Types of Natural Fabrics for Clothing (2026)

Natural fabrics are created entirely from organic sources, such as animal fleece, seed hairs, and plant-based fibers like the woody cores of flax and hemp. They are made without chemical polymers like polyester or elastane, and are increasingly a popular option for those looking to reduce microplastic shedding and textile waste.

Consumer preference for natural fabrics over synthetic materials continues to grow. A new analysis from The Business of Fashion found that organic search traffic for “natural fiber” has surged by 110% over the past five years. Searches for “natural material clothing” have increased by a staggering 850%.

In this article, you’ll learn about the value and impact of some of the most common natural fabrics on the market, from animal-based fleeces to plant-based fibers.

What are natural fabrics?

Natural fabrics are textiles derived from organic sources, like animal fleece or plant fibers, made without synthetic polymers or chemical alteration.

Fabrics with origins in organic materials are not always considered truly natural. Bamboo clothing, for example, is typically made with bamboo viscose (a man-made material from regenerated cellulose) and is considered a semi-synthetic fabric. Even biodegradable Tencel lyocell, which is derived from wood pulp (eucalyptus, oak, or birch) and uses non-toxic solvents, is considered a semi-synthetic fiber. That’s because of the chemical process the raw wood pulp undergoes to become a usable thread.

Natural fabrics may not have a perfect environmental track record, but they are far more sustainable than their synthetic counterparts. Synthetic fibers require millions of tons of fossil fuels and harmful chemicals to produce, and shed billions of tiny plastic particles onto the skin or into the air and water.

Many contemporary brands have established sustainable supply chains around the use of natural fabrics. These are done in an effort to standardize humane animal treatment, fair and equitable pay, and workers’ rights that support the communities that provide the raw product for these fabrics. Certifications like the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) seek to improve the accountability and transparency of all manufacturing and processing of organic materials into apparel.

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• Camel hair
• Cotton
• Denim
• Hemp
• Linen
• Silk
• Wool

Here are a few of the most common natural fabrics, from everyday cotton to luxury goods like camel hair and silk:

Camel hair

Camel hair comes from two-humped Bactrian camels found across the steppes and deserts of Central and Northern Asia. They are primarily found throughout Mongolia, Tibet, and China’s Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang provinces, though there is a growing population of these camels in India as well.

The premium price of camel hair garments is thanks in large part to its traditional harvesting process and limited yield. A single Bactrian camel sheds about 8 to 15 pounds of fiber per year, and only two to four pounds of that will go on to become usable fabric for high-end brands.

Unlike sheep’s wool, camel hair is hollow, which allows the animal to efficiently trap body heat, aiding in temperature regulation in the cold. As a material, it’s lightweight, which translates to a high warmth-to-weight ratio, adding warmth without bulk. While it’s less elastic than wool, the fabric is also wrinkle-resistant, allowing it to maintain structure and drape.

There are three grades of camel hair, which is typically left undyed to preserve the various warm brown tones. Grade 1, or high-grade, luxury fiber, is reserved for premium apparel, like coats, knitwear, and sweaters. Grades 2 and 3 are longer, coarser, and reserved for blends or non-apparel uses like rugs or industrial textiles.

Cotton

Cotton, the fluffy hairs produced by the seed pods (known as the boll) of the cotton plant, is the most commonly used fiber for clothing and textiles. As a material, cotton fabric is gentle on sensitive skin and suited for everyday wear and wardrobe basics. It is often used for T-shirts, undergarments, lightweight jackets and sweaters, loungewear, and activewear like joggers and hoodies.

“Almost everything we make is 100% cotton,” Province of Canada Cofounder Julie Brown says on an episode of the Shopify Masters podcast. “We focused on creating products that could become part of someone's daily uniform. Well-made staples should last in your wardrobe for 20 years if you take good care of them.”

Organic and conventional cotton differ at the source: conventional cotton is typically grown using genetically modified seeds, synthetic fertilizers, and harsh chemical defoliants to increase production that harm soil health.

Certified organic cotton—textiles bearing GOTS or OEKO-TEX Organic Cotton certifications—have been tested for genetically modified materials, sustainable farming practices, and chemical use, both on plants and within finished fabric.

