The Real Meaning Behind ‘Polyester,’ Gen Z’s Favorite New Insult

Every generation creates its own slang for calling someone fake. Boomers had “plastic.” Gen X had “sellout.” Millennials had “basic.” Gen Z has gone with “polyester,” and the insult is more layered than it sounds. “Polyester” has been making the rounds on TikTok and X this summer as shorthand for anything that looks good from…