Big news! Your favorite Geek Tropical shirts are getting a brand new fabric!
Officially October 30th, 2026, you’ll find that our short-sleeve and long-sleeve shirts, as well as our curvy and youth shirts, are made from 97% recycled polyester and 3% spandex, and orders ship in 100% recycled poly bags.
What Does That Mean?
Okay, you may not be following material manufacturing as closely as we are. To help you out, we’ll break down what this shift means (and what it doesn’t), as well as what you should do with your favorite Geek Tropical shirts in the wash.
We know that “recycled” is a word that tends to get stretched, so we want you to know exactly what to expect and why we’re making the shift.
What Are Geek Tropical Shirts Made Of Now?
Your favorite prints are now going to be made of 97% recycled polyester and 3% spandex. The spandex is where you get that comfortable stretch, and 3% is just the right amount to give you what you need without too much material impact.
The polyester is now recycled instead of new.
Recycled polyester is made from plastic that already exists. It takes that original material and melts it down. The material is then spun into new fiber instead of being made from newly made petroleum-based polyester.
So yes, it’s still polyester, so it still has the fast-drying and wrinkle-resistance that you love in the material, and our prints will remain vibrant and full of color. And no worries: our all-over prints go on the way they always have.
For context, most polyester is still made new. Research from Textile Exchange puts recycled polyester at about 12% of global polyester fiber in 2024, and roughly 98% of that recycled share comes from plastic bottles, not old clothes.
Which Shirts Get the New Fabric?
There are four formats in the full range of Geek Tropical prints that will get the new material treatment:
If you want a print to try with the new material, why not go with some of our best-sellers? The Beautiful Nebula Outer Space shirt comes in short and long sleeve, and the Episodic Owl Floral comes in short sleeve, long sleeve, and curvy. The exception is our outlet store where you may receive the old fabric.
For the smaller adventurers in your party, the Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets is a hit, and it comes in youth sizes. (Grab the adult version to match!)
Are Recycled Polyester Shirts Softer?
This is a common question, and the answer is nuanced. They aren’t automatically softer.
How a shirt ends up feeling on you will depend on a few factors, like the weave, the fabric weight, the finish, and the blend. That’s why two polyester shirts can be “made the same way” but end up feeling completely different when you wear them.
What we can tell you is what changed in our new material: it has a softness that you’ll love. And the fabric was already lightweight, stretchy, and moisture-wicking, and we’ve made sure that those stay.
The best way to know the difference is by wearing one. Our shirts run slightly big, so check the size chart on the product page before you order.
Does Recycled Polyester Still Shed Microplastics?
The reality is that every polyester fabric sheds tiny fibers in the wash. Using recycled polyester doesn’t fix that, but it’s a move toward helping reduce the amount of plastic being used (and wasted) in our world.
What recycled content changes is the raw material. It puts plastic that already exists to use instead of making new. What it does not change is the wash, and the wash is the part you control.
How Should You Wash Recycled Polyester Shirts?
No matter the material, you want to protect the shirt you’ve invested in. That’s especially true if you love how it fits and want the print to stay as vibrant as the day you first got it.
Here are the recommendations for washing your Geek Tropical recycled polyester shirts:
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Wash inside out in cold water on a gentle cycle.
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Wash with small loads, so the clothes rub against each other less. Avoid towels, denim, and zippers.
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Use a wash bag or a lint filter if you have one.
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Hang dry when possible, or use low heat in the dryer.
You can learn a bit more on the cold-water, air-dry habit in our post on polyester’s sustainable side. The advice still holds up, and now it matters more than ever. Because a shirt you wear for ten years beats a shirt with a better tag!
Same Prints, New Fabric – Shop Now!
The prints are the same ones, drawn by the same artists, who still earn a royalty on every sale. That part will never change!
We’ve just updated our fabric, and we’re excited to see how much you love wearing your new Geek Tropical gear.
Pick a format and find your next favorite: short sleeve, long sleeve, curvy, or youth.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
We do get questions about our materials and manufacturing! In fact, we love that our Geek Tropical family takes the manufacturing and printing process so seriously. It means you care about what you wear, and you wear it with pride.
What are Geek Tropical shirts made of?
From October 30th, 2026, our Geeknit material used for short-sleeve, long-sleeve, curvy, and youth shirts are 97% recycled polyester and 3% spandex.
Which shirts use recycled polyester?
Short-sleeve button-ups, long-sleeve button-ups, curvy button-ups, and youth Hawaiian shirts. This change does not apply to dresses, T-shirts, or bucket hats. T-Shirts are 100% cotton except for Heather colors which contain polyester.
Is recycled polyester soft?
It can be, but softness depends on the weave, weight, and finish, not just on recycled content. The best way to find out is to try one on for yourself!
Do recycled polyester shirts shed microplastics?
Yes. All polyester sheds fibers in the wash. Cold water and air drying help.
