Tap a fabric, or filter by what you need: what cotton, linen, wool, silk, rayon, polyester, denim and the rest are made of, how each feels, does in the heat, wrinkles, stretches and wears, each line in textile guides’ and clothing brands’ words.
Natural · from plants or animals
CottonThe fluffy fibres around the cotton plant’s seeds. Soft and breathable; soft or crisp, depending on the weave.
- In the heat
- Cool
- Wrinkles
- Easily
Cotton: what the guides say
Made from
The fluffy fibres around the cotton plant’s seeds
- “Cotton fabric is derived from the fibers surrounding the seeds of cotton plants, which emerge in a round, fluffy formation once the seeds are mature.” — Sewport
- “Cotton is a natural fabric produced from the cotton plant.” — Treasurie
- “Natural fabrics come from plant and animal fibers, including cotton from the cotton plant, linen from flax, silk from silkworm cocoons, and wool from animals including sheep, alpacas, and goats.” — Shopify
How it feels
Soft and breathable; soft or crisp, depending on the weave
- “Cotton is a natural fabric known for its softness, comfort, and durability.” — Audaces
- “Cotton, the most widely produced textile in the world, is a breathable, naturally soft material.” — Fabriclore
- “Breathable, versatile, and soft or crisp, depending on weave” — Shopify
In the heat: Cool
Breathable and absorbent: a warm-weather staple, though slow to dry once you sweat
- “Cotton is a breathable and absorbent material particularly suitable for summer clothing.” — Indies
- “Since cotton is highly breathable and absorbent, it is commonly used to make warm-weather clothing.” — Sewport
- “It’s hypoallergenic, and it breathes well, however it takes a long time to dry.” — Fabriclore
- “Cotton fabric is naturally absorbent, but not the best option for athletic apparel or moisture-wicking needs.” — Printful
Wrinkles: Easily
Wrinkles easily, unless it has been treated
- “Pure cotton fabrics crease more easily.” — Collectif
- “However, cotton fabric is relatively prone to wrinkling, and it will shrink when washed unless it is exposed to a pre-treatment.” — Sewport
- “Cellulose-based materials such as cotton, linen, and rayon wrinkles far more than synthetic materials like Polyester and nylon clothes.” — Sew Guide
- “If you see a cotton or cotton blend material that does not wrinkle, you should know that it has been treated.” — Sew Guide
How it wears
Durable; tightly woven cotton resists pilling, looser cotton pills
- “This fabric is praised for its comfort, versatility, and durability.” — Fabriclore
- “While cotton is more durable than silk, it is less durable than wool, and this fabric is relatively prone to pilling, rips, and tears.” — Sewport
- “Fabrics like tightly woven cotton, linen, silk, and high-quality wool resist pilling.” — Audaces
Washing it
Will cotton shrink, and how to wash it on Will It Shrink?, and the care label’s symbols on the Laundry Symbol Decoder.
Where the guides differ on cotton
Does cotton dry quickly?
- “Cotton is very water absorbent, but it also dries quickly, which makes it highly moisture wicking.” — Sewport
- “It’s hypoallergenic, and it breathes well, however it takes a long time to dry.” — Fabriclore
- “Unlike cotton, which tends to retain moisture for a significant period of time, linen dries quickly, which helps reduce heat retention in overly warm conditions.” — Sewport
Natural, semi-synthetic or synthetic?
