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Fabric 101.

A simple guide to what your clothes are made of.

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:

Natural plant fibers
Natural animal fibers
Semi-synthetic fibers
Synthetic fibers

Each group has its strengths, its tradeoffs, and the jobs it does best. Some fibers are breathable and easy to live with. Some are tough and weather-ready. Some are gorgeous but delicate. Some are synthetic. Some come from plants but get heavily processed along the way.

The best fabric? It depends on what you need the garment to do, how often you'll wear it, how you'll care for it, and what matters most to you.

Group 01 · From plants

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 is a soft, breathable plant fiber used in T-shirts, denim, underwear, baby clothes, bedding, and everyday basics.

Cotton comes from the fluffy fiber around the seeds of the cotton plant. It is one of the most common clothing fibers because it is soft, familiar, washable, and comfortable against the skin.

Cotton is common in T-shirts, denim, underwear, socks, baby clothes, dresses, sweatshirts, and bedding.

What it is good for

Cotton is breathable, absorbent, soft, and easy to wash. It works well for everyday basics and warm-weather clothing.

What to 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 is cotton grown under organic farming standards and is often used for basics, baby clothes, underwear, pajamas, and bedding.

Organic cotton is grown without certain synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. It has the same general comfort benefits as conventional cotton, but with stronger farming-related standards when properly certified.

What it is good for

Organic cotton is good for skin-contact garments such as T-shirts, underwear, baby clothes, pajamas, and bedding.

What to watch out for

The word "organic" is most meaningful when backed by certification. Look for GOTS, OCS, or clear organic content claims.

Recycled cotton is made from cotton waste or used textiles, helping reduce demand for new cotton fiber.

Recycled cotton can come from pre-consumer textile scraps or post-consumer garments. It helps keep cotton waste in use and may reduce the need for new raw cotton.

What it is good for

Recycled cotton is often used in denim, sweatshirts, T-shirts, tote bags, casualwear, and blended fabrics.

What to watch out for

Recycled cotton fibers can be shorter and weaker, so brands often blend them with virgin cotton, polyester, or other fibers for strength. Blends can improve durability but may make recycling harder later.

Linen is a breathable, naturally textured fiber made from flax, best known for summer clothing, relaxed tailoring, and home textiles.

Linen comes from the flax plant. It is known for its crisp texture, breathability, and cool feel in warm weather.

Linen is common in shirts, dresses, pants, suits, bedding, and table linens.

What it is good for

Linen is strong, breathable, moisture-absorbing, and comfortable in hot weather. It often softens with wear.

What to watch out for

Linen wrinkles easily and can feel stiff at first. That relaxed texture is part of its character, but it may not be ideal for shoppers who want a polished, wrinkle-free look.

Hemp is a durable plant fiber known for strength, breathability, and a casual textured feel.

Hemp comes from the stalk of the hemp plant. It is often blended with cotton, lyocell, or other fibers to make it softer and easier to wear.

Hemp is common in casual shirts, pants, jackets, bags, workwear, and canvas-like fabrics.

What it is good for

Hemp is strong, breathable, and durable. It can be a good option for casualwear and long-wearing items.

What to watch out for

Pure hemp can feel coarse or textured. Processing, dyeing, finishing, and blending still matter.

Ramie is a plant fiber similar to linen, known for strength, breathability, and a slightly crisp feel.

Ramie comes from the stalk of the ramie plant. It is less common than cotton or linen but appears in some lightweight shirts, dresses, and blends.

What it is good for

Ramie is strong, breathable, and can hold shape well. It is often used in warm-weather clothing.

What to watch out for

Ramie can wrinkle and feel stiff. It is often blended with cotton, linen, or viscose to improve softness and drape.

Group 02 · From animals

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 is a warm, breathable animal fiber from sheep, commonly used in sweaters, coats, suits, socks, and base layers.

Wool comes from sheep fleece. It is valued because it insulates well, regulates temperature, and resists odor better than many other fibers.

What it is good for

Wool is warm, breathable, durable, and naturally odor-resistant. It can work well for sweaters, coats, suits, socks, blankets, and base layers.

What to watch out for

Some wool can feel itchy, shrink if washed incorrectly, or require special care. Look for responsible wool sourcing, non-mulesed wool claims, or Responsible Wool Standard certification when available.

Merino wool is a finer, softer type of wool often used in base layers, socks, sweaters, and performance clothing.

