Alternative Textile Fibers as a Solution for Improving Sustainable Fashion

Textile fibers and materials play the most significant role in obtaining a sustainable textile and fashion due to their determinative contribution to production, use, and end-of life options of textiles. Selection of the fibers to be used in a textile garment and product is of utmost importance in the design stage, affecting all details of production, processing, and end-use and the resulting sustainability and circularity of the end-product. In this chapter, textile fibers and materials will be discussed by categorization of natural and man-made fibers. The conventional fibers will be discussed with regard to their positive and negative impacts on the properties of the textile product and their advantages and disadvantages will be put forward. Insights will be given with regard to biodegradability, water consumption, energy consumption, clothing comfort, and end-of life options. They will be compared with a wide perspective in terms of their contribution to obtaining sustainable fashion and textiles. Fiber alternatives to conventional fibers will be evaluated. Recycled cotton and recycled polyester will be discussed besides sustainable fibers including fibers obtained from fruits (banana, orange, pineapple, coconut, coffee, mango), fibers obtained from vegetables (avocado, artichoke, etc.), fibers such as bio-based polyester obtained from renewable sources as alternative to synthetic fibers obtained from nonrenewable sources. Besides all of these fibers, a big emphasis will be given to more sustainable man-made cellulosic fibers. Natural fibers including kapok, jute, and hemp will also be discussed with their features and their possible place in the fashion industry.