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Aug 16, 2023
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10 DIFFERENT TYPES OF NATURAL FABRICS
Fabric is an integral part of our everyday lives. Fabric surrounds us, from our clothes to the sheets we sleep on.
Fabric can be divided into two main categories - natural and synthetic. Natural fabrics are those made from
plant, animal, or mineral sources. They have been used for clothing and furnishing purposes for centuries. Natural
fabrics often feel softer, are more breathable, and are safer for people with sensitive skin.

Here, we will explore 10 popular varieties of natural fabrics. We will look at their sources, properties, and
typical uses. Understanding the characteristics of different natural fabrics can help inform intelligent purchasing
decisions and enhance the comfort and aesthetics of our lives. The natural fabrics we will cover include cotton,
linen, silk, wool, hemp, leather, cashmere, bamboo, sisal, and jute.

PROPERTIES OF NATURAL FIBRES:

Natural fabrics are made from naturally occurring plants, animals, and minerals instead of synthetic materials in
labs and factories. Clothing and other textiles made from natural fabrics often have unique properties and
characteristics, making them appealing options for various uses.

1. Breathability - Natural fibres like cotton, silk, and linen allow for increased air circulation and moisture
wicking. It makes garments and textiles lightweight and comfortable.
2. Absorbency - Natural fabrics like cotton, wool, and sisal effectively absorb moisture and sweat. It helps keep
the wearer dry.

3. Strength and durability - Fibers like hemp, jute, and leather are naturally strong and durable. They maintain
integrity even with regular use.

4. Insulation and warmth - Materials like wool provide adequate insulation from the cold due to the air pockets
trapped between the fibres. It makes wool ideal for cold-weather clothing.

5. Biodegradability - Natural textiles like cotton, silk, and hemp will decompose without harming the
environment. It makes their production more sustainable.

THE USE OF NATURAL TEXTILES: ADVANTAGES AND

DISADVANTAGES
Natural fabrics like cotton, silk, wool, and linen have been used for clothing and other textiles for thousands of
years. In recent decades, synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and acrylic have become more widely used.

However, natural fibre clothing still has advantages that keep them popular choices for clothing, bedding, and
other uses. Let's discuss the main benefits and drawbacks of using natural fabric materials.

ADVANTAGES OF NATURAL FABRICS

1. Breathability - Natural fibres like cotton and linen have pores that allow airflow and absorption. It makes
them relaxed, comfortable, and moisture-wicking, especially in hot weather. Synthetics can cause sweating.

2. Softness - Materials like cotton and silk have a soft hand feel. Wool becomes softer over time. Many
synthetics are scratchy until chemically treated.
3. Durability - Natural fabrics like wool and silk are extremely strong and long-lasting. With adequate
maintenance, they have the potential to endure for numerous years.

4. Sustainability - Natural fabrics come from renewable resources and biodegrade at the end of life. Most
synthetics are plastic-based and not easily recycled.

5. Hypoallergenic - Fibers like cotton and silk are less irritating for sensitive skin than synthetic materials, which
can cause rashes. They don't accumulate static electricity as much, either.

DISADVANTAGES OF NATURAL FABRICS

1. Wrinkling - Natural fabrics like linen and cotton wrinkle easily and may require ironing or steaming. Synthetic
materials generally maintain their form more effectively.

2. Pilling - Natural fabrics can develop bunches or pills of tangled fibres over time, especially with friction.
Synthetics are less prone to pilling.

3. Shrinking - Natural fabrics may shrink significantly when washed in hot water or dried using high heat.
Special care is needed.

4. Staining - Natural fibres absorb liquids more easily than synthetics. Stains from spills, grease, etc., can be
difficult to remove altogether.

5. Mildew - Natural fibres provide food for mildew and mould growth, especially in damp environments.
Synthetics resist mildew.

6. Moth Damage - Carpet beetles, clothes moths, and insects eat protein fibres like wool and silk. Synthetics are
rarely damaged.

7. Price - The cost of natural fabrics is often higher than cheaper synthetic alternatives, especially for finer
materials like silk.