Merino wool comes from Merino sheep. Its fibers are finer than many traditional wools, which makes it softer against the skin.

What it is good for

Merino is breathable, temperature-regulating, soft, and odor-resistant. It is especially useful for travel, outdoor clothing, socks, and base layers.

What to watch out for

Merino can be more expensive and may need gentle care. Responsible sourcing matters, especially for animal welfare.

Cashmere is a soft, lightweight fiber from goats, often used in sweaters, scarves, and luxury knitwear.

Cashmere comes from the fine undercoat of cashmere goats. It is known for softness, warmth, and light weight.

What it is good for

Cashmere is warm without feeling heavy and has a very soft handfeel. It is common in sweaters, cardigans, scarves, hats, and luxury knits.

What to watch out for

Quality varies widely. Low-cost cashmere may pill quickly or contain only a small percentage of cashmere in a blend. Cashmere can also raise animal welfare and land-use concerns, so traceability and standards are helpful.

Alpaca is a warm, soft animal fiber often used in sweaters, scarves, coats, and winter accessories.

Alpaca fiber comes from alpacas. It is known for warmth, softness, and a smooth feel.

What it is good for

Alpaca can be lightweight, warm, and soft. It is commonly used in sweaters, scarves, hats, coats, and cold-weather accessories.

What to watch out for

Alpaca can stretch or lose shape depending on construction. Look for responsible sourcing or Responsible Alpaca Standard certification when available.

Mohair is a lustrous, fluffy fiber from Angora goats, often used in sweaters, cardigans, scarves, and textured knits.

Mohair comes from Angora goats. It is known for its shine, warmth, and fuzzy texture.

What it is good for

Mohair is lightweight, warm, and visually textured. It is often used in statement sweaters, scarves, cardigans, and luxury blends.

What to watch out for

Mohair can shed, feel itchy to some people, and raise animal welfare concerns. Look for Responsible Mohair Standard certification or clear sourcing details.

Angora is a very soft, fluffy fiber from Angora rabbits, usually found in sweaters and luxury blends.

Angora is known for softness, warmth, and a fluffy halo texture. It is much less common today than wool or cashmere.

What it is good for

Angora can be very soft and warm, often used in small amounts in knitwear blends.

What to watch out for

Angora has significant animal welfare concerns and may shed heavily. Many brands avoid it or require stronger sourcing policies.

Silk is a smooth, lightweight animal-derived fiber known for sheen, drape, and a cool feel against the skin.

Silk is produced by silkworms and is known for its smooth texture, natural sheen, and elegant drape.

What it is good for

Silk works well for blouses, dresses, scarves, sleepwear, linings, and occasionwear.

What to watch out for

Silk can be delicate, stain easily, and often requires hand washing or dry cleaning. It is animal-derived, so sourcing and personal preference may matter.

Down and feathers are animal-derived insulation materials from ducks or geese, commonly used in jackets, coats, vests, and bedding.

Down comes from the soft underlayer of ducks or geese. Feathers are more structured and may be used for support or insulation.

What it is good for

Down is very warm for its weight and compresses well, making it useful for puffer jackets, coats, sleeping bags, and comforters.

What to watch out for

Down raises animal welfare concerns. Look for Responsible Down Standard, recycled down, or clear sourcing information. Down can also lose insulating power when wet unless treated or protected by the shell fabric.

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.

What it is good for

Leather can be durable, protective, repairable, and long-lasting when cared for well.

What to watch out for

Leather raises animal welfare, tanning, chemical, and traceability questions. Vegan leather alternatives may avoid animal materials but are often plastic-based, so both options have tradeoffs.

Group 03 · Plant-derived, processed

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.

This category includes viscose, rayon, bamboo viscose, modal, lyocell, TENCEL™, acetate, triacetate, and cupro.

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.

For shoppers, this does not mean the finished garment is automatically unsafe. It means it is worth looking for clearer sourcing, responsible processing, and chemical safety certifications, especially for garments worn close to the skin.

Helpful signals may include OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, bluesign®, FSC-certified wood pulp, EU Ecolabel, or branded fibers with stronger traceability.

Viscose, also called rayon, is a soft, drapey fiber made from plant-based cellulose that has been chemically processed.

Viscose and rayon are regenerated cellulose fibers, usually made from wood pulp or other plant-based sources. The cellulose is dissolved and transformed into fiber.

