Cotton, linen, wool, silk – today I am taking you on a journey through the topic of natural materials for clothing.
A basic distinction is made between man-made fibers (synthetic fibers) and natural fibers or natural materials when it comes to the subject of “natural materials clothing”. Natural fibers, in turn, can be fibers from plants or hair from animals. The material properties of substances are different. There are easy-care fabrics and fabrics that look great, but are very difficult to care for. You can find the material information about what fabric your garment is made of on the care label. Here you will also find a number of symbols indicating how the garment can and should not be cleaned. Then let’s dive into the topic of “natural materials clothing”.
We have also taken up the topic of natural materials in our shop and created a material dictionary for you!
Natural fibers from animals – wool, silk
Wool
Wool is mainly obtained from the raw material sheepskin and is the oldest staple fiber in the world. In addition to the sheep, angora rabbits, cashmere goats or alpacas and camels also produce extremely fine wool. The wool that is obtained (sheared) from living animals is called real new wool. It contains a minimal amount of foreign fibers. Wool keeps you wonderfully warm and is perfect for sweaters and socks . It gives off odors quickly and therefore does not have to be washed as often. It is often enough to air out the wool sweater.
Wash and care for wool
Wool becomes matted at high temperatures. Therefore, please wash your woolen clothes at 30 ° C in the washing machine’s special wool program with mild or wool detergent. Sometimes it can even only be washed by hand. Under no circumstances should wool go in the dryer! Just carefully squeeze out the damp wool and pluck the sweater into shape to dry. Iron the clothes on the lowest setting, possibly with a towel between the wool and iron
silk
Silk is the noblest and finest material that we know. The mulberry moth, a bred silkworm, makes the real silk. The silk yarn is made from the unwound threads of its cocoon. Silk is popular in both summer and winter. It cools when it is hot and warms when it is cold. Well-known silk fabrics are satin, chiffon, organza and taffeta. It is crease-resistant and has a noble sheen. However, silk is very prone to stains such as sweat, deodorant and even water. The main disadvantage of silk is its price. In addition, items of clothing made of silk require a lot of care.
Wash and care for silk
Like wool, silk can withstand temperatures of up to 30 ° C and must be hand washed with a mild detergent. Gently squeeze the silk model in a towel and dry it out of direct sunlight. Turn the clothes inside out for ironing and set a maximum of level 2. Silk is a delicate luxury item that can be cared for with the appropriate intensity.
Natural plant fibers – cotton, linen
cotton
Cotton is made from the seed hairs on the fruits of the cotton bush. These are spun into yarns into a robust and tear-resistant fabric that can be bleached and dyed without any problems. Cotton is always around us in our clothes. It is very popular for T-shirts , underwear and also hospital underwear, as it can withstand hot wash. Clothing made from pure cotton is particularly suitable for allergy sufferers. It is soft to the touch and does not scratch. Very often garments made of cotton can be mixed with other fibers such as viscose or elastane.
Mercerized cotton is a special form of cotton that has a special, silky sheen.
Wash and care for cotton
Since cotton is very robust, the clothes can be washed in the washing machine at temperatures of up to 90 ° C. Spin and tumble drying are usually not a problem. Cotton clothing can withstand the ironing usually the stage third
A little bit of information on the subject of “natural materials clothing”: Clothing with a mix of cotton and polyester are standard these days. The reason for this is that polyester keeps clothing in shape and the color stays colourfast longer. But don’t worry, with a polyester content below 40% there is no risk of sweating more.
linen
Linen is obtained from the bast fibers of the flax plant. The production is complex, which makes the fabric expensive. Linen fabric is firm and hard-wearing and is characterized by its smooth surface and matt, fine sheen. The natural fiber is soft and cool on the skin and is ideal as summer clothing. Its solid structure makes it dirt-repellent and inhibits odors. The disadvantage is that linen clothing wrinkles easily and shrinks quickly due to its low elasticity. The garments therefore often contain portions of cotton or man-made fibers. Proper care is particularly important here!
Wash and care for linen
If the color allows it, linen can be washed up to 60 ° C, sometimes even up to 90 ° C. Linen does not belong in the dryer. You should air dry your clothes. To get linen really smooth, iron the dampened fabric on the highest setting.
