Tracing the Threads of Your Wardrobe

Hellllllloooo people!!!!

You might wonder why I stretch out my “hello,” but that’s literally me screaming in excitement to greet you and share the topics I find interesting.

Alright!

Let’s get started. 

In this post, I would like to go a bit in depth into the first stage of the garment manufacturing process, which I mentioned in my previous post. 

If you haven’t checked out my previous blog post, feel free to do so.

The first stage is the fiber stage.

And before we go further, I would like to ask you a few questions:

1. How do you define the fabric quality of your favourite dress?
2. Have you ever wondered what is “95% cotton and 5% spandex” mentioned in the label of your favourite bodycon dress?
3. Where do you think that the quality of your dress comes from?

Right!!

It starts from the fibre stage of your dress.

For those who haven’t read my previous post, the fibre is a small hair-like structure, which is the raw material for your garment. 

If you look closely at your favourite dress, you’ll see it is made of lots of tiny threads criss crossing each other. Each of these threads is made up of even tinier fibres. These fibres are like the building blocks of the fabric!

These fibres are taken out from either natural sources such as plants and animals, or from man-made sources.

Let me classify the fibres into two categories. They are

• Natural fibres

• Man made fibres

Natural fibres

As the name suggests, the small hairy like fibres are extracted from nature such as plants, trees, leaves, and animals.

Natural fibres can be put into two groups: plant-based fibres and animal-based fibres

Plant based fibres

These are the fibres extracted from the plants.

Fibres like – 

the majorly used fibre – cotton fibre

The farmers pick the fluffy cotton balls from the plants. The cotton is then cleaned to remove seeds and dirt, resulting of fibres.

Flax fibre:

The stalks of the flax plants are harvested, then soaked in water to loosen the fibres. After that, the fibres are separated from the rest of the plant.

Various fibres are extracted from various available plant sources.

Animal based fibres –

Now talking about animal-based fibres, these fibres are extracted from animals. You don’t have to freak out. It’s just the out layer i.e. hair of the animal is extracted and used as fibres.

For example,

Wool:

Wool comes from sheep. Farmers shear (cut off) the sheep’s woolly coat. The wool is cleaned and spun into yarn.

Silk:

It comes from silkworms. Silkworms spin cocoons from silk thread. These cocoons are collected, and the silk thread is unwound to make log fibres.  

And one more thing, interestingly, the only continuous long, lengthy fibre is silk.

Man-Made fibres:

These are the fibres that are made by man, i.e. humans in factories using chemicals.  

In man-made fibres also there are two sections called regenerative fibres and synthetic fibres, but I would not prefer to touch in detail on those as I know it will bore you out.

To keep it simple, I’ll just brief on the concept of man-made fibres.

Now you may ask, already there are fibres which can be extracted naturally from nature, so what’s the need to develop the fibres using chemicals?

The answer is, man-made fibres are developed in order to give or enhance certain properties which cannot be obtained from natural fibres.

Let me simplify it for you.

Have you ever noticed when you wear a cotton dress it might be tight when you fold your elbows though it is not actually tight when your arms are relaxed? In contrast, a body-hugging dress made of man-made fibres allows free movement without any restrictions of body movements.

This is what I am talking about.  

The reason for the birth of man-made fibres.

You get my point right??

So now coming to man-made fibres, these are like special threads made by people in factories instead of growing by plants or animals like I said before. Here’s how they are created:

Scientists start with raw materials, usually chemicals. These chemicals come from oil or natural gas.

The chemicals are mixed together to make a thick, gooey liquid.

This liquid is pushed through tiny holes, kind of like squeezing toothpaste out of a tube.

When the liquid comes out of the holes, it hardens into long, thin threads. These threads are nothing but manmade fibres.

Examples: 

Polyester – a strong fibre, doesn’t wrinkle easily eliminating the need to be ironed.

Nylon – this fibre is stretchy and strong, used for things like stockings or sportswear.

Acrylic – which you might have seen inside the stuffed dolls. It is an alternative for wool fibres and is used to make warm clothes like sweaters.

This is about man made fibres.

Now that we’ve explored the fascinating world of fibres, let’s see this knowledge in action. This is a perfect example of how man-made fibres, like polyester, enhance both functionality and style. This waterproof high-neck raincoat, complete with adjustable drawstrings and pockets, showcases the durability and weather resistance of polyester. By choosing such versatile pieces, you can stay stylish and informed, even on rainy days. https://amzn.to/3zJuYHp

Now you might ask why do you have to know about the different types of fibres? 