What it is good for

Viscose is soft, breathable, lightweight, and drapes well. It is common in dresses, blouses, skirts, linings, flowy pants, and soft tops.

What to watch out for

Conventional viscose can involve chemical-intensive processing and may be linked to wood-sourcing concerns when not responsibly managed. It can also shrink, wrinkle, or weaken when wet.

Look for clearer sourcing and processing details when available.

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.

The bamboo is processed into cellulose pulp, then chemically transformed into fiber.

What it is good for

Bamboo viscose can feel very soft, smooth, and breathable. It is common in baby clothes, pajamas, underwear, loungewear, socks, and bedding.

What to watch out for

Bamboo viscose should not be treated as the same thing as raw bamboo. The processing matters. Look for chemical safety certifications, responsible sourcing, and clear labeling.

Modal is a soft regenerated cellulose fiber often used in underwear, loungewear, pajamas, and smooth basics.

Modal is a regenerated cellulose fiber, often made from beechwood pulp. It is known for softness, smoothness, and comfortable drape.

What it is good for

Modal is popular for underwear, pajamas, T-shirts, loungewear, and soft basics worn close to the skin.

What to watch out for

Modal is still chemically processed. Its impact depends on wood sourcing, chemical management, and whether the brand discloses responsible production standards.

Lyocell is a soft, breathable regenerated cellulose fiber often associated with more responsible solvent recovery than conventional viscose.

Lyocell is made from plant-based cellulose, commonly wood pulp. It is often produced using a closed-loop process that captures and reuses much of the processing solvent.

What it is good for

Lyocell is soft, breathable, absorbent, and smooth. It is common in dresses, shirts, denim blends, bedding, soft basics, and flowy pants.

What to watch out for

Lyocell is generally viewed more favorably than conventional viscose, but sourcing, energy use, dyeing, finishing, and brand disclosure still matter.

TENCEL™ is a branded fiber name from Lenzing, most often used for lyocell or modal made from wood-based cellulose.

TENCEL™ is not a separate fiber category by itself. It is a brand name used for certain lyocell and modal fibers made by Lenzing.

You may see labels such as TENCEL™ Lyocell, TENCEL™ Modal, or TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™.

What it is good for

TENCEL™ fibers are often soft, breathable, smooth, and drapey. They are common in dresses, shirts, denim blends, underwear, pajamas, and bedding.

What to watch out for

The brand name can be confusing because shoppers may not know whether they are looking at lyocell, modal, or a blend. FabriqWise helps translate the branded name into the underlying fiber type.

Lenzing™ EcoVero™ is a branded viscose fiber designed with stronger sourcing and production standards than conventional viscose.

Lenzing™ EcoVero™ is a branded viscose fiber made by Lenzing. It is still viscose, but the brand is associated with more traceable wood sourcing and lower-impact production claims compared with conventional viscose.

What it is good for

EcoVero™ is often used in dresses, blouses, skirts, and soft drapey garments.

What to watch out for

It is still a regenerated cellulose fiber, so it should be understood as semi-synthetic rather than fully natural.

Acetate and triacetate are semi-synthetic cellulose-based fibers often used in linings, silky-looking garments, and occasionwear.

Acetate and triacetate are made from chemically modified cellulose. They are often used when brands want a smooth, shiny, silk-like appearance.

What they are good for

They can look elegant, drape well, and work nicely in linings, dresses, blouses, scarves, and occasionwear.

What to watch out for

Acetate can be less durable, heat-sensitive, and more care-sensitive than many other fibers. It is common in linings but may not be ideal for hard-wearing main fabric.

Cupro is a silky regenerated cellulose fiber often made from cotton linter and used in linings, dresses, and blouses.

Cupro is a regenerated cellulose fiber often made from cotton linter, a byproduct of cotton processing. It has a smooth, silk-like feel.

What it is good for

Cupro is breathable, smooth, and drapes well. It is often used as a silk alternative or lining fabric.

What to watch out for

Cupro still requires chemical processing. As with other semi-synthetics, sourcing, chemical management, and production practices matter.

Group 04 · Plastic-based

Synthetic fibers.

These are human-made fibers spun from chemical or petroleum-based inputs. In other words, they're plastic.

The category covers polyester, recycled polyester, nylon, recycled nylon, acrylic, elastane, polyurethane, polypropylene, and other performance materials.

