31 Natural Textile Fibres: Names, Sources & Clothing Uses
31 Natural Textile Fibres: Animal and Plant Fibre Names, Sources and Uses
Alpaca, angora, linen, eri silk, pashmina and qiviut sound like completely different fabrics—but what actually produces each fibre? The source matters when choosing a comfortable saree, a winter shawl or a breathable daily kurti. This guide explains 31 names from an A–Z natural-fibres recording, with sources, shopping advice and carefully credited reference images.
Important distinction: These are 31 useful names, not 31 unrelated biological fibres. Upland cotton belongs within cotton; Merino is sheep wool; cashmere and pashmina can describe closely related goat undercoat; mulberry, eri, muga and tasar belong within the wider silk category. Some names refer to plant species, others to fibres, and others to textile traditions.
Jump to: All fibre names · Fibre families compared · Choosing for clothes · Buying checks · FAQs
A–Z natural fibre directory
1. Alpaca · 2. Angora · 3. Abaca · 4. Banana Fibre · 5. Camel Hair · 6. Cashmere · 7. Coir · 8. Cotton · 9. Eri Silk · 10. Flax · 11. Guanaco · 12. Hemp · 13. Jute · 14. Kapok · 15. Llama · 16. Lotus Fibre · 17. Merino Wool · 18. Mohair · 19. Mulberry Silk · 20. Muga Silk · 21. Pashmina · 22. Piña (Pineapple Fibre) · 23. Qiviut · 24. Ramie · 25. Silk · 26. Sisal · 27. Tasar (Tussar) Silk · 28. Upland Cotton · 29. Vicuña · 30. Wool · 31. Yak Wool
All 31 natural fibre names explained
1. Alpaca
Source: Animal fibre. Collected from alpacas, South American camelids, and available in a range of natural shades. Alpaca yarn can be warm without necessarily feeling as heavy as some traditional wools.
Shopping tip: Look for alpaca percentage and yarn construction on shawls and winter knitwear. Finishing and fibre fineness determine skin feel.
2. Angora
Source: Animal fibre. Usually refers to fibre from Angora rabbits, valued for its soft, fluffy halo. This is distinct from mohair, which comes from Angora goats.
Shopping tip: Check rabbit-welfare and traceability claims, shedding, and wash instructions before choosing angora-blend knitwear.
3. Abaca
Source: Plant leaf fibre. Extracted from a banana relative, Musa textilis, often called Manila hemp despite being botanically different from true hemp. The long strong fibres are widely used for cordage, paper and crafts.
Shopping tip: A product called abaca is not automatically a soft wearable fabric; verify actual composition and comfort.
4. Banana Fibre
Source: Plant pseudostem fibre. Fibre obtained from the banana plant's pseudostem after fruit harvest; processing quality varies and it may be used for textiles, mats and crafts. 'Banana silk' can be a marketing label.
Shopping tip: For wearable garments, ask how fibres were softened and blended, and whether the texture suits sensitive skin.
5. Camel Hair
Source: Animal fibre. The undercoat of certain camels can be spun into warm yarn; coarser guard hair may be used differently. Camel hair is not the same material as cashmere.
Shopping tip: Look for true camel-hair content, fabric weight and the correct dry-clean or wash advice.
6. Cashmere
Source: Animal fibre. Fine undercoat fibre from cashmere-producing goats. Micron count, fibre length, blending and finishing affect warmth, softness, durability and price.
Shopping tip: Check fibre certification and actual cashmere percentage; 'cashmere-feel' does not mean cashmere.
7. Coir
Source: Plant fruit fibre. Made from fibrous coconut husk, commonly for mats, ropes, stuffing and industrial products rather than comfortable apparel.
Shopping tip: Avoid assuming every natural fibre is appropriate for sarees or kurtis; coir is comparatively coarse.
8. Cotton
Source: Plant seed fibre. Soft cellulose fibre surrounding cotton seeds. Fibre length, yarn spinning, weave, fabric weight and finishing explain why two cotton outfits may feel very different.
Shopping tip: Check whether your saree or kurti is pure cotton, blended or just marketed as 'cotton feel'.
9. Eri Silk
Source: Animal silk fibre. Silk associated with Samia ricini silkworms and traditional production in Northeast India. Its spun-yarn character can feel different from many filament-silk products.
Shopping tip: Ask about weaving, yarn and care; 'eri' does not itself guarantee any particular ethical rearing method.
