Textile materials.
In-depth guides to 112 fibers, materials and branded technologies. Each covers types and fabrics, how to buy and care for it, its science and history, labeling law and sources.
Search and filter in the interactive library ↗Plant
Abacá
Leaf-sheath fiber from Musa textilis, a relative of edible bananas.
Bamboo bast
Mechanically separated bamboo fiber, distinct from viscose made using bamboo-derived pulp..
Banana fiber
Fiber extracted from banana pseudostems or leaf sheaths.
Barkcloth
A sheet formed from prepared inner bark, usually by beating and joining rather than conventional spinning and weaving..
Coir
Fiber separated from the husk of the coconut.
Cotton
A seed fiber with a world of possibilities.
Hemp
A strong stem fiber, made wearable.
Henequen
A hard leaf fiber from Agave fourcroydes, related to but distinct from sisal..
Jute
The golden fiber of working textiles.
Kapok
Light seed floss from the kapok tree, commonly Ceiba pentandra.
Kenaf
Bast fiber from Hibiscus cannabinus, with a woody core that can have separate uses..
Linen
A field of flax, woven into summer.
Lotus fiber
Fine strands drawn from lotus stems and joined for specialty yarn.
Milkweed floss
Seed floss from milkweed plants.
Nettle
Bast fiber from nettle species.
Paper yarn
Narrow paper strips twisted into yarn.
Pineapple leaf fiber
Leaf fiber from the pineapple plant.
Raffia
Strips and fibers from raffia palm leaves.
Ramie
An old bast fiber with a bright surface.
Sisal
A hard leaf fiber from Agave sisalana.
Animal
Alpaca
The Andes, carried in a fleece.
Angora
Rabbit down with a distinctive halo.
Bison down
Fine undercoat recovered from bison and separated from coarse hair..
Camel hair
Warmth gathered from a seasonal coat.
Cashmere
A winter undercoat, a long spring journey.
Chiengora
A term for yarn spun from dog undercoat, usually in small-scale craft contexts..
Down
Soft branching plumage clusters, commonly from ducks or geese.
Eri silk
Silk associated with eri silkworms, commonly prepared as spun staple rather than a continuous reeled filament..
Feather
Bird plumage with a more defined shaft than down.
Guanaco
A Patagonian fiber with a conservation story.
Horsehair
Coarse mane or tail hair used for resilience and structure rather than softness..
Llama
Fleece from Lama glama, with fine and coarse fractions that may need separation..
Merino wool
From open pasture to considered cloth.
Mohair
Luster from the Angora goat.
Muga silk
A silk associated with Assam and the muga silkworm.
Possum fiber
Underfur used in specialty blends, particularly with wool.
Qiviut
An Arctic undercoat, patiently gathered.
Rabbit hair
Rabbit hair from breeds other than, or not identified as, Angora.
Silk
A continuous filament, a luminous cloth.
Tussar silk
A group of non-mulberry silks, with species and geography affecting the finished fiber..
Vicuña
A rare Andean down with a complex provenance.
Yak down
A fine underlayer from the high plateau.
Cellulosic
Acetate
A cellulose derivative, usually cellulose diacetate, spun into fiber.
Cupro
Regenerated cellulose made by a cuprammonium process, often using cotton linters as feedstock..
Lyocell
Cellulose transformed through a solvent process.
Modal
Regenerated cellulose with wet strength in mind.
Triacetate
A more highly acetylated cellulose derivative than ordinary acetate..
Viscose
Plant cellulose, dissolved and remade.
Synthetic
Acrylic
A spun staple with a wool-like hand.
Elastane
A little stretch changes the whole garment.
Modacrylic
A modified acrylonitrile-based fiber category, chemically distinct from ordinary acrylic..
Nylon
Strength designed into a filament.
Polyester
Engineered filaments, everywhere around us.
Polypropylene
An olefin polymer melt-spun into fibers or tapes..
PVA / vinal
Polyvinyl alcohol-based fibers with properties controlled by polymer treatment and processing.
PVC / vinyon
Chlorinated vinyl-polymer fibers.
