Plants to Closet: The Journey of Apparels

Ever wondered how your favorite clothes are made? It all starts with fibers, the tiny threads that make up every piece of fabric. Let's take a quick trip from the origins of these fibers to the fabrics in your wardrobe! 

The Natural and Man-Made Fiber Story: Fibers come from two main sources: nature and industry. 

Plant-Based Fibers: 

• Cotton: Soft and breathable, cotton is harvested from cotton plants. Perfect for comfy t-shirts and bed linens. 

• Hemp: Grown from the hemp plant, this fiber is eco-friendly and durable, great for sustainable fashion. 

Synthetic Fibers: 

• Polyester Staple Fiber (PSF): PSF is a synthetic man-made fiber created through a polymerization process of polyester materials like PTA (Purified Terephthalic Acid) and MEG (Mono Ethylene Glycol) under high temperature and pressure. Made in factories, PSF is durable, quick-drying, and often used in various textiles for added strength. However, PSF can be less breathable and may contribute to microplastic pollution, posing environmental concerns. 

Spinning Fibers into Yarn 

Fibers are spun into yarn, a process that involves twisting them together to create long, continuous strands. Think of it like braiding hair but on a microscopic level! This gives the yarn strength and flexibility, ready to be turned into fabric. 

Lint: Lint refers to the short fibers removed from cotton during ginning. These fibers are separated from the seeds and cleaned before they are further processed into yarn. The primary goal of the ginning process is to produce clean cotton lint, free from seeds and debris.  

Silver: Sliver is a long, continuous bundle of fiber created by carding or combing. This process aligns the fibers parallel to each other, forming a uniform strand without any twist. Sliver is an intermediate step in yarn production and serves as a precursor to roving and spinning. 

Roving: Roving is produced by drawing out sliver further and adding a slight twist to give it strength. This preparation step makes the fibers ready for spinning into yarn. Roving is thicker and less twisted than the final yarn but is essential for providing the consistency needed in the spinning process.  

Weaving and Knitting: Creating Fabric 

Woven Fabrics: 

• Made by interlacing two sets of yarns at right angles (warp and weft). 

 

• Examples: Denim, twill, satin. 

• Benefits: Durable and structured, perfect for jeans and jackets. 

Knitted Fabrics: 

• Created by interlocking loops of yarn. 

• Examples: T-shirts, sweaters, activewear. 

• Benefits: Stretchy and comfortable, ideal for anything that needs to move with you. 

Woven vs. Knits: What’s the Difference? 

• Woven: More durable and structured, great for formal and heavy-duty clothing. 

• Knits: Stretchy and flexible, perfect for casual and activewear. 

Now you know the basics! From plant or lab to your closet, every piece of clothing has a story woven or knitted into it. So next time you get dressed, think about the journey your clothes took to get to you. 

Reference Link-  slideshareSlideShare a scribdScribd company, knitted-fabric , Weaving ,  Textile Learner , National Cotton Council, Wikipedia