Non-traditional fibre sources
Paper fibers come from the renewable resources of pine trees, cotton, rice and abaca, a form of banana plant
Recent developments in Japan have introduced paper content fabrics with a softer handle
With a high strength & good light fastness, paper textiles are recyclable
Used also for accessories & floor-coverings
Fibers such as nettle, jute and ramie are derived from the inner fibrous stem material of certain plants.
Some crops can offer environmental & social benefits for local native farmers and should be encouraged.
Health giving herbs like loubuma from China produce textile fibre plus beneficial herbal remedies and medication
A minority area as only a few plants have the necessary commercial attributes for economic fibre production
Agave, pineapple and banana are sources of supply
From naturally renewable resources, fibers are hard wearing & strong
Uses include floor coverings, fibers for paper, accessories, shoes and rope
Man's oldest cultivated fibre, hemp is a versatile crop where every part has a use
It has natural strength, UV resistance, thermal properties & durability
This naturally renewable resource requires little agricultural assistance
Hemp is now seen in denim and casual sports fabrics, interior and domestic textiles. In non-woven form it is used for insulation in cars
Cotton is a commercial source of seed hair fiber. these are the more unusual sources
The fine, light & silky short fibers are used for insulation and fibre filling
Coir is hard wearing & abrasion resistant, used for flooring coverings, geotextiles and ropes
They are natural renewable resource, and often grown in areas of limited agricultural potential
Biotechnology is a growing area, as we seek replacements for oil based fibres
Dextrose from plants can create a PLA fibre with an acceptable 360 life cycle
Spider silk is a biologically engineered fibre being investigated via genetic modification
Castor beans, milk, bamboo & soya are all new sources of fibre & polymers
Textiles are also being experimentally 'grown' from fermented yeast bacteria with links to tissue culture.
Produced from brown sea weed, alginate fibers have natural healing properties from the iodine content
Blended with cellulose fibers, fabrics are used in underwear that imparts anti-inflammatory and antiseptic benefits to the skin
In medical applications, non woven alginate fibers hasten blood clotting and encourage healing on damaged skin
They are used as non-woven burn and skin dressings
Polyethylene, PVC, polypropylene and polyurethane are all forms of synthetics from non renewable oil-based resources
All have properties of high strength, can be heat set, and provide a wide variety of different products for industrial, medical, sports, and medical textiles
Fibers and products can be recyclable
Peat fibre is produced form organic plant remains found in Scandinavia peat bogs
They have good thermal properties, UV resistance, are antistatic with natural antiseptic properties
Fabrics have a warm woolen felted handle and are produced organically
Used in woven & knitted fabrics for clothing, blankets, interior products and footwear
Aluminium, copper & steel are the metals used in textiles to impart functional textiles to impart functional and aesthetic properties
Metal-content fibers have the ability to memories a predetermined shape and react to heat
They can assist in protecting against electromagnetic radiation, and are detectable by radar and heat-seeking devices
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