Natural clothing is becoming one of the most popular trends in fashion. The world is waking up and demanding clothes without chemicals, factory odors, and toxins. This article discusses exactly what natural fiber clothing is, and what the best natural clothing materials are.
What is natural clothing? Natural clothing is made from 100% all natural materials. The fabric used comes directly from nature and isn’t blended with synthetic fibers. It’s free from artificial dyes and unnatural chemicals. The surface of natural clothing doesn’t hold an electrostatic charge like polyester. It breathes and keeps the body cool.
There are many different kinds of natural clothing materials. You’ll find many examples below that feature some of the most popular types of natural fibers.
What are natural clothing materials?
Here is a list of popular natural clothing fibers:
- Organic Cotton
- Linen
- Silk
- Hemp
- Flax
- Bamboo
- Ramie
- Seaweed
- Pina Fiber (from pineapple leaves)
- Jute
Organic Cotton Clothing
Organic cotton is one of the most popular choices in the natural clothing category. It’s probably the easiest natural fabric to find online. You’ll often get better quality design and higher fashion styles with this material. Organic cotton has become trendy, smart, and modern.
One of the benefits of organic cotton is that it breathes well on the skin. It has an amazing ability to absorb moisture and odor, which helps prevent the reabsorption of toxins back into the body. Synthetic materials create a suffocating barrier on the skin and don’t breathe near as well as cotton.
What are some organic cotton clothing benefits?
- It absorbs perspiration quickly.
- The fabric has excellent airflow, which helps cool you down faster.
- Some people with sensitive skin report less irritation with organic cotton, as compared to regular cotton.
- It’s one of the easiest natural clothing fabrics to find online.
- Organic cotton is an excellent choice for activities that make you sweat.
- It requires a lot less water to grow as compared to regular cotton (better for the environment).
- Organic cotton is extremely comfortable and casual.
- It’s strong and survives many washes.
The farmers who grow organic cotton are required to get certification proving that their crops are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides or chemical fertilizers. They also aren’t allowed to plant cotton seeds that are tampered with in a laboratory. Organic cotton is a regulated material that helps to ensure your clothing is free from chemicals and toxins.
Some people with skin sensitivities report that untreated organic cotton doesn’t irritate their skin as much as synthetic materials do (like polyester).
Even though it is slightly more expensive, it is much better to buy organic cotton. You can rest assured that no chemicals or toxins were used in the process and that nature can work in its raw original state. Farming practices for organic cotton are of higher consciousness and take greater care of our environment and workers.
Organic cotton has become trendy, smart, and modern.
Linen Clothing
Linen is one of the classiest of all natural clothing fabrics. Some of the best suits for men are crafted from this material. Women adore the elegant and breathable upgrade it adds to their wardrobe. Linen is the next level up in class for natural fibers. It gives you a refined edge that polyester just can’t compete with. Fashion experts praise the amazing classic appeal of linen.
Here is a list of some of the most amazing benefits of linen:
- The more you wash it, the softer it gets.
- It’s a lot stronger than cotton and lasts a long time.
- Linen dries faster than cotton.
- It’s known to keep you cooler in hot and humid weather due to its superior breathability.
- Linen is an excellent conductor of heat.
- The fabric doesn’t stretch.
- Some people say it’s an excellent choice for sensitive skin.
- It’s static-free.
- Linen has antibacterial properties. It supports healthier skin and helps get rid of toxins.
- Linen is very absorbent and draws moisture away from your skin.
Linen comes from an all-natural source. The fibers are made exclusively from the flax plant. It’s one of the most ancient fabrics used throughout history.
Here’s an article I just finished that’s all about linen.
Does linen have a spiritual meaning? The Bible refers to linen in many places and is associated with spirituality. Priests were instructed to wear linen undergarments and turbans. David wore a robe of fine linen and was known to be a man after God’s heart. He was known to practice meditation and was likely advanced in his methods of communing with God.
Linen has been proven to be one of the few fabrics that doesn’t hold static electricity. It is known that advanced meditation practices, such as Kriya Yoga, work with the conduction of electromagnetic currents in the spine. It is likely that the priests who were instructed to wear linen wore this fabric to enhance the electromagnetic conductivity of their rituals.
Silk Clothing
There are so many benefits of silk fabric. It’s by far the most luxurious and elegant natural clothing fabric in the world. Silk has been used to make some of the most sophisticated and refined clothing throughout history.
