An Introduction to Natural Fibers
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:
As for protein based fibers, it comes from animals' :
Lastly, natural fiber that is made from mineral is:
Today, we focus on five aspects of these natural fibers, which are breathability, comfort, functionality, wrinkle resistant and whether they are machine washable.
#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.
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#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.
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#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.
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#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.
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#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.
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#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.
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#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.
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#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.
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#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.
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#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.
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#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.
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#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.
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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:
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