Why did I create the Fabric Workshop?
- Souad Belaini
- 30 Jun
- 2 min read
A guide to understand fabrics better and choose the ideal material.
When you first start taking an interest in sewing or clothes, it's easy to confuse the terms fibre, material, and fabric. However, they do not all mean the same thing.
Understanding this difference helps you choose clothes more effectively, read a fabric label, and understand why two fabrics can feel, drape or be comfortable in completely different ways.
1. Fibre: Where It All Begins
The fibre is the basic material used to create a yarn, which is then used to make a fabric.
There are three main families of fibres.
🌿 Natural Fibres
They come directly from nature.
Examples:
Cotton
Flax
Wool
Silk
🌳 Man-made Fibres
They are made from a natural raw material, most often cellulose derived from wood, which is processed using an industrial method.
Examples:
Viscose
Modal
Lyocell (Tencel™)
🧪 Synthetic Fibres
They are made from petrochemical products.
Examples:
Polyester
Polyamide
Acrylic
Elastane
2. The subeject matter
When we talk about the composition of a garment, we are referring to its material composition.
For example:
100% cotton
100% viscose
70% cotton – 30% viscose
55% linen – 45% viscose
It is therefore entirely possible to blend several different fibres into a single fabric.
Can we say "viscose cotton"?
This expression is often used in everyday speech, but it is not entirely accurate.
It would be better to say :
100% viscose
100% cotton
Cotton and viscose blend
70% cotton – 30% viscose
Viscose is not made from cotton. It is produced from cellulose, which is generally derived from wood.
3. The Fabric
Fabric is the result obtained after weaving or knitting yarns.
It can be made from a single fibre or from a blend of several fibres.
Key Points
✔ A fibre is the raw material.
✔ A material composition refers to the fibre content of a textile.
✔ A fabric is the finished product used to make a garment.
✂️ Souad's Advice – Maraval Couture
After more than 30 years of sewing, I have learnt that a beautiful garment always starts with choosing the right fabric.
The same dress can look completely different depending on the fabric used. That's why, at Maraval Couture, I always take the time to choose the fabric best suited to the project and the person who will be wearning it.
Coming Soon...
📖 In the next article, I will introduce you to The Fabric Workshop – Maraval Couture's Textile Guide, a series of articles in which I will be sharing my advice and experience to help you gain a better understanding of textiles.
Do you have a question about a fabric or a sewing project?
I would be delighted to advise you.
🪡 Contact
📍 Maraval Couture — 8 Rue Michel Rondet, Saint-Étienne
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