Synthetics earn their place: they're durable, affordable, stretchy, lightweight, wrinkle-resistant, and weather-ready. The flip side is fossil fuel inputs, microplastic shedding, and tricky end-of-life.

Polyester is a durable, affordable synthetic fiber used in activewear, dresses, fleece, outerwear, uniforms, and linings.

Polyester is one of the most common fibers in clothing. It's synthetic and everywhere, because it's durable, wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying, and cheap to make.

What it is good for

Polyester can add durability, structure, wrinkle resistance, quick drying, and affordability. It can be practical for activewear, outerwear, uniforms, and travel-friendly garments.

What to watch out for

Polyester is plastic-based and may shed microfibers. It can also hold odor, feel less breathable, and be difficult to recycle when blended with other fibers.

Recycled polyester uses recycled plastic inputs, but it is still a synthetic fiber with microplastic and end-of-life tradeoffs.

Recycled polyester is made from recycled plastic sources, such as plastic bottles or textile waste, depending on the supply chain.

What it is good for

Recycled polyester can reduce demand for virgin petroleum-based inputs and give existing plastic materials another use.

What to watch out for

Recycled polyester is still polyester. It remains plastic-based and may still shed microfibers. Certification and recycled content disclosure help support recycled claims.

Nylon, also called polyamide, is a strong synthetic fiber used in swimwear, outerwear, tights, activewear, bags, and lingerie.

Nylon is a synthetic fiber known for strength, smoothness, and abrasion resistance. "Polyamide" is just another name for nylon on clothing labels.

What it is good for

Nylon is strong, lightweight, smooth, and durable. It is useful when garments need stretch, strength, or weather resistance.

What to watch out for

Nylon is plastic-based and can shed microfibers. It can also be less breathable than many natural fibers.

Recycled nylon is made from recycled nylon waste or other feedstocks; ECONYL® is a branded regenerated nylon.

Recycled nylon is used as an alternative to virgin nylon. ECONYL® is a branded regenerated nylon made from waste materials such as fishing nets, fabric scraps, or industrial plastic, depending on the supply chain.

What it is good for

Recycled nylon is common in swimwear, activewear, outerwear, bags, and performance clothing.

What to watch out for

Recycled nylon is still plastic-based and may still shed microfibers. Look for clear recycled content claims and certifications.

Acrylic is a synthetic fiber often used as a wool alternative in sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves, and blankets.

Acrylic is a synthetic fiber often used to mimic the look and warmth of wool at a lower price.

What it is good for

Acrylic is lightweight, warm, inexpensive, and widely available.

What to watch out for

Acrylic can pill, stretch out, and shed microfibers. It is often less breathable and less durable than wool or higher-quality blends.

Elastane, spandex, and Lycra® are stretch fibers used in small amounts to add flexibility and shape retention.

Elastane and spandex are names for the same type of highly stretchy synthetic fiber. Lycra® is a branded version.

What it is good for

Elastane helps clothing stretch, recover shape, and move with the body. Even a small amount can make jeans, underwear, swimwear, leggings, socks, and activewear more comfortable.

What to watch out for

Elastane is plastic-based and can make fabrics harder to recycle. It can also break down over time, causing garments to lose stretch or shape.

Polyurethane is a synthetic material often used in coatings, faux leather, stretch films, waterproof layers, and some performance finishes.

Polyurethane can appear as a coating, film, faux leather surface, stretch component, or waterproof layer.

What it is good for

Polyurethane can add water resistance, stretch, coating, structure, or a leather-like look.

What to watch out for

Polyurethane is plastic-based and may peel, crack, or degrade over time depending on quality and care. It can also complicate recycling.

Polypropylene is a lightweight synthetic fiber sometimes used in thermal base layers, activewear, socks, and performance textiles.

Polypropylene is a synthetic fiber known for being lightweight and moisture-resistant.

What it is good for

It is sometimes used in activewear, thermal layers, socks, and technical garments because it can wick moisture and dry quickly.

What to watch out for

Polypropylene is plastic-based and can be heat-sensitive. It is less common in everyday fashion than polyester or nylon.

Faux leather and vegan leather skip the animal hide, but many versions are made from synthetic materials like polyurethane or PVC.

Faux leather can be made from polyurethane, PVC, plant-based inputs, or a combination of materials. "Vegan" means it does not come from animals, but it does not automatically mean low-impact.

