Knowing the properties of the fabrics you wear is equally vital to its colour and size. I am a big fan of cotton because the material allows my body to cool down faster and reduce the chances to get static while I am working in front of laptop for long hours. If your screen time is long and often purchase new garments, read on!
Generally, there are two types of fabrics: Natural fibers and Synthetic fibers.
Natural fibers are either made by plant or animal. Synthetic fibers are commonly made by polymers that are produced in the laboratory or chemical plant, almost always from by-products of petroleum, natural gas or coal.
The twelve natural fibers I am going to introduce in this article are cotton, hemp, linen, alpaca, cashmere, wool, camel hair, silk, flannel, denim, leather and jersey. These natural fibers can be derived from plants, animals and mineral.
Natural cellulosic fibers are classified according to plant component which they are removed:
Seed : Cotton, Coir & Kapok
Bast (Stem) : Flax/ Linen, Jute & Hemp
Leaf : Abaca, Henequen & Pineapple leaf fibers
Grass : Bamboo, Corn & Esparto
As for protein based fibers, it comes from animals' :
Staple : Alpaca, Camel Hair, & Cashmere
Wool : Sheep
Filament : Silk
Lastly, natural fiber that is made from mineral is:
Asbestos: commonly found in vinyl flooring & friction materials like brakes and clutches.
Today, we focus on five aspects of these natural fibers, which are breathability, comfort, functionality, wrinkle resistant and whether they are machine washable.
Breathability is the ability of a fabric to absorb large quantities of moisture and allow ventilation through the fabric to dry the dampness results in less-clingy-garment and wearer feel more comfortable. According to various sources, linen textiles are some of the oldest natural fibers in the world—people have been wearing it for centuries as its light weave allow for maximum breathability.
Comfort is the human sensory response to the clothing material. It could be ease of movement, sensitivity, or the ability to cool down the body. Consumers today are more informed on health and wellness; therefore, they prefer functional garments more than ever. Moreover, people working in front of computers are increasing, wearing natural fabrics can help reduce the chances of getting static.
Functionality is what effects you want to have while wearing the garment, to cool down the body or to keep yourself warm. If you have sensitive skin, select fabrics that have antibacterial qualities and hypoallergic function.
Wrinkle resistant is the possibility of a fabric to not crease after folding or being pressured by external force. The reason the fabric can maintain its shape is highly depending on the fabric weight or thickness, weave complexity, composition and treatment of the fabric.
Any clothes labelled with machine washable means you can clean them using washing machine. Other wise, send for dry clean or hand wash to maintain the quality of the clothes.
#1 Cotton
Cotton is a durable, lightweight and high absorbance fabric that is best for tropical climate like here in Malaysia. It is widely used in polos, t-shirts, towels, floor mat and gift bags. Clothing labels with at least 60% cotton are considered cotton-rich, and less likely to feel clingy, irritating, itchy as it has hypoallergenic properties.
Breathability: 3/5
Comfort: 5/5
Functionality: Cooling
Wrinkle Resistant: No
Machine Wash: Yes
Pros:
Breathable
Durable
Versatile
Soft
Insulating
Resist static cling &
Does not irritate the skin because is natural
Cons:
Easy to shrinks
Not wrinkles resistant &
Colours can fade after several wash or under strong sun
#2 Hemp
Hemp is one of the most environmentally friendly fabrics as it does not need any pesticides and requires very little water to grow. Hemp as a textile offers protection against UV light because the fabric is woven tightly results in filtering out 95% of UV rays (Ryszard M. Kozlowski, 2012), makes it perfect for summer clothes in particular. Best estimates by researcher indicates that hemp filters up to 95% of UV rays.
Breathability: 3/5
Comfort: 3/5
Functionality: Warming
Wrinkle Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: No
Pros:
Cost-Effective
Biodegradable
Durable
Lightweight &
High absorbent
Cons:
Expensive
Less richness in colours &
Easily crease when is worn
#3 Linen
Similar as hemp, linen is environmentally friendly to grow, requires little irrigation and little energy to process. Linen is made from flax, known as the fabric of summer, typically has excellent breathability. It’s easy to dye and is colourfast for a long time. Additionally, it can be sun bleached for a lighter colour instead of using artificial agents.
Breathability: 5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Functionality: Cooling
Wrinkle Resistant: No
Machine Wash: Yes
Pros:
Very durable
High absorbent
Insect Repelling
Stain resistant
Does not pill &
It’s 12 times as strong as cotton, which also helps prolong its lifetime
Cons:
Linen easily creases and crumbles
Requires more effort to take care of the fabric (eg: Wash only in delicate mode at low temperatures of water) &
More difficult to iron as the material itself is dry
#4 Alpaca
Alpaca fiber is the "Fiber of the Gods” to ancient Incans as they valued it higher than silver and gold. Commonly found in sweaters, scarves, jackets and hats, this fiber is 20% warmer than cashmere and has more than 22 natural colours, which encourages less dying.
Breathability: 5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Functionality: Warming
Wrinkle Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: No
Pros:
Hypoallergenic
Naturally fire resistant
Very soft and smooth
Relatively high elasticity and strength &
Does not pill easily due to the long fibers
Cons:
Possibly itchy
Expensive
Sensitive to moths &
Alpaca garments require dry clean to maintain the quality
#5 Cashmere
Cashmere wool is a fiber obtained from cashmere goats, its special molecule structure can absorb more than 35% water vapour into a hollow structure, which wearer cannot feel moisture because it can removes quickly, so cashmere helps keep you warm and dry when is cold and keep you cool and comfortable when is hot. Cashmere wool is luxurious and soft, more delicate than other wools and has at least 40% natural elastic which is the reason why this wool would not harden.
