Natural Fabric

With fabrics increasingly crossing over from natural to manmade and back the other way it is often hard to decide which type of fabric you need. The four most popular types of natural fabric are cotton, linen, wool and silk, but at Whaley’s we stock a range of over 50 natural fabrics. These 4 natural fabrics have some very similar characteristics which set them apart from their manmade counterparts, such as breathability. Our natural fabrics range in price from luxury pieces to cheaper affordable options best used for garment prototypes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Natural Fabric

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions from our customers about Natural Fabric. If your question isn't covered here, please contact us.

  • Natural fabrics are made from fibres that come from plants, animals, or minerals without chemical conversion. Plant-based natural fibres include cotton, linen, hemp, jute, ramie, and bamboo (mechanically processed). Animal-based fibres include wool, silk, alpaca, cashmere, and mohair.

  • Viscose is sometimes described as semi-synthetic. The raw fibre comes from a natural source, usually wood pulp, but it’s chemically processed and regenerated into fibre. Strict definitions of “natural” exclude viscose because of the chemical processing.

  • Natural fibres are biodegradable, breathable, and renewable. They tend to absorb moisture better than synthetics, regulate temperature more comfortably, and don’t shed microplastics. The trade-offs include higher prices for some, more shrinkage, and farming or animal welfare considerations.

  • Not automatically. Cotton can use significant water and pesticides depending on farming practices. Wool and silk involve animal welfare considerations. Sustainability depends on the specific source, production method, and end-of-life behaviour rather than natural versus synthetic alone.

    See our natural fabric product range