ASSIGNMENT BASIC 101: LEARN THE TYPES OF FABRICS 1.

Hiya  Miggies, the types of fabrics posted here were assignments submitted by our students. Only those whose assignments rates the best are posted on the blog.

This is from Miggy Ekemini:
NAME: Ekemini Udoh
QUESTION : What are the different types of fabrics we have?
ANS: TYPES OF FABRICS
Clothing fabrics are made from fibers. Therefore clothing fabrics can be classified into the following categories:
Natural fabrics,
Synthetic fabrics,
Natural/synthetic fabrics




Natural fabrics :
Are made of fiber that either comes from an animal (hair, fur, and feathers), a vegetable (such as cotton or hemp), or a mineral (i.e. fiberglass).
 They typically allow your skin to breathe better and are considered to be more comfortable, especially in very warm climates.
Their major drawback is that they have a tendency to wrinkle badly or shrink when they are washed. Most natural fiber fabrics will shrink when exposed to very hot water and high heat drying methods.
The most common Natural Fibers used in clothing include:

COTTON




Cotton is everywhere. It is casual, but it can be dressy. It’s basics. It’s socks, underwear, and sheets. It’s easy. It’s ‘the fabric of our lives.’
Cotton is derived from the fibre of the tropical cotton plant. When the cotton flowers bloom and die, a boll remains which ripens and splits open to reveal a white, fluffy interior with seeds – this is the raw cotton. Cotton is the most widely used fabric and is the basis of over 30 types of textiles.

  B)  LINEN




Linen: Linen is a medium-weight fabric with little elasticity (hence the wrinkles). But it conducts heat very well, which is why it’s a popular choice for warm-weather anything.
Linen is a natural fiber and it comes from the flax plant, just like flax seeds.Linen, though, can be a bitch. You can look at it and it wrinkles. The best way to prevent wrinkled linen is to wait till the last minute to pack it in your suitcase.

WOOL




 There are over 200 different types of wool, coming from 40 different breeds of sheep, so the weight will vary depending on the type of wool. Wool is extremely hard-wearing and versatile. It’s also very warm and a good choice for colder weather garments.Wool, for the most part, comes from the hair of sheep. Additionally, it can come from goats (mohair, cashmere) and rabbits (angora). Wool is also really, really old. The oldest known wool textile has been dated back to 1500 B.C.E.!
 Wool is biodegradable, hypo-allergenic, flame retardent and restistant to static electricity. It is also very warm, it even has the ability to keep you warm even after it gets wet.

SILK




Silk is a lightweight, delicate fabric that drapes well. It has a slightly shimmery appearance. Silk can be slippery and more difficult to work with. It also makes a great lining fabric.
Silk is a natural fiber that comes from the larvae of the mulberry silkworm. Basically, after the worm goes into its cocoon, but before it becomes a moth, it is thrown in boiling water and its fibers are then spun into silk.




The silk fibers have a prism-like stucture, which causes them to refract light and create a rainbow-like sheen. Silk also feels great on bare skin and really hugs the body.
Georgette is a type of silk fabric, although today synthetic georgettes are also produced. It’s light, crinkly, slightly rough feel is what it’s known for, plus the range of colours it is dyed in.

SYNTHETIC FABRICS




Synthetic fabrics are made of that are not of natural sources, these fibers  have the luxury of being more resilient, longer lasting, and have less of a tendency to wrinkle. Each synthetic fabric has specific care instructions that you must follow in order not to ruin the fabric. Some synthetic fibers will melt when exposed to heat, like a hot dryer or hot iron.
Some of the most common Synthetic Fibers used in clothing:
Polyester
Spandex (lycra)
Nylon
Acrylic

POLYESTER




Polyester is not just a punchline for disco-era jokes, it is quite an amazing fabric. When it was first introduced in 1951, it was celebrated as a miracle textile. It can be worn over and over without fading and without losing its shape.




What we refer to as polyester is actually polyethylene terephthalate, and involves the linking of the many esters in the fabric through a chemical process. Polyester is made to be durable. Not only does it hold its shape, it also dries easily and is a good insulator.

SPANDEX or LYCRA




Spandex (aka Lycra) is a synthetic fabric known for its ability to stretch and while maintaining its shape. Fun fact: the word spandex is actually an anagram for ‘expand.’
Spandex is great for wetsuits, leggings and workout clothes of all kinds. Spandex is also what gives skinny jeans, their hip-hugging appeal.

NYLON




Nylon was invented in the ‘30s to be a synthetic replacement for silk. It was then used in lieu of silk to make women’s stockings, hence the term ‘nylons.’ Today, nylon is still used in the manufacturing of many mechanical parts as well as clothing.




ACRYLIC fibres are man-made and incorporate by-products from petroleum and natural gas.

NATURAL/SYNTHETIC




Natural/synthetic blends combine the best of the natural and synthetic fibers, creating fabrics that resist staining, are comfortable, have a little "give" to them, and don't wrinkle as much as natural fiber clothing does.
However, many synthetic fibers are not as comfortable to wear, causing the garment industry to experiment with combining the best of both.

RAYON




During the early twentieth century, scientists developed a new type of textile using the natural cellulose fibers from plants and petrochemicals to make Rayon
Thus, it is neither fully natural nor synthetic. Rayon can be used to mimic the feel of silk, wool or linen.
Rayon fabrics are soft, smooth and comfortable. They are also highly absorbent without insulating body heat, making them ideal for use in hot and humid climates

ACETATE




Acetate is a combination natural and synthetic fibre. The natural element is from the cellulose of wood.

CHIFFON

Chiffon is a very sheer, light fabric made out of silk, cotton or synthetic fibres. The twist in the fibres gives it a somewhat rough feel, and the mesh-like weave contributes to its see through properties.

CORDUROY

Corduroy is a strong, durable fabric with a surface of rounded cord or rib and the back has a plain or twill weave. It can be made from several textiles including cotton.

DENIM

Denim is a type of cotton fabric woven in such a way that the threads produce that distinctive diagonal ribbing on the underside of the fabric. Traditionally it was dyed blue and the first denim trousers were made in Genoa, Italy. Both the words ‘denim’ and ‘jeans’ are of French origin.

KNIT




Knit: In the knit fabric category, there are several types of knit, varying from lightweight to medium weight. Knit fabric is your go-to for any garment that needs to have a great deal of stretch. Patterns are designed for either woven fabric or knit fabric, and patterns sized for knit fabric will often specify the degree of stretch needed in the fabric.

SATIN

Satin can vary from lightweight to heavyweight, depending on the type of satin. Like silk, it has a glossy appearance.

FLANNEL




Flannel: Flannel is a soft, lightweight fabric. It works well for colder-temperature shirts, pants and jackets.