Breathability: 5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Functionality: Warming
Wrinkle Resistant: No
Machine Wash: No
Pros:
Lightweight
High moisture absorption
Electric resistance
Anti-bacteria &
Cashmere product has 17 kinds of abundant amino acid which gives the cashmere the feature of closing to the skin, suitable for infant, asthma, rheumatism people and the elderly
Cons:
Need extra care by avoiding grinding with hard clothes, coarse cloth and chemical fiber
Possibility to pill particularly when is pulled strongly and drastic movements
#6 Wool
Wool primarily comes from sheep, one of the oldest fibers used by man for over two thousand years. It acts as a natural insulator, keeping the body warm or cool as necessary. Commonly found in clothes like trousers, knitwear, socks and suits, wool is very resilient and strong.
Breathability: 5/5
Comfort: 1/5
Functionality: Cooling
Wrinkle Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: No
Pros:
Biodegradable
Breathable
Good absorbency
High resiliency
Dirt & Water Resistant
Naturally a flame retardant
Cons:
Expensive
Fiber Distortion
May be scratchy on skin
Shrinks with heat & moisture
Static & Pilling
#7 Camel Hair
Camel hair fabric is warm, comfortable, soft and luxurious. The fabric is almost twice as insulating than wool because of its medulla, hollow, air-filled matrix in the center of the fiber, therefore, it is mainly used for high-grade overcoat, and is also made into knitting yarn, knitwear, blankets, and rugs.
Breathability: 3/5
Comfort: 4/5
Functionality: Warming
Wrinkle Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: No
Pros:
Breathable
Hypoallergenic
Good thermoregulation
High Hygroscopicity
With the presence of lanolin, this animal wax ensures the neutralization of toxins, promotes the body rejuvenation and improves the skin's firmness and elasticity
Cons:
Pilling
Expensive
Can only be dry cleaned or hand wash
Tendency to attack by moth sand dust mites &
Shrinks if washed incorrectly
#8 Silk
Silk is the strongest natural textile in the world. Due to its lightweight and soft attributes, silk is a favourite material for apparels like dress shirts, blouses, scarves and eveningwear. It is a soft textile with a sheen. Do not get confused with synthetic mix silk, is often have the sheer finishing but is not as soft nor cooling as 100% silk.
Breathability: 1/5
Comfort: 5/5
Functionality: Cooling
Wrinkle Resistant: No
Machine Wash: No
Pros:
Hypoallergenic
Absorbent
Strong
Comfortable
Very soft &
Resists soil, mildew, and moths
Cons:
Expensive
Weakened by perspiration, sun, soap
Yellows with age
Stains with water &
Need dry clean only
#9 Flannel
Flannel is a soft, medium-weight cotton fabric that finished with napping -- the raised fibers that give the material its softness and texture, as well as to increase its insulating properties. It’s often woven with patterns, especially plaid and tartan. Flannel is also very comfortable, durable and drapes nicely.
Breathability: 0/5
Comfort: 5/5
Functionality: Warming
Wrinkle Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: Yes
Pros:
Incredibly warm
Biodegradable
Versatility &
Resistant to creasing
Cons:
Pilling
Prone to shrink
Needs to be dry cleaned &
Extremely wintery appearance
#10 Denim
You probable have at least one or more denim jacket or jeans because is so comfortable, so durable, so easy to match! Denim is 100% cotton made using a twill weave that creates a diagonal twill line, allowing the fabric to feel stronger and sturdier than traditional cotton garments. There are more than 15 types denim fabrics from ecru denim, crushed denim, cotton serge denim and more.
Breathability: 3/5
Comfort: 3/5
Functionality: Cooling
Wrinkle Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: Yes
Pros:
Tough and durable
Versatile
Affordable &
Biodegradable
Cons:
Warm and insulating
Stretches out over time &
The dye can rub off
#11 Leather
Leather is made using tanned animal skin. This natural fabric can be dyed, crafted and coated to give it a wide range of different characteristics. Leather is a unique textile that gets better with age. It's also a great shield against wind and weather, making it the ideal fabric for jackets and other outerwear.
Breathability: 3/5
Comfort: 3/5
Functionality: Warming
Wrinkle Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: No
Pros:
Strong
Durable
Soft and comfy
Warm and insulating
&
Repels liquids and stains
Cons:
Piling can be an issue
Prone to shrinking
Dry clean only &
Requires chemicals to produce
#12 Jersey
Jersey is a knit fabric that was originally made from wool. This fabric is used for a variety of clothing and household items such as T shirts, tank tops, sweatpants and sportswear because of its practicality, comfortability, softness and great absorbance. Jacquard jersey, interlock jersey, single jersey, clocqué jersey and slub jersey are the different distinctive types of jersey fabric.
Breathability: 3/5
Comfort: 5/5
Functionality: Cooling
Wrinkle Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: Yes
Pros:
Highly absorbent
Soft
Versatility
Stretchy &
Breathable
Cons:
Prone to pilling &
Sensitive to heat
By understanding your lifestyle, you are able to choose which fabrics are best for your body and performance. Feel free to download picture below for concise summary: