Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which natural fibres became especially important for commercial textile production?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Diagram titled Spinning jenny showing an operator using a hand wheel to rotate a cord-driven roller, drawing and twisting fibers from multiple clamped rovings onto tilted spindles; numbered callouts trace the process from roving to thread. — textile An annotated diagram showing how an operator uses a hand wheel, rollers, and spindles on a spinning jenny to draw and twist unspun fiber into thread.

Through extensive experimentation with various natural materials, several fibres became recognized as the most satisfactory for commercial textile production. These are primarily categorized by their origin:

Vegetable (Cellulose-based) Fibres

Cotton: A seed-hair fibre that became a cornerstone of the global textile industry, particularly following the mechanization of spinning and weaving during the Industrial Revolution.12
Flax: One of the oldest textile fibres, used to produce linen. It is valued for its strength, durability, and moisture absorbency.34
Jute: A significant bast fibre used for various industrial and textile applications.42

Animal (Protein-based) Fibres

Wool: Obtained from the fleece of sheep and other mammals, wool is prized for its resilience, heat-insulating properties, and ability to retain shape.25
Silk: A continuous filament produced by silkworms. It is highly valued as a luxury material for its luster, strength, and elasticity.267

While these natural fibres have been used since prehistoric times, their dominance in the market was later challenged by the development of synthetic fibres in the 19th and 20th centuries.42