There are different types of fibres and their uses. Thus, the choice between natural and synthetic fabrics involves
tradeoffs. In many cases, natural fabrics still provide comfort, luxury, and sustainability advantages. With proper
selection and care, high-quality natural fabrics remain famous for clothing, bedding, and other textile
applications.
10 DIFFERENT TYPES OF NATURAL FABRICS

1. COTTON

Source: Cotton plant, the soft fibres surrounding the seeds

Properties: Soft, breathable, absorbent, easy to dye
Uses: Clothing, home furnishings, towels

Cotton is a soft, breathable natural fabric made from the fibres surrounding the seeds of the cotton plant. Some
critical properties of cotton include the following:

Soft and comfortable against the skin

Breathable and moisture-wicking
Absorbent, easy to dye
Versatile and easy to clean

Cotton is one of the most widely used natural fabrics in clothing and textiles. It comes from the fibres surrounding
the seeds of cotton plants. Cotton has a gentle texture, allows for good airflow, and effectively soaks moisture.
It's also hypoallergenic, making it a good choice for people with sensitive skin. Cotton is used to make all kinds
of clothing, from t-shirts to dress shirts, jeans, socks, and underwear. The major drawback of cotton is that it
wrinkles easily.

2. LINEN

Source: Flax plant fibres

Properties: Strong, absorbent, lightweight, resistant to dirt and stains
Uses: Clothing, bedsheets, tablecloths

Linen cloth is produced using fibres derived from the flax plant. Some noteworthy properties of linen include:

Lightweight and comfortable for warm weather

Absorbent dries quickly
Resistant to dirt and stains
Durable and robust - becomes softer with use

Linen is a popular summer fabric for clothing, bedsheets, towels, tablecloths, bags, and furnishing accents. Linen
is made from the fibres of the flax plant. It has natural hollow fibres that allow the linen to stay cool in hot
weather and feel lightweight. Linen also doesn't cling and is absorbent. This fabric is valued for summer clothing,
bed sheets, and tablecloths. Wrinkling is probably the biggest hassle with linen. It needs some ironing or
steaming to look neat.
3. SILK

Source: Silkworm cocoon filament

Properties: Lightweight, smooth, lustrous
Uses: Luxury clothing, bedding, upholstery

Silk is a natural protein fibre produced by silkworms that spin cocoons out of long silk fibre. Key qualities of silk
include:

Incredibly soft, delicate and smooth texture

Lightweight, breathable and moisture-wicking
Lustrous sheen with an elegant drape
Strong and durable

Silk is a luxury fabric for clothing, bedding, upholstery, and decor accents. It is prized for its beauty and sensual
feel. Natural silk has a luxurious, soft, and shiny texture. It is lightweight and breathable. Silk is often used for
formal wear, lingerie, blouses, and nightgowns. It's susceptible to stains and sun damage, requiring more delicate
care. The high cost of silk also makes it less accessible for many people.

4. WOOL

Source: Sheep hair fibres

Properties: Warm, durable, wrinkle and flame resistant
Uses: Clothing, blankets, rugs

Wool makes excellent clothing for cold weather, like sweaters, suits, socks and blankets. It is also used for
furnishings like rugs and upholstery.

Insulating and warm

Durable, wrinkle and flame resistant
Absorbs moisture without feeling damp
Resilient - springs back into shape

The wool comes from the fur of animals like sheep, alpacas, and goats. It's warm and insulating, moisture-
wicking, and durable. Wool garments like sweaters, coats, hats, and gloves are common in colder weather.
Merino wool is popular for base layers and athletic wear because it wicks sweat away from the body well. Wool
is naturally elastic, resistant to dirt, and flame retardant. The main downside is that wool can feel itchy for some.

5. HEMP

Source: Cannabis sativa plant fibres

Properties: Durable, absorbent, antimicrobial, eco-friendly
 Uses: Clothing, furnishings, bags

Hemp makes clothing, bags, rope, carpeting and home textiles. It is valued for its durability and sustainability.

Durable and resistant to rotting

Absorbent, breathable and quick-drying
Antimicrobial and hypoallergenic

Hemp fabric comes from the fibres of the cannabis sativa plant. It is very durable and absorbent. When blended
with other natural fabrics like cotton, hemp fabric gets softer but retains strength. Hemp is antimicrobial, so it
resists mould and mildew. Hemp fabric also gets softer over time. It's a more sustainable crop than cotton as it
uses less water to grow. The main limitations are that 100% hemp fabric can initially feel stiff.