Recycled
Recycled cotton
Cotton recovered from production scraps or used textiles and reopened for another textile cycle..
Recycled nylon
Polyamide recovered through a recycling route from a specified waste stream.
Recycled polyester
A new filament from an existing polymer.
Recycled wool
Another life for an existing thread.
Technical
Carbon fiber
Carbon-rich filaments produced from a precursor such as PAN or pitch and usually used in a composite system..
Meta-aramid
An aromatic polyamide with a different molecular arrangement from para-aramid, used for thermal performance..
Para-aramid
An aromatic polyamide engineered for high tensile performance.
PBI fiber
Polybenzimidazole, an engineered high-temperature fiber commonly used within protective textile systems..
Polyethylene / UHMWPE
Polyethylene fibers include high-performance ultra-high-molecular-weight grades.
PPS fiber
Polyphenylene sulfide engineered for demanding industrial environments..
PTFE fiber
Polytetrafluoroethylene formed into fibers or related textile structures.
Mineral & metal
Asbestos (historical)
A group of naturally fibrous silicate minerals historically used in technical textiles.
Basalt fiber
Continuous or discontinuous mineral fiber formed from processed basalt rock..
Ceramic fiber
A broad group of inorganic technical fibers, with composition and respirability varying widely..
Glass fiber
Drawn inorganic glass filaments, available in multiple compositions and product forms..
Metal fiber
Fine metallic filaments, shaved fibers or metal-containing yarn structures.
Bio-based
Regenerated protein
Azlon / protein fiber
Manufactured fiber formed from regenerated protein, historically including casein, soy and other sources..
Specialty
Cervelt
A proprietary name in the rare-fiber archive.
Fox fur
A pelt material with a pronounced pile.
Mink
An archival view of a pelt-based material.
Raccoon dog fur
A species name matters as much as a trade name.
Yangir
A rare trade name that needs careful evidence.
Brands & technologies
Bemberg™
Cupro brand · understand the name behind the label.
Brunello Cucinelli
Cashmere and apparel house · understand the name behind the label.
Canali
Italian menswear house · understand the name behind the label.
CIRCULOSE®
Recycled dissolving pulp · understand the name behind the label.
COOLMAX®
Performance-fiber technology · understand the name behind the label.
Dyneema®
UHMWPE brand · understand the name behind the label.
ECONYL®
Regenerated nylon brand · understand the name behind the label.
Infinna™
Regenerated fiber brand · understand the name behind the label.
John Smedley
British knitwear maker · understand the name behind the label.
Johnstons of Elgin
Scottish weaving and knitwear house · understand the name behind the label.
Kevlar®
Para-aramid brand · understand the name behind the label.
LENZING™ ECOVERO™
Branded viscose · understand the name behind the label.
Loro Piana
Textile maison (Quarona) · understand the name behind the label.
LYCRA®
Stretch-fiber brand · understand the name behind the label.
Naia™
Cellulose-acetate brand · understand the name behind the label.
Nomex®
Meta-aramid brand · understand the name behind the label.
Nuyarn®
Yarn construction technology · understand the name behind the label.
Paul Smith
Designer menswear house · understand the name behind the label.
Piacenza 1733
Historic Biella mill house · understand the name behind the label.
Reda
Italian wool cloth mill · understand the name behind the label.
REFIBRA™
Feedstock technology · understand the name behind the label.
REPREVE®
Recycled-material platform · understand the name behind the label.
SeaCell™
Cellulose composite fiber · understand the name behind the label.
SEAQUAL® YARN
Recycled-yarn program · understand the name behind the label.
Sorona®
Partly bio-based polymer · understand the name behind the label.
SPINNOVA®
Fiber technology · understand the name behind the label.
TENCEL™
Branded fiber family · understand the name behind the label.
Vitale Barberis Canonico
Italian cloth mill · understand the name behind the label.
Wolf vs Goat
Fabric-first apparel brand · understand the name behind the label.
Yves Salomon
Outerwear house · understand the name behind the label.
ZEGNA
Textile and menswear house · understand the name behind the label.
ZQ
Wool sourcing program · understand the name behind the label.