Here’s an article I just finished that’s all about mulberry silk.
Silk is one of the most popular all natural clothing materials. The fibers of silk are made up of protein. It comes mainly from moth caterpillars that spin their own silk, with the intention of creating a cocoon.
There are many uses and benefits of silk fabric. It’s often the preferred choice of cloth for those who don’t want to settle for a causal look. Silk gives you a major upgrade in class and refinement. It delivers an elegance and polish that other fabrics just can’t compete with.
Here are some major advantages of silk:
- It’s the softest, smoothest, and most lustrous of all natural clothing fabrics.
- Silk is very breathable.
- It doesn’t pill or fray.
- It feels luxuriously amazing next to the skin.
- It’s the best natural fabric for elegant, rich, and sophisticated looks.
- It keeps skin better moisturized than cotton does. Silk is better at holding moisture in, while still allowing for a balanced exchange of airflow through the fabric.
- Hair is kept healthier, shinier, and with less breakage by sleeping on a silk pillowcase.
- Skin heals faster when silk is next to it compared to fake materials.
- It feels cool to the touch.
The Bible associates silk with royal status, refined living, and prosperity.
Silk originated from China as far back as c. 5000 – c. 3000 BC. The color of silk worn back in those days defined the person according to their social class. It was the fabric of high society and greatly valued for its luxurious qualities.
Hemp Clothing
Hemp clothing has many wonderful benefits. It’s becoming more and more popular as people demand smarter and cleaner options in fabric.
Here is a list of the top benefits of hemp natural clothing:
- Hemp absorbs a lot of moisture. It’s great for hot days and sweating.
- It has the ability to resist mold and mildew.
- It’s not scratchy.
- Hemp blocks ultraviolet rays.
- Hemp fabric breathes very well. It evaporates the moisture in your clothes to help keep you dry.
- Hemp is antibacterial. It has the ability to kill microscopic bad bugs, naturally!
- It’s highly durable, so you can wash it over and over again.
- Some people say that hemp gets softer and softer the more you wash it.
- Hemp doesn’t wrinkle as much as linen does.
What does hemp clothing feel like? Hemp fibers are very strong and durable, so they feel thicker and heavier than cotton. It’s generally not as soft as cotton. Hemp is sturdier than linen and has a surface that absorbs moisture very well. It feels like a softer and more comfortable version of a burlap sack.
How is hemp clothing made?
- Hemp fabric comes from the plant’s stalk, which is very tall and long. There are many fibers that run the long way inside the stalk.
- The stalk is taken apart and the long fibrous threads are separated.
- In order to get rid of unwanted debris, the fibers are carefully combed through and cleaned up.
- The threads enter a spinning process that forms them into a long continuous string.
- That string gets woven into fabric.
Flax Clothing
Flax natural clothing comes from the flax plant, also known as linseed. Long blonde fibers are taken from the stalks of this plant. These fibers are cleaned and woven together to create golden strings for material. Flax is an all natural fabric that is stronger than cotton.
Here are some interesting facts about flax clothing:
- Flax dries faster than cotton.
- It keeps you cooler on hot summer days due to its breathable nature.
- It is one of the strongest and most durable natural fibers.
- Flax is highly absorbent, so it’s great at pulling moisture away from your skin.
- It’s one of the most ancient fabrics that is still popular today.
- The Bible says that a wife of noble character chooses flax fabric.
- The seeds from the flax plant are edible and full of protein, while the stalk’s fibers are used for clothing.
Bamboo Clothing
How is bamboo clothing made?
- Bamboo stalks are first cut down and chopped up into small chips.
- These bamboo chips are soaked in water to soften them up.
- The water-logged chips are sent through a machine that grinds them into a moist pulp.
- The pulp is formed into thin flat sheets and dried.
- The dry sheets are ground up into a fine pulp that’s used to spin threads for fabrics and material.
What does bamboo clothing feel like? Bamboo fabric is super soft against the skin. It’s smoother than cotton and has a gentle flowing appeal. Bamboo material drapes beautifully around the body without stiffness. It has a strong feminine quality.
Here is a helpful list of bamboo clothing benefits:
- It’s one of the softest natural clothing materials you can find.
- Moisture evaporates quickly from bamboo clothing.
- Bamboo material acts as a shield for ultraviolet light.
- It has antibacterial properties.