6. LEATHER

Source: Animal rawhide/skins

Properties: Durable, versatile, water-resistant
Uses: Clothing, shoes, accessories

Leather is made from the tanned, dried, and dyed hides and skins of animals. It is very durable and flexible.

Water-resistant and ages well

Used for jackets, shoes, bags, furniture
Has environmental impacts

Leather is water-resistant and gets softer over time. It makes jackets, shoes, bags, furniture, car seats, and more.
Drawbacks are that leather tanning has environmental impacts, and genuine leather is expensive. Some people
also object to leather for ethical reasons regarding animal rights.

7. CASHMERE

Source: Soft undercoat of cashmere goats

Properties: Soft, delicate, lightweight, warm
Uses: Luxury clothing, blankets, scarves

Cashmere wool comes from cashmere goats and certain types of rabbits. It has a featherlight quality and a
smooth, velvety feel.

Super soft and warm

Used for sweaters, scarves, suits
Expensive, delicate
Cashmere has excellent insulation, keeping wearers warm. It makes sweaters, scarves, suits, coats, and other
luxurious garments. However, cashmere is one of the most expensive natural fabrics, as the source material is
rare. It also requires gentler washing than sheep wool.

8. BAMBOO

Source: Bamboo plant fibres

Properties: Breathable, moisture-wicking, thermal regulating, antibacterial
Uses: Clothing, bedsheets, towels

Bamboo fabric comes from bamboo grass. Its fibres naturally wick moisture away from the body, and they are
very soft and breathable

From bamboo grass

Moisture-wicking, antibacterial
Used for dresses, blouses, sheets
Production can use chemicals

Bamboo fabric drapes well and lends to dresses, blouses, and bed sheets. Bamboo is more sustainable to grow
than cotton, not requiring fertilizers or pesticides. But not all bamboo fabric is made the same way; some use
chemicals in processing.

9. SISAL

Source: Agave sisalana plant leaves

Properties: Durable, coarse, absorbent, resistant to saltwater
Uses: Ropes, rugs, baskets

Sisal comes from the stiff and wiry leaves of the agave sisalana plant. It is highly durable, coarse, and resistant
to saltwater damage.

Durable, coarse, scratchy

Used for rope, rugs, bags
Not suitable for skin contact

Sisal traditionally makes rope, rugs, and scratchy burlap bags. It isn't suitable for clothing that touches sensitive
human skin. But sisal has unique applications like wall coverings, cat scratching posts, and plant stakes.

10. JUTE

Source: Jute plant stem fibres

 Properties: Strong, durable, breathable, biodegradable
Uses: Bags, ropes, home textiles

Jute fibres come from the jute plant, in the same family as bamboo and hemp.

Breathable, stretchy
Used for sackcloth, rugs, twine
Less durable than other fabrics

Jute is soft and stretchy but not as long-lasting as other natural fabrics. It is breathable, comfortable, and used
for sackcloth, rugs, and twine. Lower-quality jute finds uses like erosion control mats. Higher grades make
decorations, curtains, chairs, and ropes. Jute requires protection from water damage.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, natural fabrics have unique benefits and drawbacks based on specific natural materials and
production methods. Choosing a suitable natural fabric can provide excellent comfort, breathability, luxury, and
sustainability. However, care must be taken to handle the tendency of some natural fabrics to wrinkle, shrink,
stain, or be damaged by insects.

With proper selection and laundering care, natural fabrics like cotton, wool, silk, and linen continue to be
wardrobe staples, as well as luxurious materials for bedding, upholstery, and other applications where their
natural origins provide advantages over synthetic alternatives. The range and accessibility of natural fabric
options make them enduringly popular for all kinds of uses.

There are intriguing lesser-known natural fabrics beyond the most common cotton, wool, silk, etc. Exploring the
properties and advantages of leather, cashmere, bamboo, sisal, jute and more gives us insights into different
sustainable materials to utilize. Our textile options expand tremendously when we look past the most ubiquitous
natural fabrics.

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