A survey of pollution on the Great Barrier Reef has found microfibres to be an increasing problem, making up nearly 70 per cent of samples collected.

The fibres are microscopic and usually come from synthetic clothes.

Scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Science have been taking samples from areas between Townsville and Cairns for the past two years.

Research scientist Frederieke Kroon said they had been surprised by what they found.

"We found contamination at every single location we surveyed, and we found quite a few microfibres as part of the microcontaminants that we detected in our samples," she said.

Previous studies have found sewage treatment plants to be a major source of microfibres, which clothes shed when they are washed.

Dr Kroon said the effects of microfibres on the health of corals and animals was still being studied, but there was concern about what impact it would have on the reef.

Sorry, this video has expired Microfibres from clothes are causing huge problems in our oceans

Fashion industry responds

The Australian Fashion Council said awareness about the problem had grown in the past few years.

Chief executive David Giles-Kaye said the industry was working to come up with a solution.

"The position from the industry is that we need to take a design-led approach to resolving the problem," he said.

"That means working on the manufacturing supply chain, in the sense of dealing with how fibres come together, so they're more durable and they don't shed.

"Also in the way garments are washed by consumers and of course the recycling or afterlife of the product."

Edda Hamar, who has set up an online app allowing users to swap clothes, said a growing number of fashion entrepreneurs were working to reduce the effects their products had on the environment.

"It's irresponsible and it's unacceptable to start a business that is producing fashion that isn't taking into account the impact it'll have on the planet," she said.

Ms Hamar said there were a few things consumers could do if they wanted to be environmentally friendly.

"It's about purchasing quality, purchasing clothes that will last, clothes they don't have to dispose of after a year of wearing them," she said.

"It's about looking at other alternatives. If you need something that you might not wear often, perhaps you can rent it, perhaps you can rent it from a friend."

The Australian Fashion Council is also looking to work with manufacturers to come up with better alternatives.