Fiber is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread. They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissues together. Human uses for fibers are diverse. They can be spun into filaments, string or rope, used as a component of composite materials, or matted into sheets to make products such as paper or felt. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. Synthetic fibers can be produced very cheaply and in large amounts compared to natural fibers, but natural fibers enjoy some benefits, such as comfort, over their man-made counterparts.

A Glossary of Fibers

• Alpaca
  • Fiber from goats raised in the Andes Mountains
• Angora
  • Fiber from angora rabbits, which is extremely fine, lightweight and warm. Often blended with wool and nylon.
• Camel Hair
  • Comes from camels, is wool like in texture, and the underhair is very soft and lustrous.
• Cashmere
  • Luxury goat fiber from animals raised in the mountains of India, Iraq and China.
• Cotton
  • Soft fiber obtained from the seed pod of the cotton plant.
• Lambswool
  • Fiber from the fleece of young sheep. Soft and elastic when spun.
• Linen
  • A bast fiber produced from the flax of linen. Linen yarns are lustrous and the oldest textile fiber known in the vegetable group.
• Merino
  • The highest, finest and best grade of wool.
• Mohair
  • Luxury fiber from angora goat hair.
• Silk
  • Fiber from the silk worm and silk moths. A fine quality luxury fiber that takes color well.
• Shetland
  • A course, wiry wool from sheep raised in the Shetland Isles.
• Vicuna
  • The mother of all luxury fibers, comes from an animal living above the clouds in certain plateaus of South American. So fine the fiber is half the diameter of the finest wool.