Natural Fibres and the Spindle Tree
One of the guiding principles of the Spindle Tree is that all work is constructed from at least 90% natural fibres. Natural fibres are made from either plant or animal products. This leaves the fibre artisan with quiet a number of fibres to work with. Some of the natural fibres used by artisans who submit work to the Spindle Tree are:
| Wool | Alpaca | Linen | Flax |
| Mohair | Silk | Hemp | Cashmere |
| Tencel | Cotton | Bamboo | Soya |
| Corn | Milk/Whey | Angora | Seaweed |
| Possum | Dog Hair |
2009 - Year of the Natural Fibre
2009 was designated Year of the Natural Fibre by the United Nations. The International Year of Natural Fibres 2009 aimed to raise global awareness of the importance of natural fibres not only to producers and industry, but also to consumers and the environment. Visit Year of the Natural Fibre to find out more.
Five reasons why you should choose a natural fibre
Natural fibres are a healthy choice
Most people know natural fibres provide natural ventilation. That is why a cotton T-shirt feels so comfortable on a hot day – and why sweat-suits used for weight reduction are 100% synthetic. Wool garments act as insulators against both cold and heat – Bedouins wear thin wool to keep themselves cool. Coconut fibres used in mattresses have natural resistance to fungus and mites. Hemp fibre has antibacterial properties, and studies show that linen is the most hygienic textile for hospital bed sheets.
Natural fibres are a responsible choice
Natural fibres are of major economic importance to many developing countries and vital to the livelihoods and food security of millions of small-scale farmers and processors. They include 10 million people in the cotton sector in West and Central Africa, 4 million small-scale jute farmers in Bangladesh and India, one million silk industry workers in China, and 120 000 alpaca herding families in the Andes. By choosing natural fibres we boost the sector's contribution to economic growth and help fight hunger and rural poverty.
Natural fibres are a sustainable choice
The emerging "green" economy is based on energy efficiency, renewable feed stocks in polymer products, industrial processes that reduce carbon emissions and recyclable materials. Natural fibres are a renewable resource. Growing one tonne of jute fibre requires less than 10% of the energy used for the production of polypropylene. Natural fibres are carbon neutral. Processing produces residues that can be used in biocomposites for building houses or to generate electricity. At the end of their life cycle, natural fibres are 100% biodegradable.
Natural fibres are a high-tech choice
Natural fibres have good mechanical strength, low weight and low cost. That has made them particularly attractive to the automobile industry. In Europe, car makers are using an estimated 80 000 tonnes of natural fibres a year to reinforce thermoplastic panels. India has developed composite boards made from coconut fibre that are more resistant to rotting than teak. Brazil is making roofing material reinforced with sisal. In Europe, hemp wastes are used in cement, and China used hemp-based construction materials for the 2008 Olympics.
Natural fibres are a fashionable choice
Natural fibres are at the heart of an eco-fashion or "sustainable clothing" movement that seeks to create garments that are sustainable at every stage of their life cycle, from production to disposal. Natural fibre producers, textile manufacturers and the clothing industry need to be aware of, and respond to, the opportunities provided by growing demand for organic cotton and wool, for recyclable and biodegradable fabrics, and for "fair trade" practices that offer producers higher prices and protect textile industry workers.