Denim

Denim is made from cotton that’s been dyed and woven into a specific diagonal twill pattern to create the signature look and feel of jeans. The blue exterior and white interior of classic denim are achieved by interlacing vertical dyed threads with horizontal white ones.

While pure denim is a natural fabric, fast fashion jeans combine denim with synthetic materials to make products stretchier and less expensive. These jeans have a huge carbon footprint—90% to 95% higher than that of traditional denim.

To reverse this trend, brands like Still Here look to denim’s history as a durable workwear staple for inspiration and technique.

“When you feel a pair of vintage Levi's, they’re substantial. You feel like you could do life in them. I was looking for a fabric that felt that way,” Cofounder Sonia Mosseri says on Shopify Masters.

The brand uses 100% cotton denim to create long-lasting pairs of jeans and jackets.

Pure denim jeans have less stretch and give than synthetic counterparts, which means they’re often sized differently, shrink more, and require some breaking in. Denim is best suited for outerwear like jackets and vests; bottoms, from jean shorts and pants to skirts; and accessories like bags.

Hemp

Hemp fabric is derived from the outer layer of the Cannabis sativa stalk. It is a variety of the plant that contains less than 0.3% THC. Marijuana, by contrast, is classified as distinct cannabis varieties that contain more than 0.3% THC. The plant’s interior, woody core is reserved for industrial textile materials and uses like pet bedding.

Like cotton, hemp is regarded as a naturally breathable and comfortable choice for everyday wear, with a texture akin to soft canvas. It relies on rainfall instead of the heavy irrigation cotton requires. Two acres of industrial hemp absorbs more than 20 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere per growing cycle, making it twice as effective at carbon sequestration as trees. The plants are naturally resistant to pests, and their deep root systems contribute to overall soil health by aerating compacted soils.

In order for plants to qualify as organic hemp, they must meet guidelines set by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) and certifications like GOTS. The resulting fabric is sold in various weaves and grades. This includes canvas, twill (for workwear apparel like utility jackets, overalls, trousers), jersey, and French terry (for casual everyday comfort items like T-shirts and loungewear).

While hemp is more durable than cotton, it is often more expensive due to the limited acreage devoted to hemp production and the labor-intensive processing of the raw ingredient.

Linen

Linen is made from the fibrous inner stalk of the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum). Known as one of the most breathable fabrics on the market, organic linen excels in humid climates thanks to its open weave, which maximizes circulation while absorbing and releasing moisture.

To transform flax into linen, farmers harvest entire stalks and soak them in water to loosen the individual fibers lining the inner stalk, a process called retting. The cleaned linen fibers are then twisted into yarn using water to help them adhere to one another as a continuous thread.

Linen is extremely lightweight and softens over time, making it ideal for warm weather staples like dresses, shirts, wide-leg trousers, and bedding, but it does wrinkle easily thanks to the stiff structure of the plant’s fibers.

Silk

One of the world’s most sought-after fabrics is also one of the strongest natural fibers. The threads that make up silk fabric have extremely high tensile strength and elasticity.

While some rare varieties of silk come from plants, like lotus silk, the most common variety is mulberry silk, produced by domesticated silkworms (Bombyx mori) fed exclusively on mulberry leaves.

While conventional mulberry silk involves boiling cocoons to harvest the unbroken fibers, alternatives like Ahimsa silk, or “peace silk,” allow the silkworms to complete their metamorphosis into moths before turning the leftover cocoons into thread. This does result in broken fibers, but is considered a more ethical approach for those looking for alternatives.

Thanks to its signature fluid drape, silk is best suited for lightweight apparel like shirts, camisoles, dresses, and sleepwear. Its gentleness on skin and hair also makes it a good candidate for accessories like sleep masks, scarves, and hair ties. Pricing depends on weight (dresses and blouses, for example, are made from medium-weight silk), grades (Grade 6A mulberry silk, for example, can be 20% to 30% more expensive than lower grades), and certification level.

