Is cotton really the best fiber for clothing?

“Is cotton really one of the best fabrics available or there are other fabrics which are equally good." I don’t see a clear winner, since there are many fabrics available. I wanted to list out some of them .I hope it helps you to make a decision and make you think about your wardrobe.

· Cotton – Has high breathe-ability,meaning it absorbs sweat and wicks it away. It is also hypoallergenic which is why it is still used for bandages and other medical purposes .Since it all natural cellulose , it is very much biodegradable .Unfortunately the most widely used natural fiber for clothing has also the dubious distinction of needing the most chemical inputs of insecticides, pesticides & fertilizers.

· Bamboo –Has very good breathe-ability. It has the best antibacterial properties and Is a highly renewable grass grown with very little or zero chemical inputs .The worry is that almost all the bamboo fabric made, is through a intensive chemical process. This is similar to the Rayon/viscose where the wood pulp is converted into cellulose called “Bamboo rayon” .The soft bamboo fabric that we get Is from this chemical process .The other way is mechanical process which results in a coarser material and is called “ Bamboo linen” .This is very expensive and very rare.

Hemp – Like other natural fibers, Hemp also has good antibacterial properties and has good wick properties .It is stronger and more durable than cotton .Hemp retains its dye colour better than cotton .With its natural property, Hemp is coarser and not as soft as cotton. It insulates the body better. The process of making fabric from Hemp plant is not chemical intensive and hemp fabrics are bio-degradable.

· Viscose-It is a partially man-made cellulose fabric .It has good breathe-ability and is quite economically cheap to make.It is a type of Rayon originally known as artificial silk.It is re-generated from wood pulp.. The recycled wood pulp is treated with chemicals such as caustic soda, ammonia, and sulphuric acid. We therefore have a fabric, which comes from a natural and sustainable source, but that s made with chemicals. It is more eco-friendly from a fully man-made petroleum product.

·Recycled polyester—Polyester is not breathable.Fabrics can achieve very bright colour dyes and does not fade. It is a man-made product from petroleum. Recycled polyester is made from cast-off polyester fabric and soda bottles, resulting in a carbon footprint that is 75 percent lower than virgin polyester. Recycled polyester also produces micro-plastic which gets into water ecosystems. A good option to reduce the already generated plastic, might not be the best in terms of comfort & breathe-ability.Virgin Polyester unfortunately takes close to 200 years or more to degrade.

· Wool – It is a protein based fiber , has excellent absorbency. Not suitable in general for tropical climate. Wool is generally processed with chlorine and might be allergic to very sensitive skins. There are products emerging in the market, which are chlorine free and the wool is rared from humanely-treated sheep.

Silk- It is a light fabric, yet highly dense .It is the strongest natural fiber available. It has a good dye affinity which means colour doesn’t fade off .Silk is extracted from silkworms, this involves boiling in water, in order for individual long fibers to be extracted , Vegans beware .Although in an infant stage ,silk made from Soy is being used as a good alternative for individuals who do not want to see a worm getting hurt .It does not have very good breathe-ability or comfort compared to other natural fibers.

There are other notable absentees from the list like Tencel,Lyocel which are all part of the rayon family .

Every fabric has its own positives and downsides .My preference has been cotton and I feel many of the negatives with regards to insecticides/chemicals used as inputs for the cotton plant can be solved using Organic cotton .More on that later.

Conclusion

The hope is to inspire people to look into their wardrobe ,be conscious of what they are buying and to look beyond, the label. , Synthetic fabric may give us bright colors , but the havoc they cause on landfills and the chemicals used on them, should deter us from using them .

Please share your views and comments ,do you have a favourite fabric and why ?