The Case for Natural Fibers

Posted by Nikiah Colayne
The Case for Natural Fibers

There is a difference you can feel the moment you put on a garment made from a natural fiber. It rests lightly, moves with you, and seems to settle into your day rather than sit on top of it. It is the reason every piece we make is cut from merino, cashmere, or cotton, and the reason I think the choice deserves an honest explanation.

First, a fair word about synthetics. Polyester and nylon are strong, affordable, and genuinely useful for performance wear. This is not a case against them. It is a case for what we want from the pieces we intend to keep for years.

How natural fibers feel and breathe

Wool fibers take in moisture vapor from the skin and release it again, which is part of why a well-made merino sweater stays comfortable across a long day, indoors and out. The Woolmark Company, an industry body that promotes wool, reports that wool can absorb up to 35 percent of its weight in moisture, and that trained assessors found wool fabrics retained less body odor than polyester. It is an industry source, so I hold it lightly, but the principle is sound: a fiber that stays fresher between wears needs cleaning less often, and gentler, less frequent cleaning is one of the kindest things you can do for a garment. (Our care guide explains how.)

What happens when a piece is finished

A 2024 study in the International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology tested how several fibers break down in controlled composting conditions over 181 days. Untreated wool biodegraded by about 48 percent, and machine-washable wool by about 68 percent. Polyester, nylon, and polypropylene showed essentially no biodegradation. Two caveats worth knowing: the test used industrial composting conditions rather than a backyard or a landfill, and it was funded by Australian Wool Innovation. Dyes and finishes also matter. Still, the difference between the fibers was striking.

Fibers in the wash

Every fabric sheds tiny fibers when it is laundered, natural ones included. A 2019 report from Ocean Wise, covered by CBC, found that polyester fleece shed the most, with a single kilogram releasing as many as 4.5 million fibers in one wash. Wool and cotton shed too, but unlike synthetic fibers they break down over time. Washing less often, and more gently, helps in either case.

An honest note on natural fibers

Natural fibers are not flawless. Cashmere will pill. Wool benefits from rest between wears. Fine fibers cost more because they are harder to raise, spin, and knit. And natural does not automatically mean sustainable; how a garment is made matters as much as what it is made from. That is why I would rather tell you what we know. Our pieces are made in the USA, from natural fibers, and designed to be worn for years rather than a single season.

Where to begin

  • Stella: a cable-knit in 100% merino wool, and machine washable.
  • Mia: a classic crewneck in 100% cashmere.
  • Sophia: a stole in 100% cashmere jersey, to finish any outfit.

You can see all three together in our Fall Layering collection.

Sources

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