Textile fibers are substances present in nature or artificially created by humans that, due to their characteristics, are suitable to be spun and then woven.
Fibers can be classified into three main categories, as also explained by the CNSC: natural, artificial, and synthetic. But what are the differences between natural, artificial, and synthetic fibers? Let's find out together.
Natural fibers come from animal or plant sources found in nature. Some examples are wool, cashmere (animal sources), flax, cotton, hemp (plant sources). Natural fibers do not require chemical processes to be transformed into yarns, only mechanical processes such as carding and spinning.
Artificial fibers are created starting from natural raw materials but require chemical transformation to become yarns. For example, viscose, lyocell, and rayon derive from wood cellulose and are then chemically processed to become fibers usable in the textile industry.
Synthetic fibers are completely artificial and have no natural origin. They are entirely produced in laboratories, often starting from petroleum or its by-products. Synthetic fibers are designed to have specific properties, such as waterproofness or resistance to weather conditions. Examples of synthetic fibers are: polyester, nylon, and polypropylene.
Synthetic fibers, thanks to their technical characteristics, are widely used for sports and technical clothing.
However, in recent years there has been a growing interest in natural fibers, due to increased awareness among the population in using sustainable and ecological materials.
We at Lanaioli have never had any doubts and from the very beginning we chose to produce our garments only with natural yarns, a prime example being our pure cashmere collection, the flagship of Lanaioli production.
