Building a Natural Fiber Wardrobe: The Guide

When building a natural fiber wardrobe, you're building a wardrobe that can stand the test of time. Some key elements will be a cohesive color palette, classic silouettes, and a wardrobe where beauty and function meet. 

We believe our wardrobes are a means to an end, not an end in itself. Natural fibers inherently offer more life-supporting qualities than man-made fibers made of plastics - freeing us up to focus on what really matters to us - it goes beyond the clothing. All for God's glory.

So what exactly are natural fibers? It can be confusing because we might not have had much experience wearing them or companies brand themselves as more natural, but the fibers are still semi-synthetics. 

Natural fibers are produced by plants and animals that can be spun into thread and then woven, knitted, matted or bound. They are known to be more comfortable, breathable and gentle on sensitive skin. Here's a graphic to give you a quick visual of the bigger picture. 

We'll dive a little deeper into five of my favorite natural fibers.

CASHMERE: I love cashmere for its soft texture, longevity and warmth and it's one of my favorite fabric for sweaters. To spot the highest quality cashmere: 

• It should be super soft. This softness comes from the length of the fibers, and the best cashmeres in the world use long thin fibers.
• Also, the fabric should feel thick and densely woven. To test the strength of the fabric, you can tug on it slightly and take note of whether or not it bounces back. Higher quality cashmere will bounce back and won't retain the impression of your hands. 
• Check the tag to see if it’s two-ply or one-ply. One-ply is less durable than two-ply and can be more prone to developing holes. Two-ply is generally regarded as the gold standard of cashmere.

WOOL: Next up is wool. I love wool for jackets and scarves and I would love to add a wool sweater to Adorned in the future. 

• Wool is more durable than cashmere (even though cashmere is a type of wool), so it typically lasts longer
• Since wool can come from different animals, there’s a lot more texture variety than there is with cashmere
• The finer the wool, the higher the quality. You'll typically see wool referred to as ‘Fine Merino Wool’ or ‘Ultrafine Merino Wool’ with ultrafine being the highest quality
• High quality wool will be 100% wool or a blend of wool and other natural fibers like cashmere or silk so always check the label for these details
• Like cashmere, high quality wool should be densely woven and bounce back when lightly pulled

SILK: Silk drapes beautifully and adds visual interest to the other textures and natural fibers we love to wear.

• The quality of silk is determined by momme weight (the heavier the momme, the higher the quality) but this information is usually very difficult to find so the easiest way to determine the quality of silk is by the way it feels in your hand. It should feel substantial and soft.
• It should also be pretty opaque and you shouldn't be able to see too clearly through it because that typically means the fabric is very thin and may not last longer than a few seasons. 

LINEN: A favorite fabric for the warmer months. Linen, which comes from the flax plant, is known as a natural wicking fabric because it can collect up to 20% moisture before it feels damp. Linen also gets stronger when wet and has some natural antimicrobial properties which help eliminate odors. Linen is very breathable so it's perfect for year-round wear - especially when layered up with soft cotton basics, and wool and cashmere during the colder months. 

• To spot high quality linen, the country of origin can be helpful. France and Belgium are considered the best environments for growing flax and Ireland and Italy are recognized as the best for weaving the flax into linen. 
• The dye should be even and rich
  
• When you roll or bunch the fabric in your hand, good linen will wrinkle but it will also bounce back slightly 
• Because of the moisture wicking properties, pure linen it should feel slightly cool to the touch 

COTTON: Nothing is better than cotton for year-round wear and I love it because it's affordable, comfortable and easy to care for. Cotton is the perfect material for everyday dresses and layering pieces with your other natural fibers.

• High quality cotton will feel soft, not scratchy
• One thing to note is cotton is a heavily sprayed crop so even fibers made with organic cotton IF they are conventionally produced and not produced according to GOTS – will contain chemicals such as formaldehyde, azo dyes, dioxin, and heavy metals.
• GOT-certified organic cotton will have no synthetic or harmful chemicals in the growing process, manufacturing or packaging process, and every part of the process is of the highest ethical standards.

Beginner Steps to Build a Natural Fiber Wardrobe