Fabric 101.
A reference to every fiber you'll find on a label. Open the one you're holding, or use the jump bar.
Fabric labels can read like a second language. Cotton, linen, viscose, TENCEL™, polyester, elastane, acrylic, wool, cashmere, nylon. So let's translate.
Almost every clothing fiber falls into one of four groups: plant, animal, semi-synthetic, and synthetic.
The best one depends on what the garment needs to do, how you'll wear and wash it, and what matters most to you.
Natural plant fibers.
These come from plants like cotton, flax, hemp, and ramie. They're often breathable, comfortable, and biodegradable. But their real impact depends on farming, water use, pesticides, processing, dyeing, and how long the garment actually lasts.
So plant-based doesn't automatically mean low-impact. The fiber name is just the starting point.
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, breathable plant fiber used in T-shirts, denim, underwear, baby clothes, bedding, and everyday basics.
It comes from the fluffy fiber around the seeds of the cotton plant.
Good for
Absorbent and easy to wash, it suits everyday basics and warm weather.
Watch out for
Conventional cotton can be water- and pesticide-intensive. It can also shrink, wrinkle, and take longer to dry than synthetics.
Look for organic, recycled, Fair Trade, Better Cotton, or other verified sourcing details when available.
Organic cotton
Organic cotton is cotton grown under organic farming standards and is often used for basics, baby clothes, underwear, pajamas, and bedding.
It is grown without certain synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and feels the same as conventional cotton.
Good for
Organic cotton is a good choice for anything worn against the skin.
Watch out for
The word "organic" is most meaningful when backed by certification. Look for GOTS, OCS, or clear organic content claims.
Recycled cotton
Recycled cotton is made from cotton waste or used textiles, helping reduce demand for new cotton fiber.
The waste can be factory scraps or worn garments.
Good for
Recycled cotton is often used in denim, sweatshirts, T-shirts, tote bags, casualwear, and blended fabrics.
Watch out for
The fibers are shorter and weaker, so brands often blend them with virgin cotton or polyester, which makes the fabric harder to recycle again.
Linen / flax
Linen is a breathable, naturally textured fiber made from flax, best known for summer clothing, relaxed tailoring, and home textiles.
Good for
Strong, absorbent, and cool in hot weather, and it softens with wear.
Watch out for
It wrinkles easily and can feel stiff at first, so skip it if you want a crisp, wrinkle-free look.
Hemp
Hemp is a durable plant fiber known for strength, breathability, and a casual textured feel.
It comes from the stalk of the hemp plant and is often blended with cotton or lyocell for softness.
Good for
Casual shirts, pants, workwear, and bags that need to last.
Watch out for
Pure hemp can feel coarse.
Ramie
Ramie is a plant fiber similar to linen, known for strength, breathability, and a slightly crisp feel.
It comes from the stalk of the ramie plant and turns up mostly in lightweight shirts, dresses, and blends.
Good for
It holds its shape well in warm-weather clothing.
Watch out for
It wrinkles and can feel stiff, which is why it is often blended with cotton or viscose.
Natural animal fibers.
These come from animals: sheep, goats, alpacas, silkworms, ducks, and geese. They can be warm, breathable, insulating, durable, and built to last for years.
They also raise sourcing and welfare questions, though. Look for traceability, responsible sourcing, and certifications when they're available.
Wool
Wool is a warm, breathable animal fiber from sheep, commonly used in sweaters, coats, suits, socks, and base layers.
Good for
It insulates, regulates temperature, and resists odor better than most fibers.
Watch out for
Some wool itches, and hot or rough washing shrinks it. For sourcing, look for non-mulesed claims or RWS certification.
Merino wool
Merino wool is a finer, softer type of wool often used in base layers, socks, sweaters, and performance clothing.
Good for
It resists odor and regulates temperature, so it travels well.
Watch out for
It costs more than regular wool and needs gentle washing. Look for non-mulesed or RWS-certified merino.
Cashmere
Cashmere is a soft, lightweight fiber from goats, often used in sweaters, scarves, and luxury knitwear.
Good for
Warm without weight, and very soft.
Watch out for
Quality varies widely: cheap cashmere pills fast, and a cashmere blend can be mostly something else. The goats also raise welfare and land-use questions.
Alpaca
Alpaca is a warm, soft animal fiber often used in sweaters, scarves, coats, and winter accessories.
Good for
Alpaca can be lightweight, warm, and soft.
Watch out for
It can stretch or lose shape. Look for RAS certification.
Mohair
Mohair is a lustrous, fluffy fiber from Angora goats, often used in sweaters, cardigans, scarves, and textured knits.
