Types of Fabric


Fabrics are divided into two groups of fibres:

  • natural
  • synthetic

Natural fibers come from plants or animals and include

  • cotton
  • wool
  • linen
  • silk

Natural fabrics wear well, look good, and are comfortable to wear because of absorbency. Natural fabrics do require preshrinking and do tend to wrinkle.

Synthetic fibres are made by man and include

  • nylon
  • polyester
  • rayon
  • acrylic
  • acetate

Synthetic fibres tend to resist wrinkling and shrinkage but are less comfortable to wear. Synthetic fabrics also tend to be more heat sensitive.

Blends are a mixture of two or more fibres. Blends gain the benefit of each fibre minimizing disadvantages. An example of a blend is a fabric labeled 50% cotton/50% polyester. This fabric will be comfortable to wear and will resist wrinkling.
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