Page 24 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

In the 19th century, and especially in the 20th century, natural fibres were challenged for the first
time by artificial fibres. The first artificial fibres were reconstituted natural fibres such as rayon. But soon after, completely new, or synthetic, fibres were invented. This has changed the balance of fibre use in favour of synthetic, while intense competition has caused prices to fall. Textiles are now cheap enough to be worn
for a while as a fashion item and then thrown out, something that just half a century ago would have been unthinkable.
Properties of natural fibres
Many natural fibres absorb water and swell. That is an important property for their use in fabrics. For example, it allows fibres to soak up water-based dyes.
Natural fibres do not change significantly when heated. That is very different from artificial fibres, which soften as they become hot. No natural fibres melt. Instead, they decompose, or char, at high temperatures.
Once a natural fibre has stopped being part of living tissue, it tends to turn yellow if exposed to sunlight
or heat (as for example with straw and paper). When natural fibres age in this way, they also become weaker.
Because natural fibres are made by living things, they are part of the cycle of life. This means that natural fibres are food for decomposers such as bacteria and fungi. They are also food for a wide range of insects, of which clothes moths and carpet beetles are perhaps the best known to most people.
(Above and below) It is not always easy to tell which fibre has been used in a garment. But it will always be stated on the label.
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