For ultra comfort, durability and style forget wearing clothes made with cheap synthetic materials and instead opt for clothing made with the plethora of the natural fabrics that are available. Listed below are a range of natural fibres and the advantages they have over those that are manmade.

Cotton

The most popular material in the world, used to make a range of clothing from Sari’s in India to underwear in Marks &Spencer, it is known that man has made cotton into fabric since 3000BC. Cotton is grows on plants which are then harvested and manufactured using water. It’s plentiful, cheap and can be as delicate as a handkerchief or as tough as denim.

Wool

Straight off the back of a sheep or goat (it keeps them warm in winter and cool in summer) wool is an ideal fabric allowing your skin breathe, so perfect in its many guises to wear every season from summer to winter.

From the luxury of angora sweaters and cashmere pashmini to the warmth of grannies knitted woollen socks, wool is financially accessible to all and perennially popular.

Silk

Expensive and delicate, but oh so soft, silk is the supreme of natural fabric, silk is made as nature intended by silk worms, with most of it manufactured in China. Expensive because of the lengthy process of its manufacture silk remains primarily the property of the wealthy.

Hemp

Hemp can be used to make a wide range of products from paper to cosmetics. It is a tough fabric which can sometimes be a little rough on more delicate skin, but its weave and strength has bonuses, it lasts a long time and has the added advantage as the kind of material that requires little or no ironing.

Bamboo

Like hemp bamboo can be manufactured into a wide range of products from paper to furniture. It is durable and probably one of the softest of natural fibres once manufactured into fabric. As strong as cotton but as soft as silk, it is ideal for baby and children’s clothing, who need hardwearing clothing that allows delicate skin to thrive without restricting or damaging it.

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth, so it is hugely sustainable and probably the most environmentally friendly of the natural fabrics to produce en masse.

So, natural fabrics are varied and can be appropriate for whoever needs to wear them, however they want to wear them.

Forget manmade Lycra©, nylon and acrylic which can itch and scratch your skin and prevent it from breathing, instead opt for natural fabric which allows your skin to breathe and keeps you warm in winter or cool in summer, is durable, often inexpensive and is natural and environmentally friendly.