Fabric What is it Advantages Disadvantages

ANIMAL FABRICS
wool Hair of domestic goats or sheep Less conbustible than cotton or synthetics, easily returns to original shape, keeps you warm, is breathable, resistant to tearing. Pills easily, dull fiber, stronger dry than wet, can itch, can mildew/mold, will deteriorate through sunlight exposure.
Cashmere Hair of the indian cashmere goat Soft, lightweight and silky. Can be expensive.
Mohair Hair of the North African Angora goat Soft and easier to dye, light, absorbant, non-flammable, absorbs moisture, resistant to creases.
Silk Animal textile made from the fibres of the cocoon of the Chinese silkworm Most hypoallergenic of all fabrics, soft and beautiful shine, highly absorbant and lets your skin breathe, durable, light. expensive, yellows with age, needs special care and dry cleaning, leaves water spots.

PLANT FABRICS
Cotton A soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. Hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant, durable, environmentally friendly, soft, breaths well. Creases, easily soiled, burns easily, weakens with exposure to light.
Modal A cellulose fiber made by spinning reconstituted cellulose, often from beech trees. 50% more water-absorbent than cotton, can be dyed like cotton and is colourfast, resistant to shrinkage and fading, lightweight, appearance of silk, soft and smooth. Prone to stretching and pilling.

SYNTHETIC FABRICS
Polyester Polyesters include naturally occurring chemicals, such as in the cutin of plant cuticles, as well as synthetics. Used in all types of clothing, either alone or blended with fibres such as cotton. Easily dyed, strong, light weight, and resistant to shrinking, stretching, mildew and creasing. Sun resistant. Main disadvantage is that Polyester does not breathe. Fabric shine can be unattractive. Stains are difficult to remove. Not environmentally friendly.
Acrylic A fibre used to imitate wools, including cashmere. Woolly feel, durable, soft, colour fast, easy to clean. Not as warm as wool, can irritate the skin.
Viscose or rayon Viscose is a viscous organic liquid used to make rayon and cellophane. Viscose is becoming synonymous with rayon, a soft material commonly used in shirts, shorts, coats, jackets, and other outer wear. Viscose rayon has a silky appearance and feel, breathable similar to cotton, inexpensive. Not environmentally friendly, creases easily.
Nylon A tough, lightweight, elastic synthetic polymer with a proteinlike chemical structure. Used to imitate silk. Very resilient, easy to care, resistant to insects, fungi and mildew. Not absorbant, can have an unpleasant sheen, environmentally unfriendly, prone to static electricity.
Spandex or Lycra A polyurethane product that can be made tight-fitting without impeding movement. It is used to make activewear, bras, and swimsuits. very elastic, good resistance to lotions oils and perspiration, light weight, strong and durable, soft, smooth, easy to care for. Does not breath very well, slippery on surfaces, sensitive to heat, will show every blub on your body!

COMBINATIONS
Velvet A closely woven fabric of silk, cotton, or nylon that has a thick short pile on one side. Depends on the fabric it’s made of.
Satin A smooth, glossy fabric, typically of silk but also nylon or polyester, produced by a weave in which the threads of the warp are caught and looped by the weft only…: “a blue satin dress Luxurious, smooth, silky, drapes nicely. prone to water spots.
Organza A thin, stiff, transparent fabric made of silk or a synthetic yarn. Lightweight, fine, crisp and sheer.