FOUR ESSENTIAL NATURAL TEXTILES

Top four sustainable fabrics and their benefits 

Cover Photo by Yucen He

Have you ever wondered what type of fabric you're wearing right now? Do you feel comfortable with them? The clothing you're wearing right now might be made of little bits of plants, sheep's fur, or insects' secretes. Yes, you heard that right! Cotton, wool, linen, and silk are all-natural textiles, and so their materials come from natural resources. They are all made up of natural materials that were mentioned. If you're interested, let me tell you more about it and some of its benefits, and thus, what other kinds of clothing styles can be made with these textiles.  

COTTON 

Cotton is one of the most significant and popular types of fabric. When buying clothes, you'll probably hear your grandparents or parents asking themselves or the seller, "Is this cotton?" "Does this absorb sweat?" 

The cotton fabric used for making clothes is made of natural materials such as the fibres of cotton plants. People process the fibres of cotton plants by spinning and weaving them until it turns into a fabric or textile. 

There are hundreds of reasons why cotton is an ideal type of fabric, but what's important is its benefits for people and the environment. 

Images by Yucen He

With cotton having a soft and gentle touch to the skin, it's excellent for people with sensitive skin as it could eliminate and lessen rashes. It could also absorb sweat as it is a natural fibre and does not let the sweat sit on your skin for too long. Cotton lasts longer, is easy to maintain, and its durability is strong because of its fibre materials. Cotton could be good for the environment because it's recyclable. It's eco-friendly as it also maintains soil fertility, and the fibres do not contain any toxic chemicals.  

Now you may wonder where cotton could be spotted in different types of clothing…. it could be anywhere! Cotton is one of the most essential textiles; you commonly see them in clothes like denim, quilts, towels, robes, blankets, and shirts. Cotton is an excellent fabric for infants as they tend to have sensitive skin. 

WOOL 

Another unique type of textile is wool, as it primarily comes from sheep's fur. It could also be similar to cotton, as both have the same fluffy and soft texture, but wool differs massively from cotton. Wool is an excellent textile because it benefits people and the environment too!

Wool is natural and renewable, as sheep's fur grows continuously and wool could be easily renewed. When clothing is made out of wool, it makes a great source of body insulation due to its fibres. In winter, wool is definitely an excellent material for clothing such as sweaters to keep your skin warm. Wool won't only keep you warm, but it is also anti-wrinkle when it's washed. After being crumpled in a washing machine, the wool turns back to its natural shape. 

Images by Yucen He

Like cotton, wool could also absorb sweat. But wool could absorb sweat twice as much as cotton, which prevents you from getting sweaty and having an unpleasant body smell. Wool is superbly odour resistant. As wool is made up of sheep's fur, it is biodegradable - it contains natural materials of fibres that could be easily decomposed. 

Since wool is an excellent body insulator, it is always perfect for winter clothes. Wool can mostly be seen in peacoats, cashmere sweaters, socks, toques, gloves, and other forms of cold-weather gear, or primarily in carpets and blankets. 

LINEN 

Linen is one of the natural textiles that could be a superb choice as well. The materials of linen are similar to cotton as it comes from plants, though linen comes from the flax plant. Turning the flax plant into linen takes a lengthy process as it includes many complex steps. Linen is an excellent textile because it benefits people and is eco-friendly. 

Linen is strong as linen fibres are way thicker than any other materials. Expect that linen has a high quality when used. 

Linen could dry fast compared to cotton, and allows a massive airflow because of its porous natural fibres. Its durability is impressive compared to other natural textiles. Since it dries quickly, linen is an excellent choice for travelling as it is easy to manage! 

Images by Yucen He

Some natural textiles also lose their shape after washing them in the washing machine. They get crumpled and look worn out. However, linen gets better with every wash! It doesn't become threadbare because the flax fibre is durable and robust. Expect the same shape of linen even after washing them!

Compared to cotton, linen is more sustainable as the process of turning the flax plant into linen includes less water. There are also fewer pesticides to grow a flax plant, and therefore processing linen has less use of chemicals, which is eco-friendly in the environment. 

Due to linen's durability, we can mainly spot them in homeware things such as aprons, tables, clothes, bed linens, chair covers, towels, etc. Linen could also be seen in different clothing styles, such as formal wear like blazers, vests, and jackets, as its materials are way thicker than other textiles.

SILK

Silk dresses are in trend these days, especially for women's clothing. But it's surprising to think that silk comes from a silkworm's cocoon. Yes, you heard that right! It may sound gross, but silk may be one of the most excellent, luxurious natural textiles out there. Turning the silkworm's cocoon into silk also includes several steps and processes. Silk could benefit people and the environment similar to cotton, wool, and linen. 

With its soft and smooth characteristics, silk could reduce skin irritations, and it may be suitable for people who have sensitive skin and allergies. It also reduces overheating because of its natural materials and could keep the temperature regulated. The silk is comfortable as clothes because of its smooth qualities. There are different types of silk, including mulberry, eri, tasar, and muga silk. The types of silk differ from what kind of worm's cocoon is used. 

Images by Yucen He

Like other natural textiles, silk is considered a sustainable material as it is renewable and biodegradable. It is eco-friendly too because it uses fewer chemicals and energy when processed! 

Silk is shiny and stylish, so this textile is very fashionable and could be an excellent fashion choice for celebrations. You could mostly see silk in formal clothing such as skirts, blouses, dresses, and evening wear. Slip dresses are in trend these days, and they are made of silk! As silk is also very stylish, it can be primarily seen in pillowcases and curtains. Silk is ideal for homeware things because of its presentable appearance and lasting durability. 

It is essential to know the differences between these types of natural textiles. Explore and recognize them, so you can wear comfortable clothes or even use adaptable homeware uses! 

For further reading on sustainable fabrics, you can check out Beeco’s fabric guide here.