Natural Fabrics

Derived from animal and plant natural fibres, natural fabrics are a popular choice when it comes to clothing and furnishing fabric. Find out more about these textiles here.

Bamboo

Bamboo-rayon blend. Crisp, silky surface. Taut, tightly woven. Matt, dusky finish. Breathable. 120gsm. Use for bedding, jackets.

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Dobby Canvas

100% cotton, 310gsm. Heavy canvas, taut weave. Crisp, starched feel. Raised surface texture. Outdoor seating pads, upholstery.

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Bull Denim

100% cotton. 400gsm. Heavy & dense but soft & warm on the skin. Strong, hardwearing, diagonal drill weave structure.

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100% Linen

100% real linen flax. Rustic slub yarn texture. Medium weight, 230gsm. Light, airy, soft to touch. Use for summer dresses, shirts.

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100% Silk Georgette

Semi transparent, sheer, 100% real silk. Very light 50gsm. Distinctive crepe texture. Bridal wear, lingerie, dressmaking.

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100% Silk Organza

Extremely light & airy. 100% silk, 24gsm. Open set plain weave, sheer transparency. Desaturated colours. Bridal wear, veils.

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100% Silk Satin

100% real silk. Smooth, shiny, flowing drape. Super light, 86gsm. Natural sheen to face, luxury handle. Clothing, scarves etc.

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Cotton Linen

All natural fabric. 85% cotton / 15% linen. Cool and smooth on the skin, with some stretch. Slightly stiff finish. 228gsm.

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Real Cotton/Silk Satin

65% real cotton, 35% silk. Woven lustrous satin weave. Elegant, shiny, refined, with added strength from the cotton. Light, 81gsm.

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Pima Lawn 100% Cotton

100% cotton. Light, airy and smooth on the skin. Super light, 75gsm. Nice drape, flows beautifully. Use for clothes, furnishings.

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Organic Cotton Poplin

100% organic cotton poplin weave 135gsm. Untreated with authentic slubbing effect. Crisp, no stretch. Ideal for making shirts

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Organic Cotton Canvas

100% organic cotton. Brighter than half-panama, slightly textured surface. Heavy, 260gsm. Opaque, matt. Ideal for blinds, apparel.

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Organic Halfpanama Cotton

100% organic half-panama cotton. Heavy 300gsm. Authentic flecks of cotton seeds. Visible basket weave. Off-white base. Breathable.

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Cotton Satin

100% natural cotton satin weave. 172gsm. Smooth face with matt finish. Reflects & absorbs the light. Crisp and cool to touch.

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Cotton Twill

100% natural cotton. 200gsm. Smooth and soft face with a matt reverse. Easy to handle. Very tight twill weave, locks in heat.

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Bounce Cotton Jersey

95% cotton, 5% elastane. Soft, stretchy and breathable knitted Cotton Jersey, ideal for bodycon dresses, t-shirts. 180gsm.

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Lima Cotton Twill

85% cotton, 15% poly. Smooth and soft face with a matt reverse. Easy to handle. Very tight twill weave locks in heat. 200gsm.

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Lima Cotton Lawn

70% cotton, 30% poly coating. Hardwearing, breathable. Slight brushed surface, ivory base tone. Lighter than poplin. 105gsm.

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Lima Cotton Poplin

81% cotton 19% poly. Semi opaque poplin weave fabric. 160gsm. Intense colours, bright lustrous face. Very fine brushed surface.

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Victoria Viscose Twill

Soft, matt, smooth handle. Holds shape well. Slightly textured surface. 145gsm. Ivory base colour. Good for dressmaking, clothes.

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What are natural fabrics?

Natural fabrics are textiles made from all natural fibres and substances. These can come from animals or plants and have been used for thousands of years to produce clothing, interiors, furnishings and more.

Some of the most popular natural fibre options available include:

Animal fibres

Silk – Developed in ancient China from silk worms, known as “the queen of fabrics”
Cashmere – very soft and luxurious, from the neck hair of Cashmere and other goats
Wool – rich and insulting fibre from sheep
Mohair – fine and silky and very soft, from the Angora goat
Angora wool – fine, luxurious, and soft from the Angora rabbit
Alpaca wool – A luxurious wool used to make high-end items

Plant fibres

Cotton – the world’s most used natural fibre from the cotton plant
Bamboo – soft and moisture wicking fibre growing in popularity
Flax – a very strong vegetable fibre and one of the oldest
Jute – very strong and used to make sackcloth
Hemp – the fibre from the cannabis plant
Coir – coarse and short fibre from coconuts

How are they manufactured?

Each type of natural fabric is manufactured slightly differently. Natural fibres can be spun to make thread, filaments and rope. When these are woven, knitted, bonded or matted, they become the natural materials we all know. Textiles, such as natural linen fabrics, are one of the oldest materials known and the only thing that has changed slightly is the manufacturing process.

It starts with the fibre and how that is extracted as well as treated to become a thread or yarn. As some natural fibres are plant derived and others animal, the extraction and process methods are different. Wool including Angora and Cashmere, for example, is either sheared or combed, whereas silk comes from the cocoon of the Mulberry silkworm.

Plant fibres come from harvesting the specific plant or crop and following exact methods to obtain the correct form of the fibre.

Fibre is the base of all textiles, which are made in 3 stages:

Spinning – fibres are first spun to make yarns (which are used to create the fabric)
Weaving/Knitting – this is when the yarns are made into textiles
Finishing – textiles are finished to make them more useful for their intended purpose

Purposes

Natural materials have been used for centuries from all corners of the world. They are utilised predominantly in the fashion and clothing industry, but they are also used in furnishings, interiors, insulators and technology.

Thanks to their myriad of properties and the fact that they are produced sustainably, natural fabrics have continued to grow in popularity.

Properties of natural fabrics

Natural fabrics are made from fibres, which come from plants or animals. A lot of people prefer them due to their plethora of benefits and properties. Some of these can include:

Strength
Durability
Sustainable
Insulating
Anti-bacterial
Bio-degradable
Hypo-allergenic
Versatile
Moisture-wicking
Breathable
Absorbent

Advantages of natural fabrics

You can find natural fabrics online easily, with a wealth of options available. Choose natural fabrics UK made or from abroad. Many people opt for natural over synthetic thanks to the fabric’s soft and breathable natures and their impact on the environment. These fabrics are largely sustainable, biodegradable and carbon neutral which is a huge advantage.

Natural fabrics can also be blended together with other fibres, both natural and synthetic, to bring even more uses to the table. They are versatile as well as strong and when mixed together, their qualities can be multiplied, to include easy to care for, easy to wash, colour durability and lots more.

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Natural Fabrics

What are natural fabrics?

How are they manufactured?

Purposes

Properties of natural fabrics

Advantages of natural fabrics

Your design on Fabric

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Natural Fabrics

What are natural fabrics?

How are they manufactured?

Purposes

Properties of natural fabrics

Advantages of natural fabrics

Your design on Fabric

About Contrado

Products

Designers