Natural: from plants or animals (Cotton, Linen, Wool, Cashmere, Silk)
Semi-synthetic: wood pulp, processed with chemicals (Rayon, Modal, Lyocell)
Synthetic: made by chemical processes, mostly from oil (Polyester, Nylon, Spandex)
- “Synthetic fabrics are made through chemical processes.” — Treasurie
- “Today, the names of fabric types are generally classified according to the kind of fibre, whether natural (cotton, linen, wool, or silk), semi-synthetic (viscose or bamboo), or synthetic (polyester, polyamide, or acrylic).” — Collectif
A weave: named for how it is woven, from any fibre (Satin, Chiffon, Velvet, Denim)
- “You can categorize fabrics by their fiber content—such as cotton, silk, linen, wool, viscose, polyester, acrylic, nylon, and spandex—and by their construction, meaning whether they’re woven or knit.” — Shopify
- “Unlike the other fabrics on this list, satin is not made from fiber but rather is one of the three main textile weaves and is produced when each strand is well-knit.” — Fabriclore
How the chart is built
Ours, not the guides’: the short line over each quoted list, and the level it is read as (in the heat: cool, depends or warm; wrinkles: easily, some or hardly; stretch: a lot or some). The filter keeps the fabrics at the level you need and names the ones where it depends. A fabric the guides we read do not rate for that line says “Not rated” and stays out of the filter, never guessed. A blend behaves like a mix of its fibres, and the label’s care symbols win.
Where the guides differ
Does cotton dry quickly?
- “Cotton is very water absorbent, but it also dries quickly, which makes it highly moisture wicking.” — Sewport
- “It’s hypoallergenic, and it breathes well, however it takes a long time to dry.” — Fabriclore
- “Unlike cotton, which tends to retain moisture for a significant period of time, linen dries quickly, which helps reduce heat retention in overly warm conditions.” — Sewport
Is silk cool in hot weather?
- “Natural silk is often associated with luxury, but it also has excellent thermoregulating properties.” — Indies
- “Despite being a natural fiber, silk is somewhat insulating and may feel warmer than expected during extreme heat.” — Clotheshorse
Is silk strong or delicate?
Is cashmere warmer than wool?
- “Lightweight yet incredibly insulating, quality cashmere resists wrinkles.” — Travel Fashion Girl
- “While cashmere is not as insulative as other types of wool, it is much softer and finer, which makes it possible to weave cashmere into highly dense but thin fabric.” — Sewport
Is nylon strong?
- “Nylon is one of the strongest synthetic fibers , developed initially as a silk substitute.” — Printful
- “Despite early marketing efforts that described nylon as "stronger than steel," nylon was found to be highly susceptible to runs and tears, and this fabric’s lack of moisture-wicking properties also became a subject of concern.” — Sewport
Is chiffon soft?
- “Chiffon is a soft fabric blended with silk or polyester and rayon.” — Treasurie
- “In contrast to its smooth appearance, the twisted yarn used to make chiffon gives the fabric a somewhat scratchy feel.” — Fabriclore
Every line is quoted from 16 textile guides, fabric shops, clothing brands and fashion magazines, each line on at least two of them. Checked 2026-10-17. No brand is named or promised: a fabric’s weight, weave and finish change how a garment really feels.
Quick answer: fabrics are natural (cotton, linen, wool, cashmere, silk), semi-synthetic from wood pulp (rayon or viscose, modal, lyocell) or synthetic from oil (polyester, nylon, spandex). Satin, chiffon, velvet and denim are weaves, and jersey is a knit, made from any of them. For hot weather: linen and cotton.
How to use it
Tap a fabric to see what it is made of, how it feels, how it does in the heat, whether it wrinkles or stretches, and how it wears, each line in the words of at least two textile guides, fabric shops, clothing brands or fashion magazines. To shop for something, tap what you need first (hot weather, no wrinkles, stretch): the fabrics that fit get a dot, the ones where it depends get a ring. Each fabric has its own link, and how to wash it is one tap away on Will It Shrink? and the Laundry Symbol Decoder.
