The term “fiber” can be summarized as the filament of material capable of being woven or spun but it also designates the nature of the raw material used. Thus, fibers are the elementary ingredients of all fabrics and which we find the list on the composition label of our clothes.

The properties of the fibers (length, fineness, flexibility, etc.) determine the appearance and comfort of the fabrics. For example, wool is used to make “warm” fabrics, while linen is preferred for its ability to produce “cold” fabrics.

Textile fibers are divided into two main categories*:

Natural fibers:

They can be of plant origin, such as cotton or linen, or of animal origin, such as wool or silk.

Chemical fibers:

They are divided into two families: Artificial fibers which are obtained from a chemical transformation of natural substances and synthetic fibers made from artificial polymers.

* We can also cite another category of fibers made up of materials whose origin is mineral, such as carbon, aluminum, asbestos, quartz, etc. In clothing, fibers of mineral origin are used either for decorative purposes or for functional purposes.

To learn more about natural fibers:

The cotton

Linen

Wool

The silk