Good for
Mohair is lightweight, warm, and visually textured.
Watch out for
It sheds, can itch, and raises welfare questions. Look for RMS certification.
Angora
Angora is a very soft, fluffy fiber from Angora rabbits, usually found in sweaters and luxury blends.
Good for
A small amount adds softness and a fuzzy halo to knits.
Watch out for
It sheds heavily and has serious animal welfare problems; many brands avoid it.
Silk
Silk is a smooth, lightweight animal-derived fiber known for sheen, drape, and a cool feel against the skin.
It is made by silkworms.
Good for
Silk works well for blouses, dresses, scarves, sleepwear, linings, and occasionwear.
Watch out for
It stains easily and often needs hand washing or dry cleaning.
Down and feather
Down and feathers are animal-derived insulation materials from ducks or geese, commonly used in jackets, coats, vests, and bedding.
Down is the soft underlayer; feathers are stiffer and add structure.
Good for
Down is very warm for its weight and compresses well.
Watch out for
It loses warmth when wet unless the down or the shell is treated. For welfare, look for RDS or recycled down.
Leather and suede
Leather and suede are animal-derived materials often used in jackets, shoes, bags, belts, and trims.
Leather is made from animal hide. Suede is a softer, textured form of leather made from the underside of the hide.
Good for
Leather can be durable, protective, repairable, and long-lasting when cared for well.
Watch out for
Tanning chemicals, animal welfare, and traceability are the questions to ask. Most alternatives are plastic (see faux leather below).
Semi-synthetic fibers.
Semi-synthetic fibers usually start from plant-based cellulose, often wood pulp, bamboo, or cotton linter, but are chemically processed into fiber.
These fibers can feel soft, smooth, breathable, and drapey. Their impact depends heavily on raw material sourcing, chemical management, and whether production systems recover and reuse solvents.
Chemical processing and skin-contact considerations
Plant-derived does not always mean minimally processed. Semi-synthetic fibers are made through chemical transformation, and production practices vary widely.
That doesn't make a garment unsafe, but for anything worn close to the skin look for OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, bluesign®, FSC-certified wood pulp, EU Ecolabel, or a branded fiber with clear sourcing.
Viscose / rayon
Viscose, also called rayon, is a soft, drapey fiber made from plant-based cellulose that has been chemically processed.
It is usually made from wood pulp, dissolved and spun back into fiber.
Good for
Breathable and lightweight, it suits dresses, blouses, and linings.
Watch out for
Conventional viscose can mean heavy chemical processing and poorly managed forestry. It also shrinks, wrinkles, and weakens when wet.
Bamboo viscose / bamboo rayon
Bamboo viscose is a bamboo-derived regenerated fiber that feels soft and smooth, but it is chemically processed like other viscose fibers.
Bamboo fabric is often marketed as natural because bamboo is a plant. In most clothing, however, "bamboo" means bamboo viscose or bamboo rayon.
Good for
It is very soft, which is why it shows up in baby clothes, pajamas, and bedding.
Watch out for
A bamboo label says nothing about how it was processed, so look for chemical safety certifications.
Modal
Modal is a soft regenerated cellulose fiber often used in underwear, loungewear, pajamas, and smooth basics.
It is often made from beechwood pulp.
Good for
Modal feels soft and smooth against the skin and drapes well.
Watch out for
It is still chemically processed, so wood sourcing and chemical management matter.
Lyocell
Lyocell is a soft, breathable regenerated cellulose fiber often associated with more responsible solvent recovery than conventional viscose.
It is made from wood pulp, usually in a closed-loop process that captures and reuses much of the solvent.
Good for
Soft, absorbent, and smooth, it is common in shirts, dresses, denim blends, and bedding.
Watch out for
Closed-loop is better, not perfect: energy use, dyeing, and finishing still count.
TENCEL™
TENCEL™ is a branded fiber name from Lenzing, most often used for lyocell or modal made from wood-based cellulose.
You may see labels such as TENCEL™ Lyocell, TENCEL™ Modal, or TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™.
Good for
Whatever the lyocell or modal inside it is good for: soft, smooth, drapey fabric.
Watch out for
The name hides whether you're getting lyocell, modal, or a blend. FabriqWise translates the brand into the fiber.
Lenzing™ EcoVero™
Lenzing™ EcoVero™ is a branded viscose fiber designed with stronger sourcing and production standards than conventional viscose.
It is still viscose, with more traceable wood sourcing and lower-impact production claims.
Good for
EcoVero™ is often used in dresses, blouses, skirts, and soft drapey garments.
