Today’s times have brought the development of many industries, including the clothing industry. In recent years, synthetic materials have started to be used on a mass scale, which often causes a lot of controversy. Among the fabrics in stores that are generally available, the natural ones are still dominant, but artificial ones are not much less common, and in practice they are no less functional. Before forming an opinion on this subject, it is worth getting acquainted with what actually different types of fabrics differ.
What fabrics are used in the textile industry?
There is a basic division into three types of fabrics in common circulation. Those are:
- Natural fabrics
- Artificial fabrics
- Synthetic fabrics
Each of them has been used in industry and is used on a mass scale. It is often suggested that natural fabrics are the best and in fact it can be said so, but only in some cases, because artificial and synthetic fabrics are also used, and many of them perform much better. Different types of fabrics have completely different specifications, and therefore it is worth getting acquainted with the most important parameters that differ them. Fabrics in storesthey are usually sold in pure versions, i.e. containing 100% of a given type of material, but also materials made of mixtures of various fabrics, such as natural and artificial ones, are often found. Sometimes this is done for the sake of simple economy, but often it is simply using other parameters of a given type of fabric to achieve a certain result.
What are natural fabrics characterized by?
Natural fabrics are most commonly used in the clothing industry. They have a good reputation as they are associated with classic products and semi-finished products that have been used for many centuries. Most of the natural fabrics on the market are made of cotton. They are plant-based fabrics, so they are also ecological and considered the healthiest. However, more delicate varieties of natural fabrics, such as for example silk, are also often used. It is much softer than cotton and more expensive. Natural fabrics have gained their popularity due to the fact that they are relatively easy to manufacture and also to process. This allows them to be easily used for the production of clothing, bedding, curtains and other products of this kind. They are also aesthetic, and in the case of, for example, silk, they can be extremely effective.Silk is extremely delicate, but also has a characteristic, eye-catching shine. INin fabric stores, it is usually one of the most expensive items.
Natural fabrics as an ideal material for the production of clothing
Cotton, linen or silk have gained enormous popularity in the production of clothing, among others because they are pleasant and soft to the touch. This makes clothing made of this type of fabrics neutral for the body and does not cause irritation even in prolonged, direct contact with it. Their advantage is also the fact that they do not cause allergies, which sometimes happens in artificial or synthetic fabrics, so some people may have a problem with some clothing products. Fabrics in storesthey are always accurately described and if someone has any problem, the tags should be able to verify the full composition, and if there are any synthetic or artificial admixtures next to cotton, it may be a reason for allergy. Natural materials also have an interesting advantage, which makes them ideal for the production of clothing. Namely, they let air through and remove moisture, which prevents the formation of a favorable microclimate for the growth of bacteria and microorganisms directly under the skin. Therefore, when wearing clothes made of natural materials, it is much easier to maintain hygiene.
Artificial and synthetic fabrics
Apart from natural fabrics, synthetic and artificial fabrics are very often used. They differ in many ways. Artificial fabrics are made of natural semi-finished products, mostly cellulose. At the early stage of production, however, it is chemically processed quite heavily, to the extent that in the end such fabrics differ significantly from natural fabrics. On the other hand, synthetic materials are entirely made of synthetic semi-finished products and usually no natural materials are used in their production. Such fabrics are often used in the production of garments for specialized applications. They can often be found as the main material in sportswear, workwear, or other specialist clothing. They are very durable, light and do not absorb water as much,like natural fabrics. Some of them may be completely impermeable to water, which is why they are used, for example, in the production of tarpaulins.Fabric stores , as you can see, offer a wide range of materials with various parameters, so it’s worth knowing exactly what you are looking for.
