Animal fibers were used since ancient Babylon, although they were used as early as the Iron Age, when
scissors to cut wool were invented.
We obtain fibers to weave from animals such as sheeps
(
wool), but also llamas, alpacas, angora rabbits, cashmere goats, camels, and even horses and cows
(felt can be done, but also for tapestries and for other lasting applications). Fibers from animals
of whom its furs are used, such as minks or beavers, are sometimes mixed with another pile fabrics
to make luxury threads.
But also animal fibers can be obtained from animal secrections, such as bombix mori, which produces
silk.
Natural plant fibers are composed by cellulose mainly. The used plants are known from ancient, when man
needed to cover his body to protect from environment. Firstly, he used wild plants, but,
when he observed their possibilities, he began to cultivate them, selecting the most efficients, and he
improved the weaving methods.
Plan fibers come from: seeds
(
cotton), stems
(
linen,
jute, hemp), leaves (raffia, esparto grass), fruits
(coconut, pinapple) and sap (rubber).
The most of the plant fibers are used in textile industry, although they are also used in
paper industry (cotton and linen are the base of some quality papers; hemp and jute are used for
packing papers).
Mineral fibers may be natural fibers (such as asbestos) or they may come from materials which
can be spun (such as glass or some metals).
Fibreglass is obtained from glass easily, heating and stretching. It is used in industry
as a thermic and acoustic insulator, to fabric optic fibers which transport light and images,
filters, acoustic tiles, and also for textile use such as non-flammable clothes, felts, cords, etc.