What to Wear in Bali Without Synthetic Fabrics

Pack linen, cotton knit and TENCEL Modal pieces. These natural-fibre alternatives breathe in the humidity and stay comfortable from beach to dinner. The pieces we currently make at Aline My Label are all handmade in Bali from exactly these materials, so you can skip polyester entirely.

What goes wrong with synthetic fabrics in Bali's humidity?

Bali's humidity is high year-round. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester and nylon trap moisture against your skin, which leaves you feeling sticky and overheated, and they tend to hold on to sweat smells. Natural fibres let your skin breathe. Switching to linen, cotton knit or TENCEL Modal avoids most of that clamminess.

Which natural fabrics actually handle heat and humidity best?

• Linen is known for its breathability. It feels crisp yet airy. We make linen dresses (Casa Linen Dress, Lotus Maxi Linen Dress), linen pants (Hostas Wide-Leg Linen Resort Pants, Lily Linen Pants), linen shorts (Aloysia High Waist Linen Short, Cidora Linen High-Waist Shorts) and linen tops (Aloysia Linen Crop Top, Verbena Linen Crop Top). See our full linen collection.
• Cotton knit is soft and stretchy, and it moves with you. Our cotton knit pieces include tops (Aghar Knit Top, Birch Knit Top, Kamper Cotton Knit Top), dresses (Cedar Knit Bodycon Dress, Cendana Cotton Knit Mini Dress, Gaharu Cotton Knit Midi Dress, Lilian Cotton Knit Mini Dress) and skirts (Nepeta Knit Skirt, Tango Midi Skirt). Browse the cotton knit collection.
• TENCEL Modal moves moisture off the skin faster than cotton, which suits underthings you wear all day. We make bralettes (Calita, Keen, Lucy, Maze, Rosa, Sorex, Talia, Thati), briefs (Calita, Lucy, Thati) and thongs (Keen, Maze, Rosa, Sorex, Talia) from it. See our TENCEL™ underwear and bras collection.

What to pack for a full Bali itinerary?

If every piece works for more than one part of the day, a small carry-on is enough for a week or more.

• Beach and pool: A cotton rayon sarong (Sakura, Hibiscus or Tulip) over a TENCEL Modal bralette and brief or thong. The sarong doubles as a cover-up. Check our sarong collection.
• Lunch and shopping: A cotton knit mini dress (Cendana, Lilian, Luna) or linen shorts (Aloysia, Cidora, Savory) with a cotton knit top (Gaiac, Cinnamon, Kamper).
• Temple visits: You need shoulders and knees covered. Wear linen pants or a long linen dress with a top that covers your shoulders, and wrap a sarong at the waist where the temple asks for one. See our temple dress code guide for details.
• Dinner: The Lotus Maxi Linen Dress or the Gaharu knit midi dress. Add the Savory Linen Outer Jacket for air-conditioned restaurants.
• Night market or stroll: Linen pants (Hostas, Lily) with a cotton knit top.

A sample 9-piece packing list

• Linen dress (Lotus)
• Cotton knit mini dress (Lilian)
• Linen pants (Hostas)
• Linen shorts (Aloysia)
• 2 cotton knit tops (Aghar, Birch)
• Sarong (any of our handmade Bali sarongs)
• TENCEL Modal bralette (Keen or Calita)
• TENCEL Modal brief or thong (Calita Brief or Rosa Thong)

This set covers beach, temple, dinner and everyday, and every piece can be hand washed.

Where to shop for natural fibre clothes in Bali?

Aline My Label is sold online here and at four Bali boutiques: Doo Moo Living and Alala Spa & Boutique in Amed, Kru Bali in Uluwatu, and Awakened Dreamers in Ubud and Canggu. Stock in each boutique varies, so message us before you visit. We also ship to selected countries. See the size guide before you buy, because clothing and intimates use different charts.

Common questions

Is linen see-through?

Linen can be slightly sheer in lighter colours. If that worries you, choose a darker colour or wear a slip underneath, and ask us about a specific piece before you order.

How do you wash natural fibres in Bali?

Hand wash or machine wash, whichever you prefer. The one rule is no hot water, for the linen, the cotton knit, the sarongs and the TENCEL alike. Each product page lists the same under Care.

Can I wear synthetics for a temple visit?

You can, but they will stick in the heat, and temple visits often mean long walks in the sun. Linen pants with a sarong over them stay cooler.

What colours work best for hiding sweat?

Darker tones and prints hide damp patches. Most of our sarongs are floral prints, and darker neutrals work well too.

If you have more questions about what to pack, message us through the site or on WhatsApp. We describe how our clothes are made rather than claiming a certification we do not hold. Ask us anything about a specific piece.