- Make sure your bamboo fabric is 100% green and eco-friendly. Some companies use harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process, so make sure you choose organic and chemical-free bamboo clothing (which is next to impossible to find). Choose organic cotton if you can’t find organic bamboo.
Ramie Clothing
Ramie is one of the most ancient fabrics worn throughout history for thousands of years. It comes from a tall flowering plant with stalks that look like thick grass. Ramie is one of the famous fabrics worn by geishas for centuries.
How is ramie made into fabric?
- The long grassy stalks of ramie are harvested and the outer green plant material is stripped off.
- The inside fibers of the plant are then set out to dry. The dried material is tan in color.
- This dried material is wrapped up and soaked in water to soften.
- Next, super fine threads are created from the softened fibers by using a tool to slice them lengthwise. The fibers strip off easily, sort of like peeling string cheese.
- The threads are combed out to detangle them.
- Each raw thread is rubbed over multiple times to smooth and soften it.
- The soft threads are then put through a yard guide and woven in various ways to make fabric.
Here is a list of the benefits and qualities of ramie clothing:
- Ramie is an excellent choice of fabric for staying cool in hot weather.
- It’s known to have an elegant and refined appearance.
- Ramie readily absorbs perspiration.
- It controls humidity.
- Because it isn’t mass produced yet, you’re more likely to get pure and natural fabric without chemicals or toxins.
- Ramie feels similar to linen, but is somewhat softer and shinier.
- It becomes stronger when it gets wet.
- Ramie doesn’t shrink.
- It’s a fabric that doesn’t smell or stink.
Seaweed Clothing
A newer type of natural clothing fabric has hit the market in the form of seaweed. It’s one of the first biodegradable fabrics that’s friendlier to the environment. There are several companies that produce seaweed fabrics. In order to ensure the product is natural and unadulterated, make sure that no chemicals or toxins are used in the manufacturing process. Just ask.
Here are some properties of seaweed clothing:
- It’s biodegradable.
- Seaweed doesn’t require any land or water to grow, which is better for the environment.
- The material is softer and silkier than cotton.
- Seaweed clothing doesn’t pill.
- It feels amazing next to the skin.
- It’s hard to find seaweed fabric that’s made without harsh chemicals, unfortunately. Hopefully, this will change in the near future as people wake up. Organic cotton is probably a safer bet.
Pina Fiber Clothing
Pina fiber is a natural clothing material made from pineapple leaves. The long fibers inside the leaves are carefully pulled out, cleaned, then strung together to make a long continuous thread. These threads are used to make clothing. Pina fiber is very famous in the Philippines.
Here is a list of the properties of pina fiber:
- It has a natural sheen.
- Pina fabric is off-white in color, like bone.
- It’s naturally biodegradable.
- The material is lightweight, making it suitable for hot climates and delicate garments.
- Pina fibers come from the leaves of pineapple plants, which are usually thrown away. Recycling this material for fabric is better for the environment and costs nothing extra to grow.
- It’s softer and smoother than linen.
- The fabric is somewhat transparent, similar to a veil.
- It’s associated with special occasions and with people of high status.
Jute Clothing
Jute natural clothing is made from the same material that burlap and gunny sacks are composed of. It’s a very strong material that’s used to make a variety of things such as jewelry, clothing, purses, ropes, and rugs. If you’re looking for something sturdier than cotton, this might be a good natural clothing option.
Here is a list of information about jute cloth:
- It’s very affordable, as compared to other natural fibers.
- Unlike cotton, it doesn’t require a lot of pesticides to grow, so there are fewer chemicals in the material.
- It’s primarily grown in India and Bangladesh.
- Jute doesn’t hold static electricity.
- It’s a biodegradable material.
- Jute material doesn’t stretch or pill.
- Jute is one of the few fabrics that receives organic certification. If it’s organic, you can rest assured it’s grown without harmful chemicals or toxins.
- It’s often referred to as The Golden Fiber.
- Jute is bulkier than cotton.
Natural fiber clothing is becoming more and more popular as we enter the age of increased information and environmental awareness. People are becoming more aware of how clothing material affects their skin, energy, and overall wellness. As a result, natural clothing has evolved with the times to bring us fresh modern designs and higher standards in fashion.
Natural clothing materials come in many shapes, forms, and styles. By now, you should have a better understanding as to what properties each fabric has in addition to the comparable benefits. By choosing natural clothing, you can rest assured you’re making a healthier choice, both for you, and the environment.
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