Wool

Wool is a natural fiber derived from animal fleece. It’s the world’s leading animal-based natural fiber, with 62.9% of revenue share in 2024. Sheep wool is the most common kind of wool produced. Other popular varieties include goat wool (cashmere) and alpaca wool.

Pure wool garments are known for their temperature regulation and moisture-wicking properties, and are used in everything including T-shirts, sweaters, and outerwear like coats.

Here are some special types:

Cashmere

Cashmere comes from cashmere goats raised in Mongolia and China. Cashmere fibers are thin—especially when compared to other varieties, like sheep wool—giving it a light and fluffy feel against the skin. As a fabric, it’s highly delicate and typically requires specialized care, like hand washing or dry cleaning, to maintain. Cashmere is ideal for cozy apparel like sweaters, dresses, premium loungewear, hats, gloves, and scarves, but super fine threads can also be used to create lightweight shirts and tank tops.

At Naadam, a chance meeting with traditional Mongolian herders inspired two friends to enter the cashmere trade. They saw traditional herding and wool harvesting techniques in practice, and then witnessed how traders fixed prices and kept profits for themselves. They decided to purchase as much raw material as they could in an attempt to balance the scales.

“We drove 24 hours in the middle of the Gobi Desert and, over the course of three weeks, we bought 60 tons of raw cashmere,” Founder Matthew Scanlan says on Shopify Masters.

By cutting out the middlemen from the supply chain and working directly with Mongolian cashmere goat herders to acquire wool, Naadam was able to offer a luxury material at a more affordable price point. And they were able to ensure herders were paid a fair price in the process.

“We wanted to show people that the things you buy come from a place, and they’re a lot closer than you think that they are,” he says. “We wanted to pass the value of how we purchased our material to the consumer and price it so that it was broadly accessible to everybody.”

Merino wool

Merino wool comes from merino sheep, which are found primarily in Australia and New Zealand. These fibers are much finer than traditional sheep wool, which can be bristly and itchy on the skin. Finer strands mean a smoother thread, resulting in a silkier feel.

Merino wool is best known for its temperature regulation and resistance to odors. In warm weather, the material absorbs sweat (up to 30% to 35% of its weight in vapor without feeling damp) and releases it.

This combination of attributes was deeply appealing to Unbound Merino Founder Dan Demsky, who had long searched for well-designed basics that could withstand the many climates and contexts of travel. Merino wool was the answer.

“It’s antibacterial and odor-resistant, so you can rewear the same shirt multiple times,” he says on Shopify Masters. “Instead of needing to pack 14 shirts for your trip, you could pack three or four.”

Mohair

Mohair wool comes from shaggy Angora goats (unlike Angora wool, which is derived from rabbits). Historically, mohair was produced exclusively in Turkey, but more than half of the modern supply comes from South Africa. Sometimes called the “diamond fiber” thanks to the reflective sheen of the long, smooth structure of the hairs, mohair is one of the most durable natural fibers available, though it feels more delicate than traditional sheep wool.

Like cashmere, mohair is considered a luxury material because it’s tied to one specific animal population and requires a labor-intensive sorting and spinning process to create yarn. Angora goats, whose coats grow quickly, are typically shorn twice a year, in spring and fall. One goat produces around 15 pounds of wool per year.

Mohair wool is often used in garments like sweaters, cardigans, shawls, and lightweight scarves. Some people can find mohair itchy against bare skin. Blends like mohair and silk, or even mohair with other more elastic wools like merino, can offset the texture if desired.

Natural fabrics for clothing FAQ

What is the best natural fabric for clothing?

The best natural fabric for clothing is a matter of preference and performance. Merino wool, for example, is prized for its antibacterial and insulative properties (warm in winter, cool in summer), while cotton is lightweight, budget-friendly, and soft.

What is the least toxic fabric to wear?

The least toxic fabrics are those that are crafted from certified organic materials, grown without synthetic fertilizers, and either minimally or completely untreated by toxic dyes or harsh processing chemicals. Fabrics that meet these requirements include most animal wool (like merino sheep wool), hemp, linen, and silk.

What are 100% natural fabrics?

100% natural fabrics are those made entirely from natural sources like plant fibers or animal fleece, without any synthetic additives or intensive chemical processing.