Sources and origins
The sources of materials can be either natural or synthetic. These sources are To make (yarn) by drawing out, twisting, and winding fibres. or Threads interlocked to make a fabric. into shape to create the fibres that make up fabrics.
Natural fibres
These are fibres that are obtained from natural sources such as plants and animals.
Plant-based
- Cotton - harvested from cotton plants from China, USA and Pakistan, the fibres are cleaned, Staple fibres are combed by rows of teeth to clean and lay in lines. between wire brushes to lie in the same direction and spun into yarn
- Bamboo - grown in China and Japan and is Materials that are wet and mashed together. and crushed, softened and carded before being spun into yarn
- Linen - made from the flax plant grown in Canada, France and Russia, and processed in the same way as bamboo
Animal-based
- Wool - fleeces are sheared from animals such as sheep, alpaca and goats in UK, Australia and New Zealand; the short, Short, usually natural, fibres before they are spun into threads. are cleaned, carded and spun into a yarn
- Silk - silkmoth cocoons are harvested in China and India, heated to undo the A material in a thread-like form. bonds and then spun into a filament fibre
Silkmoth on cocoon
Synthetic fibres
Synthetic fibres are also known as man-made or manufactured fibres, which have to be reformed from other When something cannot be continued or supported at its current level/rate. sources.
Oil-based
- Polyester - A polymer is a large molecule formed from many identical smaller molecules (monomers). Polymers can be natural or synthetic. Plastics are long chains of polymers. chains are extracted from oil and are then forced through a small hole into a filament fibre
- Acrylic - polymer chains of A common thermoforming polymer. (a Also called ‘thermoplastic’. Can be reformed when heated, and therefore can often be recycled. polymer) are extracted from oil into a filament fibre
Regenerated
- Viscose - wood pulp from Canada or European forests is dissolved by chemicals to extract the cellulose, which is then Shaped by being forced through an opening. through a A small metal plate that a chemical solution is forced through to make a filament fibre. to make a fine filament fibre
- Acetate - wood pulp from Canada or European forests is dissolved by A colourless organic compound. and then extruded through a spinneret to make a filament fibre
