Natural Fiber Facts

Cotton

• The Care;Machine-wash white and light-colored cotton fabrics in warm or hot water.
• Advantages/Disadvantages:Cotton is soft and comfortable. It is hypoallergenic and won't irritate sensitive skin or cause allergies. The fibers are spun tightly into yarn that won't irritate skin or cause static electricity.
• Uses: Shirts, T-Shirts, Pants, Socks
• Characteristics: Soft, Comfortable, Good Absorbency, Washable
• Reproduction: Plant is grown
• Cottonseed meal (leftovers of seed after extraction of the oil) is used as food for animals

Flax (linen)

• The Care:Wash in cold water, Use the gentle machine cycle and a mild detergent to protect the fibres
• Advantage/Disadvantage: Fabric is strong. Linen-clothing can be worn in any kind of weather. It can even be worn in a hot and humid weather, because it is highly absorbent. Pattern clothing makes you feel fresh because it is not sticky and removes skin perspirations.
• Uses: Home furnishings, Luggage, tablecloths, bath towels, dish towels
• Characteristics: Strong, durible, absorbant,
• Production: Plant is grown
• Linen is a perfect "green" fiber.

Ramie

• The Care: It can be machine washed but hang drying is recommended because it is prone to wrinkles. Machine wash with a mild detergent in warm or cool water. Tumble dry low or line dry.
• Disadvantage/advantage: Resists the attack of bacteria, Doesn't shrink, keeps shape, Wrinkles easily,
• Uses:

Wool

• The care:Hand washing is a slow soak for 10 minutes followed by a rinse in warm water. To get rid of excess water, roll your garment up in a towel and gently press to absorb. After machine-washing, gently shake and reshape and lay to dry.
• Disadvantage/Advantage: Lightweight, absorbant, affected by moths, shrinks
• Uses: Blankets, Horse rugs, Carpeting
• Characteristics:Fiber absorbency ; it takes up moisture. Feels natural, Strong
• The make:First fibers to be spun into yarn and woven into fabric. Wool is mostly comes from sheep but also from alpacas, camels, and goats.
• Facts: Sheep are usually shorn once a year in the spring to keep them cool and harvest their fleece.

Silk

• Care:Wet a small piece of the fabric in cool water. Press it with a warm iron. If it leaves no colour or hardly any mark on the white fabric, then you can safely wash it. Never soak, boil, bleach or wring Silk or leave it crumpled in a towel. Do not let Silk become too dirty before washing, as hard rubbing damages the fibres.
• Advantage/Disadvantage:Soft, Drapes well, Expensive, Yellows with age
• Uses: Parachute, Bicycles tires
• Characteristics: lightweight, breathable, has good absorbency, has excellent drapability and is highly resistant to mold and mildew.
• Make: Silk worm coccoons
• Facts:Silk culture has been practiced for at least 5000 years in China.