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Material Research: Textiles & Natural Materials

Guide explaining the different types of materials and manufacturers.

Innovative & Natural Materials

Very Compostable - This constantly-updated site aggregates information about plastic alternatives from a variety of sources and covers materials ranging from algae to cabbage leaves to bone.

Fungi-Based Leather - From YaleEnvironment360, this article summarizes a study arguing that fungi-leather looks and feels like, and is as durable as, traditional leather.

Fungal Future - Dutch museum Micropia is dedicated solely to microbes. Fungal Future is their permanent exhibit exploring mycelium, how it’s grown, and its potential as an alternative to non-biodegradable materials.

Fabric Dictionary - From Mood Designer Fabrics, this dictionary covers traditional textiles as well as alternative natural fibers, providing history and composition, uses, properties, and pros and cons for each entry.

Leather

Leather - A material made from tanning the skins/hides of animals, most commonly cattle.

  • Long-lasting (can last for centuries if handled carefully) yet biodegradable (10-50 years)

Imitation Leather - Usually consists of a textile base fabric covered by two or more layers of synthetic polymers. Visually, it imitates a leather surface yet is often unable to match the technical properties of leather (breathability, haptics, water vapor permeability, etc.)

  • Inexpensive alternative to genuine leather
  • Known as “fake,” “faux,” "vegan," or “synthetic”

See the Leather Dictionary for more information.

Fabrics

Non-Woven Fabric - A textile structure held together by the interlocking of fibers in a random web, accomplished by mechanical, chemical, thermal, or solvent means. Generally, crimped fibers that range in length from 0.75 to 4.5 inches are used.

  • No interwoven strands

Performance Fabrics - Fabrics made for a variety of end-use applications which provide functional qualities, such as moisture management, UV protection, anti-microbial, thermo-regulation, and wind/water resistance.

  • Typically wear-and-tear resistant
  • Often stain resistant and easy to clean

See Startup Fashion's Fiber Dictionary for more information.

Videos

Electricity Generating Textiles - Anja Lund

Grow Your Own Clothes - Suzanne Lee

Are mushrooms the new plastic? - Eben Bayer

Textiles - CCS Library

College for Creative Studies website