PVC clothing

PVC clothing is shiny clothing made from the plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC).^[1] PVC plastic is often called "vinyl" and this type of clothing is commonly known as vinyl clothing.^[2] PVC is sometimes confused with the similarly shiny patent leather.

The terms "PVC", "vinyl" and "PU" tend to be used interchangeably by retailers for clothing made from shiny plastic-coated fabrics. These fabrics usually consist of a backing woven from polyester fibers with a surface coating of shiny plastic. The plastic layer itself is typically a blend of PVC and polyurethane (PU), with 100% PVC producing a stiff fabric with a glossy shine and 100% PU producing a stretchy fabric with a silky shine (see PU laminate). A manufacturer's label may say, for example, 67% polyester, 33% polyurethane for a fabric that contains no PVC; or 80% polyvinyl chloride, 20% polyurethane with mention of the polyester backing omitted. PVC clothing is a highly resistant material and waterproof.^[3] PVC can be produced in bright colors (black, red, white, blue, orange, pink, silver, striped, etc.), adding visual appeal to the physical sensations produced by wearing the material.