Cocoon Organic Wash

Natural Fibres

Natural fibres have been with humankind for a long time. Unlike synthetic fibres, they “breathe” more, come from renewable resources and when they finally wear out, they are biodegradable. However, not all natural fibres are created equal. Different fibres/fabrics have different care requirements and have different uses.

Cotton: This comes from a plant source, and it is possible these days to find fabric made from organically grown cotton. Cotton can be tough (denim) or delicate (lace) oand has a huge range of uses. Cotton can handle hot washes and hot irons – it requires hot ironing to be wrinkle-free. Cotton is cool and light to wear, making it excellent for summer wear but unsuitable for winter warmth. It is very absorbent, which makes it good for towels. It is very easy to dye. The disadvantages of cotton are that it is prone to mildew if is damp, shrinks if untreated and can take up stains very easily. Thick cotton fabrics (e.g. denim and towelling) can take a long time to dry on a line or a clothes-horse in cooler weather. Cotton is flammable and is anything but flame resistant.

Linen: This also comes from a plant source. Linen tends to be quite crisp and has a very distinctive texture. It is strong, cool and absorbent. Traditionally, linen was used for undergarments and for sheets. It can handle a hot iron, but it will soften from the usual crispness if washed traditionally. Like cotton, linen is prone to mildew and has a tendency to shrink or stretch. Linen does not take dye well, which also means that it does not stain as readily.

Silk: This taken from the cocoons of the silk moth. Very delicate with a natural lustre to it, it requires gentle handling. Silk should be dry-cleaned or else handwashed in cool-warm water with hand soap. It should not be wrung or scrubbed. It can be ironed on cool. While it is fiddly to take care of, it has the advantage of being very light and easy to wear – it is traditionally used for underwear and good clothes, as well as handkerchiefs and scarves – although you can get very luxurious silk sheets if you want to be extravagant. Silk is moth-proof. Surprisingly, silk is quite strong for its weight and is also warm to wear.

Wool: Wool is spun from the hairs of various long-haired animals. Sheep of various breeds are used for wool, with merino being the finest of this type. Goat hair is also used; this is known as cashmere (Kashmir), angora; pashmina or mohair. Llama and alpaca wool is also used. More outlandish animals that are used for wool include rabbits (from angora rabbits), camels, yaks and even some breeds of dog. Wool is something of a “wonder fibre” as it has a huge range uses, ranging from tough carpets to fine scarves and wraps. Wool is very warm and absorbent, making it the fibre of choice for hikers and the like, as it “stays warm when it’s wet”. Wool is flame resistant. The downside of wool is that it needs a bit of care with washing – handwashing is best, as wool can stretch or shrink unpredictably if machine washed on a regular cycle or on hot (some garments handle the “gentle” or “wool” cycle in washing machines without any bother, though). For washing wool carpets professional carpet cleaning is the best solution. Wool does not like being ironed, but then, it is fairly wrinkle-resistant. Wool also needs a bit of protecting from moths, as moths love wool.

Fur: Real fur comes from all sorts of mammals. Opinion is divided as to the ethics of fur. Yes, some animals are farmed and killed for their fur, but they are usually killed humanely. Real fur is more environmentally friendly than synthetics as real fur comes from a renewable resource, does not use fossil fuels and is biodegradable. In some countries, the fur-bearing animals are noxious pests that harm the environment and the fur is a by-product of managing and controlling pests. Real fur is very warm and looks glamorous. It should be handwashed (use hand soap and dry flat; do not wring or spin) or drycleaned. It does not need ironing. Fur needs to be protected from moths.

Leather. This is the hairless skin of animals – cattle, pigs, ostriches, alligators, snakes, goats, sheep and more. If the hair is left on, it is usually called “hide”. It is very tough and hard-wearing, and can even be wind and slightly water proof (with the right treatment and finish) but still “breathes”. It is fire-resistant and fairly stain-resistant. It is usually too harsh for underwear (with the exception of special fetish-style items) of but is used for all sorts of outerwear, upholstery, protective gear and accessories. It can be hand-washed if necessary, but it is best to just spot-clean leather by sponging the dirt off. If leather does get wet, it should be dried flat, then wrung and crushed to restore the suppleness afterwards. Leather does not like seawater – soak it in milk to remove salt, then rinse well in fresh water. Leather should be polished regularly to keep it supple.

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