Types of fabric: the chart
The short line in each cell is ours; the chart quotes the guides behind it. Not rated means the guides we read do not say.
| Fabric | Kind | Made from | In the heat | Wrinkles | Stretch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Natural | The fluffy fibres around the cotton plant’s seeds | Cool | Easily | Not rated |
| Linen | Natural | The stems of the flax plant | Cool | Easily | Not rated |
| Wool | Natural | The fleece of sheep, and of goats and alpacas | Depends | Hardly | Not rated |
| Cashmere | Natural | The soft undercoat of cashmere goats: a wool | Warm | Hardly | Not rated |
| Silk | Natural | The fibre silkworms spin for their cocoons | Depends | Easily | Not rated |
| Rayon (viscose) | Semi-synthetic | Wood pulp, turned into fibre in a factory | Cool | Easily | Not rated |
| Modal | Semi-synthetic | A rayon made from hardwood trees such as beech and birch | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| Lyocell (Tencel) | Semi-synthetic | Wood pulp; Tencel is its best-known brand | Cool | Not rated | Not rated |
| Polyester | Synthetic | Petroleum: a synthetic fibre | Warm | Hardly | Not rated |
| Nylon | Synthetic | Petroleum: a synthetic polymer, first made as a silk substitute | Warm | Hardly | Some |
| Spandex (elastane, Lycra) | Synthetic | A synthetic fibre made to stretch; Lycra is a brand of it | Not rated | Hardly | A lot |
| Satin | A weave | A weave, not a fibre: silk, polyester, viscose or nylon | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| Chiffon | A weave | A sheer weave, today mostly polyester; silk chiffon is the luxury one | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| Velvet | A weave | A pile weave: once silk, now mostly cotton or synthetics | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| Denim | A weave | A cotton twill, sometimes blended with synthetics | Warm | Not rated | Some |
| Jersey | A knit | A knit, not a fibre: cotton, wool or synthetics | Not rated | Some | A lot |
The fabric for what you need
| You need | Fabrics that fit | It depends |
|---|---|---|
| Cool for hot weather | Cotton, Linen, Rayon, Lyocell | Wool, Silk |
| Resists wrinkles | Wool, Cashmere, Polyester, Nylon, Spandex | Jersey |
| Stretches | Spandex, Jersey | Nylon, Denim |
Examples
- Cotton, no filter: Cotton. The fluffy fibres around the cotton plant’s seeds. Soft and breathable; soft or crisp, depending on the weave.
- A dress for a heatwave: Linen. The stems of the flax plant. Light, airy and cool; softens over time. A fit for “Cool for hot weather”.
- A top that comes out of a suitcase ready: Polyester. Petroleum: a synthetic fibre. Smooth, and softer than its reputation. A fit for “Resists wrinkles”.
- Leggings or a fitted tee: Jersey. A knit, not a fibre: cotton, wool or synthetics. Soft and breathable: the T-shirt fabric. A fit for “Stretches”.
- Satin for a wedding guest dress: Satin. A weave, not a fibre: silk, polyester, viscose or nylon. Smooth and glossy on one side, matte on the other.
Natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic fabrics
Natural fabrics come from plants (Cotton, Linen) or animals (Wool, Cashmere, Silk). Semi-synthetic ones (Rayon, Modal, Lyocell) start as wood pulp and are turned into fibre with chemicals, which is why they feel soft and drape like the natural ones. Synthetics (Polyester, Nylon, Spandex) are made from oil: strong, quick to dry and slow to wrinkle, but most do not breathe. Satin, chiffon, velvet and denim are named for how they are woven, and jersey for how it is knitted, so a satin can be silk or polyester: read the fibre on the label.
Hot weather, wrinkles and stretch
For heat, the guides agree on Cotton, Linen, Rayon, Lyocell: breathable, absorbent and, for linen, quick to dry. Wool and silk depend: light merino and tropical wool keep cool, while silk can feel warm in extreme heat. Plain polyester and nylon trap heat; athletic versions wick sweat. For no wrinkles: Wool, Cashmere, Polyester, Nylon, Spandex, while linen, cotton, rayon and silk crease (a blend creases less). For stretch: spandex, and jersey, which stretches by itself; nylon and stretch denim stretch some.
