The resurgence of natural textile fibers with eco-sustainable needs.
Textile natural fibers, the great rediscovery of recent years, have not always been as successful as they are now. Ever since polymer molecules were discovered in the 1930s, the use of synthetic fibers in fashion has continued to grow. Timidly at first, it became massively popular in the United States at the end of the 1960s. First, it was used to make stockings worn by women in a women’s fashion liberation movement. Then with the introduction of Polyester, Polyamide, and other polymers (derived from oil) for pants, shirts and coats. Coincided with the commercialization of household appliances and of everything that allowed women to spend less time on domestic tasks.
The decline of natural fibers in the 60s.
Natural fibers were no longer “Fashion”, consumers turned to the consumption of plastic derivatives (petroleum) in all its applications. It would be the prelude to the launch of cheap and disposable products such as the Bic blades that were launched in the mid-70s. Planned obsolescence, practicality, versatility, use and throw away. Nobody thought that all these products would take 500 years to disappear from the face of the earth.
In textiles, all kinds of applications were developed with supposedly wonderful uses and characteristics, more durable, softer, easier to iron, and above all, much cheaper than natural fibers. The new look of these fabrics gave the feeling of modernity. Television series, like Cosmos 1999 or Star Trek, showed futuristic uniforms, made with innovative fabrics. It was the golden age of products with their own name such as Tergal, Rayon and many other sub-brands of chemical companies, of which Dupont de Nemours was one of the most advanced.
Even the great high fashion designers began to look for a way to replace natural fibers, which were more capricious, demanding and whose cost used to exceed that of synthetic fabrics. Synthetic fibers were seen on the catwalks of Paris and Milan.
Mixtures of natural fabrics with synthetic fibers were used. Polyamide with wool, elastane with cotton so that the garments are more flexible and fit better to the body. Each synthetic fiber provides some technicality, elasticity, durability, ease of maintenance, while the natural textile fibers provide comfort, touch and elegance. Because unlike synthetic ones, natural fibers are naturally breathable, they don’t catch the bacteria responsible for bad odors, and they have a natural and elegant drape. The result of these mixtures gave garments that were more durable, flexible, easy to wash, dry or iron, in a word, the panacea for the time when women began to free themselves from household chores.
The need to reinvent natural fibers.
With the turn of the millennium came the environmental issue. The Fast Fashion chains had turned fashion into a continuous ballet of premieres at democratic prices. Natural fibers did not enter into this equation, neither for price nor for concept. Consumers had already become accustomed to accepting synthetics as comparable or superior fibers. But when it comes to sustainability, natural fibers have a clear advantage. They are natural, they come from the earth or from animals and therefore can be composted or reabsorbed. Many synthetic fibers can be recycled, used in other ways, converted into new forms, but remain in the environment for centuries. We all already know that even the plastic particles that are released from the polymers in washing machines end up “feeding” the fish in the sea or rivers. We eat the fish and ingest some of this discarded plastic.
With the turn of the millennium came the environmental issue. The Fast Fashion chains had turned fashion into a continuous ballet of premieres at democratic prices. Natural fibers did not enter into this equation, neither for price nor for concept. Consumers had already become accustomed to accepting synthetics as comparable or superior fibers. But when it comes to sustainability, natural fibers have a clear advantage. They are natural, they come from the earth or from animals and therefore can be composted or reabsorbed. Many synthetic fibers can be recycled, used in other ways, converted into new forms, but remain in the environment for centuries.
We all already know that even the plastic particles that are released from the polymers in washing machines end up “feeding” the fish in the sea or rivers. We eat the fish and ingest some of this discarded plastic.
What was progress 60 years ago has become backward in our time, and above all, a threat.
On the other hand, and how it could be otherwise, natural fibers have been improving their performance significantly over the years. Merino wool, which two centuries ago was a Spanish monopoly, is today produced 90% by New Zealand sheep. This breed of sheep has been perfected for decades to be able to offer today a product with excellent performance. Italian spinners, the best in the world, have developed techniques to further improve the performance of the raw material.
The result is a natural product, unbeatable. As well as the application of technology in cotton crops to improve the quality of the fiber.
We are clear that natural textile fibers are the present and the future of fashion.
On the other hand, and how it could be otherwise, natural fibers have been improving their performance significantly over the years. Merino wool, which two centuries ago was a Spanish monopoly, is today produced 90% by New Zealand sheep. This breed of sheep has been perfected for decades to be able to offer today a product with excellent performance. Italian spinners, the best in the world, have developed techniques to further improve the performance of the raw material.
The result is a natural product, unbeatable. As well as the application of technology in cotton crops to improve the quality of the fiber.
We are clear that natural textile fibers are the present and the future of fashion.
On the other hand, and how it could be otherwise, natural fibers have been improving their performance significantly over the years. Merino wool, which two centuries ago was a Spanish monopoly, is today produced 90% by New Zealand sheep. This breed of sheep has been perfected for decades to be able to offer today a product with excellent performance. Italian spinners, the best in the world, have developed techniques to further improve the performance of the raw material.
We do not want to run away from technological progress by rejecting synthetic fibers, we only believe that the application of more sustainable methodologies in the production and use of fibers is necessary and urgent. Furthermore, we have to continue researching and using technology and knowledge to improve natural fibers and lower their production costs, in order to offer products of the highest quality, longevity and comfort.
What will you do?
The result is a natural product, unbeatable. As well as the application of technology in cotton crops to improve the quality of the fiber.
We are clear that natural textile fibers are the present and the future of fashion. We do not want to run away from technological progress by rejecting synthetic fibers, we only believe that the application of more sustainable methodologies in the production and use of fibers is necessary and urgent. Furthermore, we have to continue researching and using technology and knowledge to improve natural fibers and lower their production costs, in order to offer products of the highest quality, longevity and comfort.
What will you do?