fibre properties

cotton is used for a variety of things - dresses, t-shirts, jeans, towels, etc 

cool to wear, breathable, soft handle, good drape, durable, can be washed and ironed, dyes easily, boiling and sterilizing temperatures can also be used on cotton without disintegration, cotton can also be ironed at relatively high temperatures, stand up to abrasion

absorbent, dries slowly, creases easily

cotton comes from the cotton plant's seed pod

linen is used for summer clothing, tea towels, table cloths, etc

it is cool to wear, breathable, smooth, stiffer handle than cotton, one of the strongest vegetable fibres (2 or 3 times stronger than cotton), good drape, durable, can be washed and ironed, dyes easily, can be boiled without damaging the fibre, fast drying

creases very easily, constant creasing in certain areas can break the linen threads, absorbent, good conductor of heat, poor elasticity

linen comes from the stalk in flax plants

wool is used for jumpers, sweaters, dresses, suits, coats, blankets, carpets, etc

it  is warm to wear, breathable, repels water in it's natural state, resists flames, drapes well, durable, can be soft or coarse to handle, does not crease, lightweight, versatile, soft, does not conduct static electricity

absorbent, dries slowly, may shrink, smoulders easily, a lot of twisting and pulling of the wool may cause the threads to come out

wool is obtained from certain animals like sheep, goats, etc

silk is used for evening wear and ties

warm to wear in winter, cool to wear in summer, soft handle, smooth, versatile, good lustre, drapes well, durable, creases drop out, comfortable to wear, dyes easily, strongest natural fibre

poor resistance to sunlight exposure, absorbent, has to be dry cleaned

silk is obtained form cocoons of larvae

viscose is used for shirts, dresses, linings, apparel, etc

soft handle, good drape, comfortable, dyes easily, breathable, easily blends with other fibres, versatile, withstands temperatures slightly less than cotton, does not conduct static electricity

easily flammable, not durable, creases easily, dries slowly, low warmth, absorbent, moderate resistance to chemicals, loses a great deal of strength when wet, poor elasticity

Rayon is a man-made fibre, made from wood pulp - cellulose

acrylic is used for jumpers, fleeces, blankets, etc

warm to wear, non-absorbent, fast drying, stiffer handle like wool, good drape, durable, crease resistant, easy care, UV resistant, soft handle, luxurious touch, shape retention, resistance to shrinking, bulk without extra weight, draws moisture away from the body

pilling, cannot take heat, cannot be ironed at high temperatures, need to kept away from fire, needs to be dyes before turning into a fibre

acrylic is a synthetic fibre, created from polymerization to form the polymer(polyacrylonitrile)

nylon is used to makes socks, active sportswear, fleeces, seat belts, etc

warm to wear, absorbent, soft or coarse handle , good drape, durable, crease drop out, versatile, lightweight, strong, elastic, smooth, good chemical resistance

nylon melts at high temperatures, needs to use low ironing temperatures, pilling after extensive washing and drying in an tumble dryer

nylon is formed by chains of amide molecules, the chains are arrangedparallel to each other and attached to hydrogen bonds.

polyester is used for raincoats, children's nightwear, medical textiles, etc

it is non-absorbent, fast drying, has low warmth, soft handle, good drape, very durable, crease-resistant, easy care, can be recycled, wear exceptionally well, doesn't need to be ironed, lightweight fabric, resists chemical, resists stains, abrasion resistant, does not shrink

does not dye, melts at a medium to high temperature, no elasticity

polyester is made from a polymerization process to form the polymer - polyethylene terephtalate