Where the guides differ
- Cotton drying: Sewport’s cotton page says it dries quickly; Fabriclore and Sewport’s own linen page say it holds moisture and takes a long time to dry.
- Silk in the heat: Indies and Collectif London call it breathable and thermoregulating; Clotheshorse says it can feel warmer than expected in extreme heat.
- Silk’s strength: Sewport and Fabriclore call it the strongest natural fibre; Printful warns of its delicate nature.
- Cashmere’s warmth: Travel Fashion Girl calls it incredibly insulating; Sewport says it is less insulating than other wools.
- Nylon’s strength: Printful calls it one of the strongest synthetic fibres; Sewport says it runs and tears.
- Chiffon: soft to Treasurie, somewhat scratchy to Fabriclore.
- Rayon: durable to Sewport; Printful warns it can shrink or lose its shape.
Read next
Styling the fabrics: NeedleStyle’s satin dresses for day and night, velvet outfits for winter, denim on denim, business casual summer outfits and summer outfits to beat the heat. Washing them: Will It Shrink? says what shrinks in the wash and how to wash each fabric, and the Laundry Symbol Decoder reads the care label.
The pages we read
Fabric guides: Shopify, Printful, Treasurie, Audaces, Fabriclore and Collectif London, and Sewport’s fabric directory (cotton, linen, wool, cashmere, silk, viscose, modal, lyocell, polyester, nylon, spandex, chiffon, velvet, denim, jersey). Hot weather: Stitch Fix, Blue Canoe, Indies, Clotheshorse and Travel Fashion Girl. Wrinkles: Proper Cloth, Sew Guide, TODAY and Who What Wear. Every quote was checked against its page on 2026-10-17.
FAQ
What are the main types of fabric?
By fibre, three: natural (from plants or animals: cotton, linen, wool, cashmere, silk), semi-synthetic (wood pulp processed with chemicals: rayon or viscose, modal, lyocell) and synthetic (made from oil: polyester, nylon, spandex). Fabrics are also named for how they are made: satin, chiffon, velvet and denim are weaves, and jersey is a knit.
What are the most common fabrics for clothes?
Cotton, linen, silk, wool, polyester, nylon, denim, chiffon, velvet and rayon. Cotton is the most widely used: it is breathable, soft and easy to sew.
What is the difference between natural and synthetic fabric?
Natural fabrics come from plants or animals and usually breathe and absorb sweat. Synthetic fabrics are made by chemical processes, mostly from oil: they are strong, quick to dry and resist wrinkles, but plain polyester and nylon trap heat. Rayon, modal and lyocell sit in between: wood pulp turned into fibre.
What is the most breathable fabric for hot weather?
Linen: the guides call it the most breathable fabric, quick to wick sweat and dry. Cotton, rayon and lyocell are cool too, though cotton is slow to dry. Silk and light merino wool depend on the heat and the weight; plain polyester and nylon hold heat.
Which fabrics do not wrinkle?
Wool, cashmere, polyester, nylon and spandex resist wrinkles, and thick jersey wrinkles less than thin. Linen wrinkles the most, then cotton, rayon and silk; a blend with polyester or spandex wrinkles much less.
What is rayon, and is viscose the same?
Yes: viscose is the most common rayon. It is semi-synthetic, made from wood pulp, and feels soft, smooth and drapey, a little like silk. It is cool in the heat but wrinkles a lot, and it can shrink or lose its shape if washed roughly.
What are modal and lyocell (Tencel)?
Two newer rayons made from wood. Modal comes from hardwood trees, is soft and thin, and pills less than cotton. Lyocell, best known by the brand name Tencel, is made from wood pulp in a closed loop, is very soft, strong wet or dry, and wicks sweat.
Is satin a fabric or a fibre?
A weave, not a fibre: satin can be silk, polyester, viscose or nylon. Its weave is glossy and smooth on one side and matte on the other. Chiffon, velvet and denim are named the same way, so read the fibre content on the label.