The answer is quite simple.

To make the right choice in buying clothes while you are shopping.

To understand the health of your dress.

To care for your dress for longevity and durability.

For example, you go shopping to buy summer dresses as it would be a summer season but end up buying a polyester dress as you like it very much. You cannot bear wearing a polyester dress in the summer season.

Natural fibres like cotton. linen, Jute, hemp, etc comes to your rescue when you want soft, flowy, breathable dresses.

Especially for infants and kids, natural fibres are the safest options.

In contrast, you cannot opt for the same natural fibre dress, say a pure cotton t-shirt when it’s the rainy season as cotton will absorb water and make your dress heavy leaving you completely drenched.

When you see your care label on your dress which says the composition material of your dress, you will be able to easily identify the need for using certain man made/synthetic blends or cotton blends.

And also, don’t forget to brag about your knowledge of how not only stylish and fashionable you are but also have knowledge over your dresses.

Beyond clothing:

Here, I would like to specify another thing as well. If you think that these fibres are used to only make clothes, then I must say that you are wrong.

Let me tell you why.

Your daily activities include a lot of textile fibre materials which we don’t focus on much.

For example,

In your wardrobe – cotton fibres found in t-shirts, jeans, socks, and underwear. Polyester which is a manmade fibre used in sportswear, your jackets and used in blends with other fibres. Wool fibre which is animal based, used in your sweaters, suits, and winter wear. 

Nylon fibre-man made fibre, found in stockings, swimwear and activewear. Spandex – man made fibre, blended with other fibres to add stretch like your bras, fitted bodycon dresses.

In your household items – cotton fibres are used in your bedsheets, pillowcases, towels and curtains. Polyester fibre found in upholstery, carpets and curtains. Acrylic fibre commonly used in blankets, rugs, some type of furniture upholstery, Rayon fibres used in bed linens. 

In your accessories: Leather – animal-based fibre, used in belts, shoes, bags, and wallets. Cotton, found in hats, gloves, and bags. Wool, used in hats, scarves, and gloves. Silk, found in ties, scarves, and handkerchiefs.

If you say that all the above-mentioned items come under the clothing section, then I bet you might change your perspective as you read further.

Nylon – man made fibres used in backpacks, tents, and outdoor jackets.

Polyester found in sleeping bags, outdoor gear, and athletic equipment.

Spandex used in swimwear, cycling shorts, and yoga mats.

In your cars or bus, or any other transports: 

Polyester and Nylon, used in car seat covers, seat belts, and interior upholstery.

The felt over your head in the car is made up of textile fibre. The tires are also made up of textile fibres.

Wool Blends are sometimes used in higher-end vehicle interiors.

Apart from these,

Cotton is found in bandages, gauze, and medical scrubs.

Non-Woven Polypropylene – a manmade fibre, used in surgical masks, gowns, and medical drapes.

Paper (Cellulose fibres) found in notebooks, books, and office paper.

Microfiber (usually polyester or polyamide) used in cleaning cloths and dusters.

Cotton found in reusable shopping bags and aprons.

I can go on and on about this.

There are plenty and plenty of applications for these fibres starting from the agriculture sector to the aerospace sector.

You never thought about it, right??   

I didn’t realize the vast amount of fibres that are within my reach until I learned about them.

Just take a look around you now and see the textile fibres that you have ignored till now.

This waterproof high-neck raincoat, complete with adjustable drawstrings and pockets, showcases the durability and weather resistance of polyester. By choosing such versatile pieces, you can stay stylish and informed, even on rainy days. https://amzn.to/3zfMeUe 

If you are interested and want to know in depth about fibres or fibres related to any sector, feel free to drop a comment below, and I will surely get back to you.

Thanks a bunch for reading my blog post. I have many more topics to discuss with you and I can’t wait to explore the future of fashion together.

I want this blog to be as communicative as possible, where we can discuss, learn, and grow together. I am excited to read your feedback and ideas on this post. 

Note: I wouldn’t agree with the notion that natural textiles or clothes are always safe for the environment and man-made fibres are not. Man-made fibres can be durable and used for a longer period, reducing the need to discard natural materials frequently. The key is to adapt versatility and replace our wardrobe with versatile clothes, avoiding overconsumption. But again, this is my perspective, and it may differ for each person, and that is completely okay.

Let’s stay connected!

Until next time, stay stylish and informed!

With purpose, 

RK//:)

AUTHOR :

RATHNA KUMARI- Master’s in design.