Fabric Types

There are now a multitude of fabrics used for clothing, soft furnishings and upholstery.

Natural Fibres
Made from naturally occurring plant and animal fibres. Environmental consequences are monoculture, crops displacing food crops, over-use of pesticides, and effluents from chemicals used in the manufacturing process.
Cotton  ~~ Wool  ~~  Silk  ~~  Bamboo

Derivatives of Natural Materials
Made from cellulose (which occurs naturally in plants) which undergo a number of chemical processes.
Rayon (including viscose, modal and tencel)

Plastics

Fibres which are made from chemicals, including petrochemicals. It is now known that microscopic threads from these materials are increasingly found in the oceans, where they are ingested by fish and other sea creatures.

Acrylic  ~~  Acetate  ~~  Lycra/Spandex  ~~  Nylon  ~~  Olefin  ~~  Polyester  ~~  Vinyl 

Other fabrics

• Smartweave: a 2 layer fabric that wicks moisture from the skin and enhances evaporation, preventing sweat marks. www.smartweavestore.com
• Peshtemal towels: a thin fabric (originally from Turkey) that dries you well.

Sources: Various internet sites.

Best Fabrics for Keeping Cool

Some fabrics are better than others for wearing in hot weather. Here are the best ones:

Cotton is good, as is chambray, which looks like denim but is very lightweight.

Linen is excellent at keeping you cool but is prone to creasing. Wash using cool water and add a drop of fabric conditioner to the final rinse to lubricate the fibres, and line dry rather than tumble dry.

Viscose is great for dry heat as the thinner thread works well in lightweight garments that drape well.

Lyocell or Tencel is a useful fabric made from sustainable wood pulp. It is very soft and has excellent moisture-wicking properties.

And remember that white and pastel shades don't absorb the sun's heat, and will keep you much cooler.

For holiday clothes, look for those labelled 'easy care' or 'wrinkle resistant'.

Source: Tip in Good Housekeeping, July 2017