Natural vs. Synthetic: A Quick Guide to Different Fibers

Do you know the difference between natural and synthetic fibers? As we in the crafting industry see a shift towards working with more sustainable materials, we thought it important to share with our readers a quick guide to different fibers so that you can not only choose materials that work best with your sewing and quilting projects, but that you are aware of where the fabrics you sew come from. In our helpful guide to different fibers, we’ll walk you through basic definitions of fibers with examples of each, as well as the benefits of working with natural and synthetic fibers.

With this guide, we aim to help beginner sewists and quilters learn about the variety of fibers available to them, as well as what sustainable choices they can make. Our guide applies not only to fabric shopping for sewing but is also applicable when shopping for ready-to-wear or secondhand garments. Be sure to save this article to your favorites, so that you can keep it handy for the next time you prepare to make a purchase.

Quick Definitions

Before we look at the difference between natural and synthetic fibers, let’s go over some definitions for words that will appear in this article.

• Fibers – Fibers are materials that are used to make fabric. They are long and thin, and multiple fibers are woven or bonded together to make the building blocks of fabric. Fibers can be natural, synthetic or a blend of the two.
• Fabric – Fabric is comprised of fibers that have been woven or knitted together.
• Natural Fibers – Natural fibers are fibers that come from plants and animals. According to the article “Natural vs. Synthetic Fibers: What’s the Difference?” from MasterClass, “The raw, natural materials are spun into threads and yarns that are then woven or knit into natural fabrics.”
• Synthetic Fibers – Synthetic fibers are fibers that come from synthetic materials and are formed during chemical processes.

Now that we have these basic definitions out of the way, let’s go through some examples of both natural and synthetic fibers.

Examples of Natural Fibers

Natural fibers are fibers that derive from plants and animals. Some examples of natural fibers include:

• Cotton – Cotton is a natural fiber that comes from the cotton plant. Cotton fabric is typically used for t-shirts, undergarments, jeans, and many other types of garments.
• Linen – Linen is a natural fiber that comes from the flax plant. Linen fabric can be used for clothing or household items such as bed sheets. Both cotton and linen are highly breathable fabrics.
• Wool – Wool is a natural fiber that comes from the hair of animals like sheep, alpaca, or goats. Wool fiber can be made into fabric or into yarn for fiber arts such as knitting and crochet. Wool is noted for its warmth and water-resistant abilities and wool fabric is often used in outerwear.
• Silk – Silk is a natural fiber that comes from insects, most commonly from silkworms. Silk is known for its beautiful shine and silk fabric is often used for lingerie and expensive clothing, as well as high-end household items.
• Bamboo – Bamboo is a natural fiber that comes from the bamboo plant. Bamboo fabrics are lightweight and are used for housewares like sheets, as well as some clothing items. It has been noted that harvesting bamboo for fabric production has caused damage to some eco-systems.
• Hemp – Hemp is a natural fiber that comes from the hemp plant. Hemp fabric is highly durable and strong and is used for bags and rope.
• Jute – Jute is a natural fiber that comes from the jute plant. Jute fabrics are generally used to make burlap or other products that call for durability.

Examples of Synthetic Fibers

Let’s now look at some examples of synthetic fibers, which again, are fibers that come from synthetic materials. A few examples of synthetic fibers include:

• Polyester – Polyester is a synthetic fiber that comes from coal and petroleum. Polyester is sometimes combined with cotton to create a blend. Polyester fabric is known for its ability to resist wrinkles and dry quickly.
• Nylon – Nylon is a synthetic fiber that comes from petrochemicals like crude oil extracts. Known for its elasticity, nylon fabric is generally used in hosiery (which were often referred to as simply “nylons”) and for swimwear.
• Rayon – Rayon is a synthetic fiber that is made from wood pulp. It has a smooth texture and is commonly used as a silk or wool substitute. As rayon is made using wood pulp, it is considered a semi-synthetic fiber.
• Acrylic – Acrylic is a synthetic fiber that comes from coal and petroleum. Acrylic is typically used as a wool substitute, as it can retain heat well. Acrylic yarn can also be used in fiber arts, such as crochet and knitting.
• Spandex – Spandex is a synthetic fiber made from other synthetic fibers (like polyester and nylon) and is known for its ability to stretch well. Also known as elastane, Spandex fabric is typically used in athletic garments, swimwear, and athleisure such as leggings.

Microfibers are also a subcategory of synthetic fibers and are very finely woven filaments of other synthetic fibers.

Natural Fibers vs. Synthetic Fibers

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get into the benefits and disadvantages of natural and synthetic fibers. Natural fibers have several benefits, one of the most basic being breathability. Fabrics made from natural fibers such as cotton are extremely breathable, meaning they allow moisture and air to pass through them easily. If you have worn a 100% polyester dress or top, you know that your body will start to sweat very quickly, as moisture is unable to easily leave the fabric. Some natural fibers such as cotton and linen are also hypoallergenic, and most natural fibers are biodegradable.

Synthetic fibers do have some advantages, especially in areas such as stretch and water resistance. Synthetic fabrics are also much cheaper to produce, which generally makes them more affordable; however, as we’ll discuss, synthetic fabrics have a devasting impact on the environment. It should be noted that some synthetic fibers are more stain resistant than natural fibers.

A main drawback to natural fibers is that they are typically more expensive to produce and while they do tend to be more eco-friendly than their synthetic counterparts, there are still some environmental issues that arise from natural fibers. Some natural fibers, especially cotton, require a lot of water to produce them, and as noted earlier, some farming practices for bamboo or other materials are not always environmentally friendly. Cotton is also often bleached, while other fibers are dyed, which use chemicals that are also not environmentally friendly.

However, as most synthetic fibers are not biodegradable and are made from non-renewable sources, they arguably cause more damage to the environment. Synthetic fabrics are often used in fast fashion production and contain microplastics, which itself has had a massive negative impact on the environment. Synthetic fibers are also less durable than natural fibers, meaning they are more likely to tear. Think about the last time you purchased a pair of leggings made from synthetic fabrics. How many wash cycles did they last before they began to break down? This again plays into the fast fashion cycle, in which clothes made with cheaper fabrics have a much shorter lifetime and then are discarded at a much more rapid rate.

We hope that you’ve found our quick guide to natural fibers and synthetic fibers to be helpful as you navigate your next sewing or quilting project. What types of articles would you like to see in We Like Sewing? What types of sustainable sewing tips would you like to share? Leave a comment for your fellow readers below!