Fashion is evolving constantly, and now with the increasing need for slow fashion and sustainability, it has become all the more important to understand the various fabrics that are available to us and what sets them apart from each other so we can make more informed choices.
Natural fabrics help in reducing our carbon footprint, so it is beneficial for us to use them more in our daily lives. These fabrics are often grown naturally, tend to be more comfortable than man-made synthetics, and fortunately, don’t threaten your health as well. Like fashion, each fabric also has its charms and unique traits, leading to a finish and feel all of their own in the products that are crafted from them. If you are someone who prefers natural fabrics not just at home but with your fashion choices as well, we have got the best thing in the streets for you. Let’s have a look at some of the most popular fabrics and some important facts that you need to know.
What are the special traits of Cotton?
- Comfortable against your skin, cotton is a natural fabric that is also one of the most flexible fabrics, with its ease of sewing boosting its viability.
- It allows the surrounding air to circulate through it and prevents you from overheating.
- While it is a soft fabric, it’s also quite a strong material and has been used for eons in crafting textiles and garments for the household.
- As if its strength wasn’t enough, it’s also durable, not giving in to wear and tear easily and increasing its use per garment.
- Cotton is also highly absorbent, thus making it a viable option for napkins, bath towels, washcloths, tea towels, and more.
What makes linen so special?
- Extremely strong and extremely durable, linen is a lightweight fabric with multifaceted qualities.
- It can absorb up to 20% of its weight and comes out stronger wet than when dry. It also dries quickly and is damage resistant, making it a great option for towels and napkins.
- Along with its natural damage resistance, it also doesn’t stretch and has low elasticity, helping garments and textiles crafted using linen to retain their shape even after washing.
- Linen is also resistant to moths, carpet beetles, and other insects that munch on fabric.
- Fabrics made from linen don’t pill or create lint, so they won’t leave unwanted traces on other household items.
- One of the key characteristics of linen fabric is its high abrasion resistance, which makes it valuable for textiles that undergo constant use or have to be frequently in contact with other surfaces. Bed linen, tea towels are great choices when it comes to linen.
- Linen also resists dirt and stains, adding another feather to the list of things that Linen is resistant to. Due to this resistance to staining, it makes for an excellent choice for napkins, tablecloths, beach towels, among other things.
- While it is a highly resistant fabric, linen can break relatively easily when flexed.
- It can also withstand high temperatures, so, feel free to use them in washing machines. They can be tumbled dried (although not excessively) while yielding only moderate initial shrinkage.
- Linen is susceptible to wrinkling, but this can work in your favor as well, by helping you portray an easy-going, naturalistic look with your attire.
What distinct silk from others?
- Soft to the touch, silk has an elegant luster which gives it that luxurious feel.
- Unlike synthetic fabrics, while being smooth, silk is not slippery.
- Good at both, heat retention and cold insulation, it finds uses in undergarment production, high-performance thermal layers as well as nightwear.
- While it is a strong fabric, silk also has poor elasticity.
- It also retains high amounts of moisture, which makes it particularly problematic with perspiration.
- Silk clothes can also create static, due to their inherent poor electric conductivity. This can make bed linen and silk clothes cling to the body.
- Silk tends to need a pre-wash to cut down its shrinkage percentage as it is a high shrinkage fabric.
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What are the features of wool?
- Excellent at its warming capacity; wool is a natural fabric that has seen use at home and clothing textiles for thousands of years.
- It also makes for great clothing and bedding choice, due to its moisture-wicking properties.
- It is also a highly absorbent fabric, with excellent natural elasticity. Products made from wool rarely break.
- Wool Products also tend to be long-lasting as the fabric is wear-resistant and relatively tough.
- Owing to wool’s natural scaling and crimp, it is quite easy to spin and felt with wool.
- Wool also can absorb odors and noise; making it useful at homes that have pets or are in high traffic zones.
Why you should choose natural fibers?
We all know that natural fibers are renewable resources. Also, they are produce organically and sustainably, enhancing the lives of the people who produce them. Along with the people who buy them to wear. The best part of these fibers is that they decompose naturally, without giving off plastic fibers in the washing machines; which are then flushed directly into the canals and oceans of the world. Natural fibers are breathable and they smell better, making the people wearer smell better too. They serve as a natural thermostat, absorbing the moisture away from the body. The natural fibers even reduce static energy and shocks in the environment due to dryness protecting the wearer from the sudden pain.
These natural fabrics have been around for eons now, leading to their wide use across generations. While they are adore universally, you will still need to keep in mind what your individual needs are and find a fabric that suits these requirements. If you’re chasing after comfort, cotton has got you cover. Linen bed linen and clothing are what you should be aiming for if you want to avoid overheating at night time or during searing summers. If feeling luxury on your skin is what you’re after, you can’t go wrong with pure silk. For cozy evening snuggles on the couch with your loved ones, go crazy with wool.
