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| pltf:plant_fibres [2025/12/17 12:01] – Dave Darby | pltf:plant_fibres [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 | ||
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| - | # Plant fibres | + | This topic is part of [[gt: |
| + | ====== | ||
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| - | ## What are plant fibres & textiles? | + | ===== What are plant fibres & textiles? |
| There are 3 main types of plant fibres: bast (mainly from stems - e.g. flax and hemp), leaf (e.g. pineapple and sisal) and seed (e.g. cotton and kapok); but also wood (from trees, naturally), grass (e.g. bamboo) and fruit (e.g. coconut). The fibres are elongated, supportive strands composed of individual cellulose cells that are held together with gums and pectins. Plant fibres have a long history of use in [textiles](/ | There are 3 main types of plant fibres: bast (mainly from stems - e.g. flax and hemp), leaf (e.g. pineapple and sisal) and seed (e.g. cotton and kapok); but also wood (from trees, naturally), grass (e.g. bamboo) and fruit (e.g. coconut). The fibres are elongated, supportive strands composed of individual cellulose cells that are held together with gums and pectins. Plant fibres have a long history of use in [textiles](/ | ||
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| - | ## What are the benefits of plant fibres & textiles? | + | ===== What are the benefits of plant fibres & textiles? |
| Our perception of ‘cloth’ has changed a lot over time. We currently have a textile industry that’s laden with problems. Cheap, synthetic clothes are mass-produced in countries where people (including children), desperate to make a living, are forced to work in dangerous and unhealthy conditions to produce clothing for a fickle and ever-changing market. Clothes are quickly discarded, wasting resources and creating a huge disposal problem. In the past, cloth was highly valued and precious. Until the 19th century, all clothing was made from natural fibres, including hemp and flax, either at home, or by a tailor or seamstress if that could be afforded. People had a limited wardrobe (sometimes only one set of clothes!), which was looked after, mended and even handed on after their death. Finally, until the invention of synthetic fibres, all cloth that completed its lifecycle could be composted or burnt. We need to renew our perception of cloth. We need to learn to value it again. When it’s no longer serviceable, | Our perception of ‘cloth’ has changed a lot over time. We currently have a textile industry that’s laden with problems. Cheap, synthetic clothes are mass-produced in countries where people (including children), desperate to make a living, are forced to work in dangerous and unhealthy conditions to produce clothing for a fickle and ever-changing market. Clothes are quickly discarded, wasting resources and creating a huge disposal problem. In the past, cloth was highly valued and precious. Until the 19th century, all clothing was made from natural fibres, including hemp and flax, either at home, or by a tailor or seamstress if that could be afforded. People had a limited wardrobe (sometimes only one set of clothes!), which was looked after, mended and even handed on after their death. Finally, until the invention of synthetic fibres, all cloth that completed its lifecycle could be composted or burnt. We need to renew our perception of cloth. We need to learn to value it again. When it’s no longer serviceable, | ||
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| - | ## What can I do? | + | ===== What can I do? ===== |
| There’s growing interest in creating cloth from plant fibres on an artisanal scale, using whatever fibre plants are locally available. In the UK, flax and hemp are easily cultivated and so raw material is generally available for [spinning](/ | There’s growing interest in creating cloth from plant fibres on an artisanal scale, using whatever fibre plants are locally available. In the UK, flax and hemp are easily cultivated and so raw material is generally available for [spinning](/ | ||
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| - | ## Further resources | + | ===== Forum ===== |
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| + | This topic belongs to the section [[gt: | ||
| + | |||
| + | It is also in the section [[gt: | ||
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| + | ===== Further resources | ||
| - [Alliance for Sustainable Building Products](https:// | - [Alliance for Sustainable Building Products](https:// | ||
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| - | ## Specialist curators of this topic | + | ===== Related topics ===== |
| + | |||
| + | - [[smho: | ||
| + | - [[licl: | ||
| + | - [[sewi: | ||
| + | - [[ntdy: | ||
| + | - [[weav: | ||
| + | - [[knit: | ||
| + | - [[papr: | ||
| + | - [[spin: | ||
| + | - [[insu: | ||
| + | - [[craf: | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Specialist curators of this topic ===== | ||