Textile fibres or textile fibers (see spelling differences) can be created from many natural sources (animal hair or fur, cocoons as with silk worm cocoons), as well as semisynthetic methods that use naturally occurring polymers, and synthetic methods that use polymer-based materials, and even minerals such as metals to make foils and wires. The consumer protection laws requires that fibre content be provided on content labels. Common textile fibres used in global fashion today include:[1] [2] [3] [4]
| Fibre | Source | Attribute | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpaca | Soft, warmth, lightweight | ||
| Angora rabbit | Softness, blends well with other fibres | ||
| Synthetic | Soft, silky, hygroscopic, also known as Aralac | ||
| Byssus | Pinna nobilis | Warmth, lightweight | |
| Arabian ña / Guanaco / South America camelid varieties | Softness, warmth | ||
| Indian cashmere goat | Softness | ||
| Chiengora | Dog | Fluffy, lightweight | |
| Lambswool | Sheep | Softness, elasticity, warmth | |
| Llama | Lightweight, insulating | ||
| Angora goat | Dyes well, lightweight | ||
| Qiviut | Muskoxen | Softness, warmth | |
| Rabbit | Rabbits | Softness | |
| Silk worm (Bombyx mori) | Smooth, strong fabric finish with high shine | ||
| Silk worm (Samia cynthia) | Smooth, strong fabric finish with high shine | ||
| Golden Orb-weaver Spider (Nephila inaurata madagascariensis); transgenic silk worm; transgenic yeast | Ultra-strong, golden, smooth fabric finish with high shine | ||
| Vicuña | Expensive, luxurious, soft | ||
| Wool | Sheep | Warmth | |
| Yak fiber | Wild Yak | Heavy, warmth |
Other plant-based fibers:
| Fibre | Source | Attribute | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Products | Lightweight, warm, dries quickly | ||
| Aramids | Very strong | ||
| Petroleum Products | Lightweight, warm, dries quickly | ||
| Aramids | Chemical, electrical, and flame resistant | ||
| Petroleum Products | Durable, strong, lightweight, dries quickly | ||
| Petroleum Products | Durable, strong, lightweight, dries quickly | ||
| Petroleum Products | Elastic, strong, lightweight | ||
| Regenerated cellulose | Weak when wet |