Watch out for
It is semi-synthetic, not natural, and needs the same gentle care as any viscose.
Acetate and triacetate
Acetate and triacetate are semi-synthetic cellulose-based fibers often used in linings, silky-looking garments, and occasionwear.
They are made from chemically modified cellulose and used when a brand wants a silk-like shine.
Good for
They look elegant and drape well.
Watch out for
Acetate is less durable and heat-sensitive, so it works better as a lining than as a hard-wearing main fabric.
Cupro
Cupro is a silky regenerated cellulose fiber often made from cotton linter and used in linings, dresses, and blouses.
Cotton linter is a byproduct of cotton processing.
Good for
Breathable and drapey, it is often used as a silk alternative.
Watch out for
It still takes chemical processing, so how it is made matters.
Synthetic fibers.
These are human-made fibers spun from petroleum-based inputs. In other words, they're plastic. That isn't a verdict: synthetics earn their place for durability, stretch, weight, and weather. It does mean everything in this group can shed microfibers in the wash and is harder to recycle, so we'll say that once here rather than under every fiber.
Polyester
Polyester is a durable, affordable synthetic fiber used in activewear, dresses, fleece, outerwear, uniforms, and linings.
It is the most widely used fiber in clothing, largely because it is cheap to make.
Good for
Polyester can add durability, structure, wrinkle resistance, quick drying, and affordability.
Watch out for
It tends to hold onto odor, breathes less than cotton or wool, and is hard to recycle once it is blended with other fibers.
Recycled polyester
Recycled polyester uses recycled plastic inputs, but it is still a synthetic fiber with microplastic and end-of-life tradeoffs.
The plastic is usually bottles, sometimes textile waste.
Good for
It cuts demand for virgin plastic and gives existing plastic another use.
Watch out for
Recycled polyester is still polyester, with the same odor and breathability tradeoffs. Look for a stated recycled percentage and GRS or RCS certification, since "recycled" alone can describe a small share.
Nylon / polyamide
Nylon, also called polyamide, is a strong synthetic fiber used in swimwear, outerwear, tights, activewear, bags, and lingerie.
It resists abrasion, and polyamide on a label means the same fiber.
Good for
Garments that need strength, stretch, or weather resistance.
Watch out for
Nylon is less breathable than most natural fibers, and it melts rather than scorches, so keep it away from high heat.
Recycled nylon / ECONYL®
Recycled nylon is made from recycled nylon waste or other feedstocks; ECONYL® is a branded regenerated nylon.
ECONYL® is made from waste such as fishing nets and fabric scraps.
Good for
Recycled nylon is common in swimwear, activewear, outerwear, bags, and performance clothing.
Watch out for
It performs like virgin nylon, heat sensitivity included. Look for a stated recycled percentage and GRS or RCS certification to back the claim.
Acrylic
Acrylic is a synthetic fiber often used as a wool alternative in sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves, and blankets.
Good for
Acrylic is lightweight, warm, inexpensive, and widely available.
Watch out for
Acrylic pills and stretches out sooner than wool, and it breathes less, so it can feel warm but clammy.
Elastane / spandex / Lycra®
Elastane, spandex, and Lycra® are stretch fibers used in small amounts to add flexibility and shape retention.
Spandex is the same fiber; Lycra® is a brand of it.
Good for
Even a small amount makes jeans, leggings, socks, and swimwear move with you.
Watch out for
Heat, chlorine, and body oils break it down over time, so stretchy garments slowly lose their shape. Even a few percent makes a fabric much harder to recycle.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane is a synthetic material often used in coatings, faux leather, stretch films, waterproof layers, and some performance finishes.
Good for
Polyurethane can add water resistance, stretch, coating, structure, or a leather-like look.
Watch out for
Polyurethane coatings and faux leather surfaces can peel or crack as they age, sooner with heat or harsh cleaning, and they are rarely repairable.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is a lightweight synthetic fiber sometimes used in thermal base layers, activewear, socks, and performance textiles.
Good for
It wicks moisture and dries quickly.
Watch out for
It has a low melting point, so skip the hot dryer and the iron, and it tends to hold onto body odor.
Faux leather / vegan leather
Faux leather and vegan leather skip the animal hide, but many versions are made from synthetic materials like polyurethane or PVC.
Vegan means no animal material, not low-impact.
Good for
A leather look without animal material.
Watch out for
Many faux leathers are polyurethane or PVC over a fabric backing, so they crack and peel rather than wearing in the way leather does. Plant-based versions often still rely on a synthetic coating, so check the full composition.
Deep dives.
