You can transform any fibre into the fabric, making it a great material to experiment with. Fabric made from natural fibres is very sustainable and does not contain any plastic, as many architectural fabrics do. There are different steps on how to make any fibre a fabric.
1. Cleaning of any dirt on the fibre.
2. Carding and combing, all of the impurities are cleaned when the fibre is put through the carding machine and makes a continuous web/silver of thread. The fibres are arranged similarly. The silvers are formed to create a more comprehensive yarn. (fig.?)
3. Spinning is the process of the fibre being pulled, drawn and twisted.
4. Texturing means that it is twisted and heat set and then cooled and untwisted.
5. Sizing, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose or starch is applied to improve the size and minimise breakage.
6. Winding, wound onto suitable packages ready to be made into fabric.
7. Beaming/wrapping; this is done if the fabric is woven.
8. Weaving / Knitting/making of non-wovens; this is where the yarn becomes fabric.
9. Singeing, The fabric is prepared for dyeing.
10. Desizing and washing the fabric with diluted acid or enzyme treatment.
11. Scouring/bleaching, washing with various chemicals to remove impurities.
12. Mercerizing, increasing strength and lustre.
13. Dyeing usually is done at the yarn stage not to lose quality at this stage.
14. Fabric Finishes give the fabric unique characteristics like wrinkle-free, stain-free, or waterproof finish. But also strength, beauty, etc. Compaction, Brushing, Cropping, Sueding Mercerizing.
https://textilestudycenter.com/carding-introduction/
The opportunities for a sustainable future are endless. To mention a few fabrics that have been done from fibres are:
Bananatex® - the world’s first durable, waterproof fabric made purely from Abacá banana plants. (Fig.1)
Piñatex® - Often referred to as ‘pineapple leather’. (Fig.2)
Mylo™ - Mycelium is what the fungus mushrooms are made of.
Orange Fiber - “Our fabrics are formed from a silk-like cellulose yarn that can blend with other materials.”
Parblex™ - Made from potato waste, it can also be made as bioplastic.
Hemp fibre - Hemp is very versatile and can be used in many different ways, everything from clothing to insulation to tea and medicines. (Fig.3)
Bamboo - Bamboo grows fast and is vital, suitable as a building material and fabric. (Fig.4)
Nettles - They do not require any chemicals and are easy to grow. (Fig.5)
Organic cotton is better than regular cotton because they don’t use fertilisers and pesticides.
Tencel - Made from wood pulp. (Fig.6)
Recycled fabric - There are innovative ways to recycle material, such as extracting the fibre from the existing fabric.
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