What are Natural Fibers for Textiles?

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Here we are looking at natural fibers for textiles. There are 2 types of fibers that can be used in the manufacturing of textiles, natural fibers and man-made or synthetic fibers. To understand what are natural fibers, we need to look at the different sources.

Natural fibers are produced by animals, plants or geological (mineral) processes. Natural fibers are classified according to their origin and there are 3 categories:

  • Cellulose based fibers which are derived from plants (vegetable) like cotton, flax or linen, sisal, hemp and jute.
  • Protein based fibers which come from animals like wool, mohair and silk.
  • Mineral fibers come from geological processes like asbestos, ceramic (glass fiber) and metal (aluminium) fibers. These fibers are mainly used in the building and construction industry. They are not commonly used in textile manufacturing so we will not look at them in more detail here.

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What is Organic Cotton Clothing?

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Organic cotton clothing is made from fabric that was produced using organic cotton. Organic cotton is a natural fiber that is 100% plant derived. It is non-allergenic, non-irritant, soothing and comforting on the skin. It has high absorbency properties which makes it suitable for a wide range of uses. The main cotton producing countries are India, USA, Turkey, China, Egypt, Syria, Uganda, Peru, Tanzania and West Africa.

Cotton Field

Organic cotton is used widely in clothing and fabrics, footwear, home furnishings (like sheets, towels and bedding), kids and baby products (like nappies, clothes and toys), personal care and hygiene (like sanitary products, make-up removal pads and cotton wool) and even stationary.

The difference between organic cotton and non-organic cotton lies in the way the cotton is grown and treated.

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What are Reusable Baby Nappies?

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Reusable baby nappies are washable and can be used over and over again. Sometimes they are also referred to as real nappies or cloth nappies. The options that are available have increased dramatically over the past few years with some very stylish and practical designs. Reusable baby nappy pink

Using reusable baby nappies is not difficult, it is just different from using disposables. A cloth nappy will usually comprise of a number of parts; the nappy itself which provides the absorbency and the outer wrap or pant which provides the waterproof layer. This may be a single combined “all in one” nappy or a “all in two”. To this you can then add liners if required.

Traditionally reusable baby nappies were made from terry cloth and had to be folded in a triangular shape before being pinned to your baby. A waterproof cover was then put over. Modern designs have poppers or velcro fasteners so you don’t have to fear that you will either prick yourself or your baby with a nappy pin. Organic cotton and bamboo are also now available, which makes it very soft on your baby’s skin.

Environmental Impact Of Nappies

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About Liné

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Welcome to Eco World online. I started this website to research environmentally friendly and sustainable products. I feel quite strongly that every individual can make a difference to making our World a better place. That starts with looking after our planet and preserving what mother nature has given us. As an avid hand crafter, I … Read more