10. Flax
Source: Plant bast fibre. Flax stems provide the bast fibre used to produce linen yarn. Linen can be breathable, but stiffness and creasing depend on weave and finishing.
Shopping tip: A 'linen look' fabric may have no flax; check the fibre label for true linen.
11. Guanaco
Source: Animal fibre. Fine undercoat fibre obtained from the guanaco, a wild South American camelid. Its rarity makes genuine guanaco textiles uncommon.
Shopping tip: Request credible sourcing and wildlife-conservation details rather than accepting a luxury claim alone.
12. Hemp
Source: Plant bast fibre. Fibre from the stalk of industrial hemp plants, processed for woven cloth, ropes and composite materials. Finished apparel can be considerably softer than raw fibre bundles.
Shopping tip: Judge softness from the finished textile and actual blend, not the word hemp alone.
13. Jute
Source: Plant bast fibre. Strong golden bast fibre from jute plants, widely used in sacks, rugs and handcraft products. Clothing applications may require special processing or blending.
Shopping tip: Check for coarse texture and abrasion if a jute-style fabric will touch the skin directly.
14. Kapok
Source: Plant seed fibre. A lightweight, silky-looking seed fibre from kapok trees, often too short and slippery for ordinary spinning without specialised methods. Commonly used for filling.
Shopping tip: Do not mistake a kapok-filled item for a garment woven of kapok yarn; read the shell and filling labels separately.
15. Llama
Source: Animal fibre. Hair collected from llamas, another South American camelid. Some animals provide a finer undercoat and coarser guard hair, creating varied textile quality.
Shopping tip: Confirm softness, blended fibre ratio and care instead of assuming llama feels identical to alpaca.
16. Lotus Fibre
Source: Plant stem fibre. Very fine threads are drawn from lotus stems and joined by artisans, notably in traditional lotus textiles from Myanmar and elsewhere. 'Lotus silk' is a trade expression, not insect-produced silk.
Shopping tip: Seek traceable craft provenance and distinguish actual lotus-stem fibre from printed lotus motifs.
17. Merino Wool
Source: Animal fibre. Wool from Merino sheep, known for comparatively fine fibres used in knitwear and performance garments. The label describes the sheep type, not a particular weave.
Shopping tip: Check actual Merino content, fibre fineness, shrinkage risk and whether machine-washing is permitted.
18. Mohair
Source: Animal fibre. The lustrous hair of Angora goats, used in yarns and blends with a characteristic soft sheen or halo. It does not come from rabbits.
Shopping tip: For sweaters and shawls, consider shedding, fibre sensitivity and the actual mohair proportion.
19. Mulberry Silk
Source: Animal silk fibre. Silk produced by Bombyx mori silkworms raised on mulberry leaves; often reeled into continuous filaments, though spun products also exist.
Shopping tip: Mulberry silk can vary widely by yarn, weave and grade. Fibre identity alone cannot guarantee shine or durability.
20. Muga Silk
Source: Animal silk fibre. Golden-toned silk traditionally associated with Assam, particularly from Antheraea assamensis silkworms. Authentic Muga silk is a specific heritage material.
Shopping tip: Look for credible provenance, accurate fibre descriptions and authenticity documentation rather than a golden colour alone.
21. Pashmina
Source: Fine animal hair designation. Pashmina commonly refers to exceptionally fine cashmere-type goat undercoat and related traditional shawl making, especially in the Himalayan region. It is not the name of a separate animal.
Shopping tip: Treat 'pashmina style' and certified authentic Pashmina as different claims; verify fibre and origin.
22. Piña (Pineapple Fibre)
Source: Plant leaf fibre. Fibre extracted from pineapple leaves, especially associated with Philippine piña weaving. It is not made from the pineapple fruit's juice.
Shopping tip: Check whether the cloth contains genuine pineapple leaf fibre or is a piña-inspired synthetic fabric.
23. Qiviut
Source: Animal fibre. Fine insulating undercoat fibre of the muskox, sometimes spelled qiviut or qiviuq. It is valued in speciality knitwear but generally rare and expensive.
Shopping tip: Seek credible fibre sourcing and care advice; a fluffy look alone cannot establish qiviut.
24. Ramie
Source: Plant bast fibre. A strong cellulose bast fibre from plants in the nettle family, sometimes blended with cotton or other fibres for clothing and household textiles.
Shopping tip: Ramie-rich fabrics can behave differently according to finishing; check stiffness, wrinkles and wash care.
