Question

Why clothes are made from fibre

Answer 1

Answer:

Synthetic fibres are used for making fabrics (or cloth). These fabrics are then used for making our dresses and for other domestic purposes like curtains, etc. Therefore, they can be made wrinkle-free, flame-resistant, water resistant, and even waterproof according to our needs.

Answer 2

Answer:

The source of synthetic fibres and fabrics is the fossil fuel crude oil. It is estimated that 65% of all fibres used in the fashion industry are made from a synthetic material – mainly polyester, but also nylon, acrylic, polypropylene and elastane1. Around 98% of all future fibre growth is expected to be in synthetic fibres, 95% of which is expected to be polyester2.

Cotton

One of the oldest used fibres and the most important non-food crop in the world is cotton. Currently, cotton makes up around 21% of all fibre use globally – about 21 million tonnes3 – but its share of the market is declining due to competition from synthetic alternatives. Cotton production is particularly important for farmers in lower-income countries, where approximately 350 million people are involved in its cultivation and processing4.

Wool

A traditional fibre, particularly in colder climates, wool has a tiny, and decreasing, share of the world market (around 1%). About 2bn kilograms of raw wool per year are produced from a global herd of around 1.16 billion sheep. This roughly equates to one wool sweater per person per year for everyone on the planet6.  These figures include wool textiles used for items other than garments – such as furniture or carpets.

Silk

An ancient, highly prized fabric, silk is derived from the thread produced by the silkworm species Bombyx Mori. About 202,000 MT of silk are produced each year (about 0.24% of total fibre7) in more than 60 countries, but the bulk of production is concentrated in a handful: China, India, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam8. Compared to other natural fibres, silk is incredibly valuable and commands a price of around $15 per kilo, making the value of production around $3.03 billion per year.