Every fiber tells a story — of how it was made, worn, and where it ends up.
At TE’VAI, we believe true sustainability starts long before a garment is sewn. It begins with the fiber. Whether soft and breathable or strong and stretch-resistant, every material carries a hidden history — of how it’s grown, extracted, processed, and ultimately discarded.
To make better decisions as consumers and creators, we first need to understand the three foundational categories of textile fibers: natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic (also called regenerated, artificial, or man-made cellulosics). These categories aren’t just technical distinctions — they shape everything from environmental pollution to human health risks and the future of circular fashion.
Types of Textile Fibers
Textile fibers are generally grouped based on their origin and how they’re made:
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Natural fibers come from plants, animals, or minerals, used with minimal processing. These include cotton, linen(from flax), hemp, jute, wool, and silk.
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Synthetic fibers are made entirely from petrochemicals, using processes that synthesize polymers. Common examples are polyester (PET), nylon, acrylic, and spandex.
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Semi-synthetic fibers — also known as artificial fibers, regenerated fibers, or man-made cellulosics — start with a natural source like wood pulp (cellulose), which is chemically processed into fibers such as rayon, viscose, modal, lyocell, and acetate.
Each category offers distinct performance properties — but also leaves behind a different footprint on our planet.
How Fiber Composition Affects Performance & Sustainability
While performance characteristics matter (like stretch, absorbency, or breathability), these come at a cost — either in chemical intensity, water use, energy demand, or waste.
| Aspect | Natural Fibers | Synthetic Fibers | Semi-Synthetic Fibers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition | Organic — cellulose or protein-based | Petroleum-based polymers | Chemically processed natural cellulose |
| Comfort | Breathable, hypoallergenic, biodegradable | Moisture-wicking, durable, less breathable | Soft, absorbent, smooth like silk or cotton |
| Durability | Moderate; prone to wrinkling or shrinkage | High; resistant to wrinkles and wear | Moderate to high, depending on processing |
| Environmental Cost | High water and land use; pesticide-dependent (unless organic) | Fossil-fuel intensive; high emissions and microplastic shedding | Uses renewable feedstock but with toxic solvents (e.g., carbon disulfide) |
Lifecycle Impacts of Textile Fibers
Production Stage
Natural fibers like cotton may appear sustainable at first glance, but conventional farming can be incredibly resource-intensive. Cotton cultivation, for example, consumes up to 20,000 liters of water per kilogram and accounts for 16% of global insecticide use. Meanwhile, animal-derived fibers like wool or alpaca contribute to methane emissions from livestock — a potent greenhouse gas.
Synthetic fibers are produced through high-temperature chemical reactions using crude oil and natural gas. Polyester alone emits around 1.5 kg of CO₂ per garment, contributing to an estimated 185 million tons of CO₂ annually from global polyester production.
Semi-synthetics sit in the middle. Though they begin with natural cellulose (wood pulp, bamboo), they require toxic solvents like carbon disulfide in rayon and viscose production — linked to neurological damage among factory workers and heavy waterway pollution near manufacturing hubs.
Usage Stage
The most significant environmental impact during use comes from washing. Synthetic garments can release up to 700,000 microplastic fibers in a single load of laundry. These fibers bypass wastewater treatment systems and enter oceans, where they’re ingested by marine life and bioaccumulate up the food chain.
Natural fibers shed less harmful matter, but their dyes can leach into waterways. Semi-synthetics also shed microfibers — though fibers like lyocell and modal are often biodegradable, depending on conditions.
From a health perspective, synthetic clothing can trap heat and moisture, contributing to skin irritation, allergic reactions, and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals used in finishing treatments.
End-of-Life Stage
One of the most overlooked but vital aspects of sustainability is what happens after use. Natural fibers biodegrade in months, returning to the soil (when untreated with toxic dyes or finishes). However, in landfills, even biodegradable materials can emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Synthetic fibers, in contrast, can persist for hundreds of years, slowly breaking down into microplastics and contaminating soil and water. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, only 1% of all clothing is recycled into new textiles. The rest — roughly 92 million tons annually — is burned or buried, with synthetics dominating landfill waste.
Semi-synthetics like lyocell (TENCEL™) are biodegradable under industrial composting, but when blended with synthetics (which they often are), recyclability becomes nearly impossible.
The Naming Debate: Are Semi-Synthetics Natural, Artificial, or Something Else?
The terminology can be confusing. Semi-synthetics are called by several names:
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Regenerated fibers – because cellulose is dissolved and “regenerated” into fiber
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Artificial fibers – as they require significant chemical intervention
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Man-made cellulosics – commonly used in industry and policy
Despite their natural origins, the heavy chemical processing places them closer to synthetic than natural in environmental impact — especially if produced without safeguards.
Newer processes, like closed-loop lyocell systems, reduce solvent leakage and offer more sustainable alternatives — but these are still not the norm globally.
Looking Ahead: What Needs to Change
Shifting away from petrochemical-based synthetics is essential, but replacing them with water-intensive or chemically-intensive materials won't solve the crisis.
The solution lies in designing for circularity:
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Using mono-materials (like 100% cotton or 100% lyocell) to ease recycling
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Adopting organic agriculture to reduce water and pesticide use
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Scaling closed-loop systems for artificial cellulosics
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Investing in fiber-to-fiber recycling technologies
And most importantly — slowing down. Overproduction is the root issue. Sustainable fibers mean little if garments are made to be worn only once and discarded.
Every Fiber Has a Future — Choose One That’s Worth Wearing
By understanding what makes up our clothing — and the impact behind every thread — we’re better equipped to choose materials that align with our values. At TE’VAI, our commitment to natural, traceable fibers reflects not only our aesthetic but our belief that fashion can be beautiful, breathable, and built to last.
Sources
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Ellen MacArthur Foundation. “A New Textiles Economy.” ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
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UNEP. “Sustainability and Circularity in the Textile Value Chain.” unep.org
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IUCN. “Primary Microplastics in the Oceans.” iucn.org
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Textile Exchange. “Preferred Fiber & Materials Market Report 2023.” textileexchange.org
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European Parliament. “Environmental Impact of Textile Production.” europarl.europa.eu
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Changing Markets Foundation. “Dirty Fashion: How Pollution in the Global Textile Supply Chain is Making Viscose Toxic.” changingmarkets.org
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Science Advances. “Microplastic Release from Textiles.” science.org
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Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. “Microplastic Contamination in Water.” nature.com