Natural Fibers | Eco World

What Is Fabric Made With Corn?

November 24, 2022July 28, 2021 by Liné Cowley

If you are looking for a vegan friendly, sustainable textile, you might want to consider fabric made with corn waste. So what is corn fiber and what is fabric made with corn? Or for that matter, what is corn leather? What is the environmental impact of corn production? You might be very familiar with eating corn on the cob, but what about wearing corn fiber clothing?

Biotechnology has led to the advancement of bio-based products that are derived from natural renewable resources, rather than fossil fuels. It is improvising and producing green textiles that are sustainable and eco friendly.

Scientists and textile engineers are constantly looking to develop eco friendly new materials, that rely less on the limited resources of our planet. Fabric made with corn is one such new textile innovation.

What Material is Ramie?

June 1, 2021March 13, 2021 by Liné Cowley

Have you ever wondered what material is ramie? Or what is ramie made of? Ramie is a linen-like fiber which is classified as a cellulose fiber and is made from the stalks of the Chinese nettle plant.

What is Ramie Fabric?

Ramie is an eco friendly fabric and the highly sustainable fiber is an alternative to synthetic fabrics. It is naturally resistant to mold, mildew and bacteria, as well as light damage and rot and insect attacks. It can be healthily grown without any pesticides, herbicides and chemicals.

5 Best Organic Baby Clothes Brands

November 24, 2022September 24, 2020 by Liné Cowley

Are you looking for unique organic baby clothes, but at the same time it needs to be affordable organic cotton clothing? Then look no further than these 5 best organic baby clothes brands.

But before we look at what you need for an eco sustainable baby, you might be wondering why organic? What is organic cotton? So lets first have a look at some of the basics of natural organic cotton.

5 Innovative Textile Solutions for Vegans

July 7, 2021June 18, 2020 by Liné Cowley

The best innovative textile solutions for vegans are those that use waste from the food industry to make vegan silk fabric and vegan leather. Not only do they help to reduce waste, but they are also biodegradable. From frumat apple leather to mango fruit leather to desserto vegan leather made from cactus, and even leather made from grapes, there are now some incredible options available.

Increasingly, vegan leather is made to look like real leather and it is increasingly efficient. We have previously discussed other innovative textile solutions such as Piñatex, made from pineapple leaves, and fabric made from banana fiber.

So let’s explore these innovative textile solutions for vegans that are made from fruit.

Latex vs Rubber: is it the same thing?

May 24, 2021February 23, 2020 by Liné

Rubber and latex are not the same thing, but many people use the words as if they are the same. Latex is the milky white sap of rubber trees, which is found beneath the bark of a mature rubber tree.

So how is rubber made and does rubber contain latex? Yes, it certainly does and we will look at the production processes of how is rubber made.

Viscose fabric – the textile made from cellulose

August 6, 2021September 5, 2019 by Liné Cowley

Viscose fabric is made from cellulosic fibers which might make you wonder, what is a cellulose fiber?

To get a better understanding of what is a cellulose fiber, we will look at what cellulosic fibers are used for and how is viscose made. We will also explore the types of natural cellulosic fibers and man-made cellulose fibers like viscose and rayon, as well as the difference between rayon and viscose.

So what is a Cellulose Fiber?

Vegan Leather or Real Leather – which one will you choose?

May 14, 2021August 5, 2019 by Liné Cowley

The new buzz word in the fashion industry seems to be vegan leather. So what is vegan leather and is it ethical, eco friendly and sustainable? In this post we will look at what vegan leather is and the options that are available and also look at vegan or bonded leather vs. genuine leather.

What is vegan leather?

Vegan leather is an alternative to animal leather and comes in a range of different materials from synthetic to natural. It is basically any kind of substitute for leather that is not made from the skin of dead animals.

What is Leather? The Rawhide from Animals

July 3, 2021August 5, 2019 by Liné Cowley

What is leather?

Leather comes from the skin of animals and reptiles and the basic component is rawhide. Genuine Leather sign If leather is not treated, it will become stiff and fall apart as it is biodegradable. It will also be attacked by insects and other creatures that find leather a tasty snack.

This means that leather has to be “cured” before it can be used for garment and footwear production.Many years ago the tanning process of leather often involved the use of smoke, as well as vegetable tannins, salt, urine and animal faeces or even animal brains. So this was a very smelly and messy affair, so most tanneries were situated outside towns.

Coir – the Natural Fiber from Coconut Husk

July 7, 2021June 12, 2019 by Liné Cowley

Coir coconut fiber is a natural cellulose fiber which is obtained from coconut husk. It is the fibrous material that is found between the outer coat of a coconut and the hard internal shell. Copra is the dried coconut kernels from which coconut oil is obtained. Coir coconut fiber comes from a natural and renewable source and is one of the latest eco-friendly alternatives for textiles.

Linen Fabric and Flax Cultivation

July 6, 2021June 3, 2019 by Liné Cowley

Linen fabric is a textile that is made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is a natural cellulose fiber and comes from the inside of the stalks of the flax plant. Flax is an annual herb and is grown as a food and also a fiber crop. It is grown in warm moist climates around the world and has been cultivated for more than 6,000 years.

So Where Does Linen Fabric Come From?

Flax that is used for textile production is known as linen in Western countries. The stalks are used making linen fabric, while the seeds are used as a food source and the oil is known as linseed oil.

Flax fiber is extracted from the bast beneath the surface of the stem of the plant. Linen fibers are lustrous, strong and flexible and absorbent. They are stronger and driers quicker than cotton, but are less elastic. To make linen fabric is a laborious process but it produces a textile that is cool and fresh to wear in hot and humid climates.