Optional reading for when you want the bigger picture behind the labels.
Fabric blends: why brands mix fibers
Most clothes are made from blends, not single fibers.
Brands blend fibers to change how a garment feels, performs, or costs.
Common examples:
- Cotton + elastane: adds stretch to cotton
- Wool + nylon: improves durability
- Polyester + cotton: adds wrinkle resistance and lowers cost
- Linen + cotton: softens linen while keeping breathability
- Wool + cashmere: adds softness and warmth
The tradeoff is recycling: tightly mixed natural and synthetic fibers are hard to separate, so a 100% cotton shirt is easier to recycle than a cotton, polyester, and elastane blend.
The question is whether the blend improves the garment enough to justify that, as a little nylon does in wool socks.
What certifications and branded standards actually mean
Certifications and branded standards can help shoppers understand whether a claim is supported by testing, sourcing rules, animal welfare standards, chemical management, recycled content verification, or performance requirements.
They are not perfect guarantees, but they can be useful signals. Every standard here publishes its rules online; the name on the label is enough to look it up.
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
Tested for certain harmful substances; most useful for anything worn against the skin.
GOTS
Global Organic Textile Standard: organic fiber content, plus rules for processing, chemicals, and working conditions.
OCS
Organic Content Standard: verifies how much organic material a product contains.
GRS
Global Recycled Standard: verified recycled content, plus rules for processing, chemicals, and working conditions.
RCS
Recycled Claim Standard: verifies recycled content only.
bluesign®
Safer chemistry and cleaner production across the supply chain.
RWS
Responsible Wool Standard: animal welfare, land management, and working conditions for wool.
RDS
Responsible Down Standard: welfare of the ducks and geese behind down and feathers.
RMS
Responsible Mohair Standard: animal welfare and land management for mohair.
RAS
Responsible Alpaca Standard: animal welfare and land management for alpaca.
Woolmark
A mark for wool quality and content.
GORE-TEX®
A waterproof, breathable membrane technology, not a sustainability certification.
TENCEL™
A Lenzing fiber brand for lyocell or modal: not a certification, but a sign of more traceable sourcing.
How fabric construction affects feel
Fiber content tells you what a garment is made of. Fabric construction tells you how those fibers are arranged.
Knit
Knits are made from interlocking loops. They are usually stretchier and softer.
Common in T-shirts, sweaters, leggings, underwear, sweatshirts, and socks.
Woven
Wovens are made by interlacing yarns. They are usually more structured and less stretchy unless elastane is added.
Common in button-down shirts, jeans, chinos, dresses, jackets, and suiting.
Nonwoven, bonded, laminated, or coated fabrics
Some materials are engineered, bonded, laminated, or coated rather than simply woven or knitted.
Common in performance outerwear, coated fabrics, interlinings, waterproof shells, and faux leather.
Why this matters
A 100% cotton T-shirt and a 100% cotton denim jacket are both cotton, but they feel and perform very differently because of construction.
How fabric weight affects performance
Fabric weight changes how a material feels and functions.
Lightweight fabrics tend to be cooler, drapier, more breathable, and sometimes more delicate.
Heavyweight fabrics tend to be warmer, more structured, more durable, and sometimes stiffer.
A cotton voile blouse and cotton denim are both cotton, and nothing alike.
Care matters as much as fiber: the fabric care guide covers how to wash, dry, and store each one.
Quick glossary.
- Natural fiber
A fiber that comes from a plant or animal source, such as cotton, linen, wool, or silk.
- Semi-synthetic fiber
A fiber made from natural cellulose but chemically processed into textile fiber, such as viscose, modal, lyocell, bamboo viscose, acetate, or cupro.
- Synthetic fiber
A human-made fiber produced from chemical or petroleum-based inputs, such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, elastane, or polyurethane.
- Cellulose
The structural material found in plants. Many semi-synthetic fibers are made from cellulose.
- Regenerated fiber
A fiber made by dissolving a natural material, usually cellulose, and reforming it into textile fiber.
- Microfiber shedding
The release of tiny fibers from fabric during washing or wear. Synthetic fibers can contribute to microplastic pollution.
- Mono-material
A garment or fabric made mostly from one type of material, which may make sorting and recycling easier.
- Branded fiber
A fiber sold under a brand name, such as TENCEL™, Lycra®, ECONYL®, or Lenzing™ EcoVero™.
- Polyamide
Another name often used for nylon.
- Elastane
A stretch fiber also known as spandex. Lycra® is a branded version.
- Rayon
A broad term for regenerated cellulose fibers. Viscose is a common type of rayon.