Last week I was shopping with Mary who presented me with an interesting challenge, she could only wear natural fibres. Certain allergies she suffers from make her very careful about what she puts next to her skin.
My pre-shopping preparation was now taken up with scanning every label to find garments that contained no less than 80% natural fibres. It seemed like an impossible task but I was amazed to to find that there was so much to choose from. Cotton, silk, linen and wool featured heavily and the higher the natural fibre content, the nicer the garments looked and felt.
It’s worth taking an extra 5 minutes to check out the labels to see what you are actually buying, as each of these fabrics has it’s own unique story and interesting features. Here’s what I discovered:
Cotton
Cotton hasn’t been around since 3000 B.C. for nothing, it is more durable and comfortable than a lot of other fabrics. If you thought cotton was only good for hot weather then think again. Air trapped between the fabric structure creates a thermal insulation process giving protection from heat in summer and cold in the winter. The higher the percentage of cotton in the garment the greater the softness and comfort.
Linen
Linen was worn by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Jews and has always typified luxury and style. It is antibacterial and antifungal and doesn’t cause allergies or irritation when worn. It also gives protection against UV radiation. Linen absorbs humidity and allows the skin to breathe making it the ideal summer fabric - think of Don Johnson striding out in his white linen suit in Miami Vice! Did Don ever look anything less than 100% cool? I think not!
Wool
Sheep are truly a blessing when it comes to wrinkle-free clothes. The higher the wool content the less likely the garment will crease. Wool is lightweight, durable and breathes with the body. It’s natural stretch and elasticity responds to your body movements and is more resistant to dirt than other fabrics.
Silk
If you’re looking for softness, lustre, elegance and beauty look no further than silk. It is a smooth and comfortable fabric that adds an air of sophistication to any garment.
So if you’re on the look out for clothing with a high natural fibre content some of the best places to find them are right on your doorstep. My major finds were:
M & S – A great port of call for linen trousers, skirts and jackets, wool, cotton and silk
Dorothy Perkins – You’ll find 100% cotton t-shirts and 80% cotton jeans
Next – Their Organic cotton range which includes jeans, shirts and t-shirts made with 100% organically grown cotton. Many items in their main range have high natural fibre content
New Look – Not to be outdone, New Look has also launched it’s own Organic Cotton range in jersey tops, denim and dresses. This also extends to it’s Tall, Maternity and Inspire ranges |