25. Silk
Source: Animal protein fibre. A broad category of protein fibres produced by silkworms and certain other silk-forming insects, spanning mulberry, eri, muga and tasar varieties.
Shopping tip: 'Silk' is not a single weave: organza, satin and other silk textiles differ in drape and transparency.
26. Sisal
Source: Plant leaf fibre. A strong leaf fibre from Agave sisalana, best known for rope, rugs and other sturdy goods. Ordinary sisal is not a soft blouse textile.
Shopping tip: Check the intended end use; a rough sisal surface can irritate skin in apparel.
27. Tasar (Tussar) Silk
Source: Animal silk fibre. A group of wild or semi-domesticated silk traditions, often with a naturally textured appearance and regional names such as Kosa. Actual composition and production vary.
Shopping tip: Do not assume every beige or golden silk-like saree is genuine tasar; verify label and provenance.
28. Upland Cotton
Source: Cotton plant variety. The most widely grown commercial cotton species, Gossypium hirsutum. It is a type of cotton, not an additional fibre family separate from cotton.
Shopping tip: An 'upland cotton' label alone does not guarantee a specific fibre length or premium fabric quality.
29. Vicuña
Source: Animal fibre. Extremely fine hair from wild Andean vicuñas, with legal conservation controls on harvesting, traceability and international trade. Genuine products are rare and costly.
Shopping tip: Verify lawful provenance and protected-species documentation, especially for imported luxury textiles.
30. Wool
Source: Animal fibre. A broad category of animal hair, especially sheep fleece; Merino is one specialised sheep breed within this family. Wool textiles range from rugged to very fine.
Shopping tip: Match the wool garment to climate, sensitivity, itch level, care requirements and blend composition.
31. Yak Wool
Source: Animal fibre. Fine down from yaks, often gathered or combed from their undercoat and used in warm regional textiles. Coarse outer hair may have other uses.
Shopping tip: Confirm genuine yak fibre and product-specific washing advice; 'yak look' wool may be a blend.
Natural fibre names from the recording: spellings and meanings
Some fibre names in quick A–Z recordings are hard to distinguish by sound. Use this table to recognise their usual spellings when searching for fabric labels, sarees, shawls or specialist yarns. The alternatives below are not additional fibres.
| What you may hear | Correct name | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Angora | Angora rabbit fibre | Mohair, by contrast, comes from Angora goats |
| Abaka / Abaca | Abaca | Manila hemp from Musa textilis, not true hemp |
| Quair / Koir | Coir | Coarse coconut husk fibre commonly used in mats and rope |
| Guanako | Guanaco | South American camelid fibre, not the same animal as alpaca |
| Moher | Mohair | Fibre from Angora goats, distinct from Angora rabbit hair |
| Muga / Mooga | Muga silk | Distinct silk tradition especially associated with Assam |
| Pinea / Pina | Piña (pineapple leaf fibre) | Fibre from pineapple leaves, not fruit pulp or juice |
| Quewit / Kiviut | Qiviut (also Qiviuq) | Muskox undercoat fibre |
| Rami / Ramie | Ramie | Bast fibre from plants in the nettle family |
| Sissel / Sisal | Sisal | Coarse agave leaf fibre, usually not a soft dress material |
| Tasar / Tassar / Tussar | Tasar (Tussar) silk | Silk from specific non-mulberry silkworm traditions |
| Uplant / Upland cotton | Upland cotton | A cotton species, Gossypium hirsutum; not a new fibre family |
| Vaikuna / Vicuña | Vicuña | Fine fibre from a protected Andean camelid; provenance matters |
| Yak wool | Yak down or yak fibre | Fine undercoat differs from coarser outer hair |
Which of these are actually suitable for clothing?
Natural origin alone does not make every material comfortable as apparel. Cotton, linen, wool, silk, cashmere and alpaca are familiar in wearable textiles. Coir and sisal are more common in robust goods such as mats and rope, while kapok is often used as filling. Some specialist plant fibres can be processed and blended into apparel, but always check the finished fabric's softness, composition and care instructions.
Buyer tip: Cashmere and Pashmina may refer to closely related goat-undercoat fibres, while Merino is a kind of sheep wool and Upland is a kind of cotton. A style or trade name should not replace a verified fibre-content label.
