Manufacturers are now competing with each other to offer a variety of fabrics, making it difficult for customers to get an overview. In this article, we attempt to provide an overview of the most commonly used fabrics made from natural materials.
What is a natural fiber?
Natural fibers are fabrics made directly from natural fibers, such as cotton, wool, or linen. Their advantage: They feel pleasant on the skin.
Cotton
The classic among upholstery fabrics is a pure natural product, which with its rough look is currently particularly popular in country or Scandi look is used and is particularly characterized by breathability and durability.
However, cotton is sensitive to dirt and wrinkles, so you should opt for a suitable coating or a blend of cotton and other fabrics. Removable upholstery covers that can be put in the washing machine are also very practical.
Linen
Linen has similar properties to cotton, but is somewhat coarser in appearance and has a slight sheen. As a purely natural product, it is breathable and skin-friendly. Its cooling effect makes it particularly popular in summer. Visually, linen blends well with all natural interior styles, such as Modern Country or New Scandinavian.
Virgin wool
Do you know the difference between wool and virgin wool?
New wool comes from living animals and is of particularly high quality. Wool, on the other hand, can come from dead animals or be made from scraps of old textiles. New wool is therefore the fresher wool, usually directly from the hair of sheep!
Wool covers lend your upholstery a refined and high-quality feel. As a purely natural product, virgin wool has a pleasant temperature-regulating effect, meaning it never feels too warm or too cold against the skin. Virgin wool is breathable, antibacterial, and dirt-repellent.
mixed fabric
viscose
Viscose is similar in structure to cotton and is also of natural origin—but artificially produced. Viscose is a semi-synthetic fiber. This means that although it is based on natural cellulose, the final product is manufactured using a synthetic process. The fine fibers are used to create artificial silk, also known as rayon. Viscose feels pleasantly soft to the touch, is kind to the skin, and has a silky sheen.
Which fabric is best for me?
As is often the case, the answer isn't quite so clear. Ideally, one would prefer to have the advantages of all textiles and none of the disadvantages. This is also the reason why manufacturers often combine fabric types (blended fabrics). Natural and synthetic materials are also combined to achieve a pleasant feel with high durability. However, the type of fabric shouldn't be the only deciding factor when choosing. The weave and quality of the chosen material also play a decisive role. Certifications, which we will discuss in a later article, can also help here.
