CCS Library: Material Research: Textiles & Natural Materials

Innovative & Natural Materials

High-Tech Performance Fabrics
This site provides an overview of the structure of performance fabrics as well as the fibers used.
Fungi-Based Leather
From YaleEnvironment360, this article summarizes a study arguing that fungi-leather looks and feels like, and is as durable as, traditional leather.
Fabric Dictionary
From Mood Designer Fabrics, this dictionary covers traditional textiles as well as alternative natural fibers, providing history and composition, uses, properties, and pros and cons for each entry.
Very Compostable
This constantly-updated site aggregates information about plastic alternatives from a variety of sources and covers materials ranging from algae to cabbage leaves to bone.
Fungal Future
Dutch museum Micropia is dedicated solely to microbes. Fungal Future is their permanent exhibit exploring mycelium, how it’s grown, and its potential as an alternative to non-biodegradable materials.

Leather

Leather - A durable and flexible material created by tanning animal rawhides, mostly cattle hide.

Long-lasting and wears well

Imitation-Leather - A material intended to substitute for leather where a leather-like finish is desired but the actual material is cost-prohibitive or unsuitable. Artificial leather is marketed under many names, including: leatherette; faux leather; vegan leather; PU leather; and pleather.

Source materials range from kombucha to paper to mushrooms
Designed to wear like leather

For the source of the information on leather and fabric, and for more details, visit B/Samply Encyclopedia.

Fabrics

Non-Woven Fabric - A textile structure held together by the interlocking of fibers in a random web, accomplished by mechanical, chemical, thermal, or solvent means. Generally, crimped fibers that range in length from 0.75 to 4.5 inches are used.

No interwoven strands

Performance Fabrics - Fabrics made for a variety of end-use applications which provide functional qualities, such as moisture management, UV protection, anti-microbial, thermo-regulation, and wind/water resistance.