Textile Fibers

Textile fibers are the fibers that textiles are made up of. They can be either natural or synthetic (made by man). The following is a list of commonly available textile fibers:

List of Natural Textile Fibers: Animal and Plant-Based

Natural, Animal Textile Fibers

  • Alpaca
  • Angora
  • Cashmere
  • Silk
  • Wool

Natural, Plant-Based Fibers, Also Known as “Cellulose Fibers”:

  • Cotton
  • Hemp
  • Jute
  • Linen
  • List of Semi-Synthetic Textile Fibers

    Semi-synthetic fibers are also plant-based, cellulose fibers derived from natural materials. However, they are not completely natural in origin. Synthetic chemicals or processes are applied to the natural materials to create a finished fabric. In many cases, these natural materials would be unusable for fiber without this extensive amount of additional processing. Examples of semi-synthetic fibers are as follows:

    • Bamboo
    • Rayon
    • Acetate
    • Tencel / Lyocell

    List of Synthetic Textile Fibers

    • Acrylic
    • Nylon
    • Polyester

    So there you have it: There’s a list of commonly available textile fibers that are popular for making a variety of texiles and fabrics for making clothing, accessories, home furnishings, toys and other household products.