What it is good for

Faux leather can offer a leather-like look without animal-derived material and is often used in jackets, shoes, bags, and trims.

What to watch out for

Many faux leathers are plastic-based and may crack, peel, or be difficult to recycle. Plant-based claims should be checked carefully because some products still rely heavily on synthetic coatings.

Go deeper

Extra fabric knowledge.

Optional reading for when you want the bigger picture behind the labels.

Plant-based fibers can be a strong choice, but how they are grown and processed matters.

Helpful signals may include:

Organic farming
Reduced pesticide use
Responsible water management
Soil health practices
Verified regenerative agriculture claims
Recycled cotton or recycled plant fibers
Fair Trade or worker-focused standards
Certifications such as GOTS, OCS, or Fair Trade

For example, cotton can be breathable and comfortable, but conventional cotton can involve high water and chemical inputs. Linen and hemp are often discussed as lower-input plant fibers, but processing, dyeing, finishing, and transportation still matter.

The fiber name is only the starting point. Farming and processing practices help complete the picture.

Semi-synthetic fibers like viscose, modal, bamboo viscose, and lyocell often start with plant-based cellulose.

The key question is how that cellulose is processed into fiber.

A closed-loop system is designed to capture and reuse processing chemicals or solvents instead of releasing them as waste. Lyocell is often associated with closed-loop production, which is one reason it is generally viewed more favorably than conventional viscose.

Closed-loop manufacturing can reduce chemical waste and improve resource efficiency. However, it does not automatically make a fiber perfect. Wood sourcing, energy use, dyeing, finishing, chemical safety, durability, and care still matter.

Semi-synthetic fibers can be confusing because they often start from plants but are not simply "natural."

Viscose, rayon, modal, bamboo viscose, acetate, and cupro all involve chemical processing. The main concerns are usually related to how chemicals are managed during manufacturing, whether workers and surrounding environments are protected, and whether the final product has been tested for certain harmful substances.

For shoppers, helpful signs include:

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
bluesign®
FSC-certified wood pulp
EU Ecolabel
Clear sourcing from established branded fiber producers
Transparent chemical management claims

This does not mean semi-synthetic garments are automatically unsafe. It means the production process matters, and stronger disclosure can help shoppers compare options.

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
Viscose + nylon + elastane: creates softness, stretch, and drape
Linen + cotton: softens linen while keeping breathability
Wool + cashmere: adds softness and warmth
Cotton + recycled polyester: can improve durability and reduce virgin polyester use

Blends are not automatically bad. Some blends make garments more wearable, comfortable, affordable, or longer-lasting.

The circularity tradeoff is that blended fabrics can be harder to recycle, especially when natural and synthetic fibers are tightly mixed together. A 100% cotton shirt or 100% wool sweater may be easier to sort and recycle than a cotton-polyester-elastane blend. Elastane, coatings, linings, trims, and complex multi-fiber blends can make recycling more difficult.

That does not mean all blends should be avoided. A small amount of nylon may help wool socks last longer. Elastane may make jeans more comfortable and wearable. The question is whether the blend improves the garment enough to justify the end-of-life tradeoff.

Natural fibers can be breathable, comfortable, renewable, and biodegradable. But they also have tradeoffs.

Examples:

Cotton can be water-intensive
Linen wrinkles easily
Wool and cashmere raise animal welfare questions
Silk is delicate and animal-derived
Leather can be durable but involves animal sourcing and tanning chemicals
Natural fibers may shrink or require special care

Natural is helpful context, not a guarantee.

Synthetic fibers are plastic-based, and that matters. They may shed microplastics and create end-of-life challenges.

But synthetics can also be genuinely useful.

Examples:

Polyester can be durable and quick-drying
Nylon can be strong and abrasion-resistant
Elastane can make clothing more comfortable
Synthetic shells can help with wind and rain protection
Recycled synthetics can reduce demand for virgin plastic inputs

Synthetic is also helpful context, not a final verdict.

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.

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 means a textile product has been tested for certain harmful substances. It is especially relevant for garments worn close to the skin.

To learn more, visit the official OEKO-TEX® website.

GOTS

GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. It applies to organic textiles and includes requirements around organic fiber content, processing, chemicals, and social criteria.

To learn more, visit the official GOTS website.

OCS

OCS stands for Organic Content Standard. It helps verify the presence and amount of organic material in a product.