Natural fibres compared: plant, animal and speciality uses
| Fibre family | Examples | Most useful question |
|---|---|---|
| Plant seed | Cotton, upland cotton, kapok | Is this spun into fabric or used as filling? |
| Plant stem or bast | Flax, hemp, jute, ramie, banana | How soft is the processed fibre and is it blended? |
| Plant leaf | Abaca, sisal, piña | Is this a wearable textile or sturdy craft fibre? |
| Animal hair/down | Alpaca, cashmere, camel, qiviut, yak, vicuña | What is the animal source, softness and traceability? |
| Sheep wool | Merino and wool | What is the exact wool content and care method? |
| Silks | Mulberry, eri, muga, tasar | Which silk type, weave and authentic production source? |
How to choose natural fibres for your wardrobe
Sarees and occasionwear
Mulberry silk, tasar and muga can create dramatically different looks depending on weaving, yarn thickness and finishing. A label such as 'silk touch' or 'silk blend' is not the same as pure silk. For lighter everyday looks, cotton and linen fabrics can be versatile, but their drape varies substantially with weave. A pure cotton sari and a cotton-silk sari should be compared using the actual composition, not just photography.
Kurtis and summer dresses
Cotton and flax linen are familiar choices for warm-weather clothing. Processed hemp, ramie or banana fibre can also appear in fashion textiles and blends. The natural origin does not automatically tell you whether the fabric is thin, breathable, sheer or wrinkle resistant. Always check density, garment lining and comfort against the skin.
Winter shawls and knitwear
Wool, Merino, alpaca, cashmere, mohair, camel and yak fibres can be spun or blended into warm textiles. If you are sensitive to textured yarns, choose based on real skin feel and fibre fineness rather than price alone. Vicuña, guanaco and qiviut are speciality fibres with availability and provenance considerations; do not pay high prices without trustworthy documentation.
Craft fibres are not automatically apparel fibres
Coir and sisal commonly make strong rope or mat fibres, while kapok is often used for filling. Abaca is well known in paper and cordage, although it also has specialised craft uses. Calling these materials 'natural' does not make them ideal for soft dresses. The end use depends on fibre processing and textile construction.
Eight checks before purchasing a natural-fibre garment
- Check the exact percentage composition and whether another fibre is blended in.
- Distinguish natural fibre from marketing phrases such as 'cotton feel', 'silk touch' or 'pashmina style'.
- Check weave or knit, fabric weight, lining, stretch and transparency separately.
- Look for authentic manufacturer, artisan or origin information when heritage claims are made.
- Ask for care instructions; silk, wool and plant fibres do not all tolerate the same washing.
- Check dye and finishing claims, because colourfastness is not determined only by fibre type.
- For exceptionally rare animal fibres, request lawful sourcing and wildlife compliance evidence.
- Consider garment comfort and real use rather than assuming natural equals environmentally superior.
Frequently asked questions about natural fibres
Is linen different from flax?
Flax is the plant and its bast fibre; linen is the textile fibre or cloth made from flax.
Are Angora and Mohair the same?
No. Angora commonly refers to rabbit fibre; mohair comes from Angora goats.
Are cashmere and pashmina completely separate fibres?
Not necessarily. Both can refer to fine goat undercoat, although pashmina has specific traditional, fineness and origin contexts.
Is Merino wool a separate animal fibre from wool?
Merino is wool from Merino sheep, not a separate fibre kingdom.
Is banana silk the same as mulberry silk?
No. Banana fibre is a plant material, while mulberry silk is produced by silkworms.
Is upland cotton another fibre besides cotton?
Upland cotton is the cotton species Gossypium hirsutum, a major commercial source of ordinary cotton fibre.
Can kapok be woven into ordinary clothing?
Kapok fibres are generally difficult to spin into ordinary yarn and are frequently used as fillings; specialised blends and processes may differ.
Is 'natural' always more sustainable?
No single material is best in every situation. Water, land use, animal welfare, energy, chemical finishing and a garment's lifespan all matter.
Explore ClothsVilla's fabric and textile education guides
Continue with 22 Fabric Fibres: Natural, Synthetic & Regenerated, 24 Speciality Fabric Fibres & Sources, and 28 Types of Fabric Weaves. Explore sarees, kurtis and blouses and check their individual material descriptions.
Source images and editorial note
Photographs in this article are reused from ClothsVilla's existing independently licensed Wikimedia Commons reference library, with original creator, source file and licence preserved in each figure caption. The figures represent raw fibres, fibre extraction, associated animals or finished textiles, not necessarily the identical commercial product described nearby. No video frames were reused, and the descriptions are independently written for customers.