low heat.
Returns and exchanges are easy. Reach out and we'll sort it.
