Synthetic Fibers

Synthetic fibers are man-made – most often created using chemicals and petroleum by-products. The first semi-synthetic cellulosic fiber was Rayon, derived from a natural product, wood pulp, that undergoes a chemical process to create a silk-like fiber. Originally created in the 19th century, Rayon got its name in the 1920s when the fabric was promoted as artificial silk. Synthetic fibers were popularized after World War II as alternatives to more expensive natural fibers and they came to dominate the market, with the demand for polyester surpassing cotton in 2002. Many of the recognizable names, such as Lycra, Orlon, and Dacron, were created by DuPont, a chemical company that still produces synthetic fibers today.

Unlike natural fibers, synthetic fibers are created when materials are combined to form a viscous substance that is forced through a “spinneret” to make the thread. Synthetic fibers are inexpensive and durable. They come in endless prints and designs, are easy to launder, and are often wrinkle-free. These qualities continue to be selling points for non-natural fibers. However, this durability has a downside. Because they are made of chemicals and petroleum products, synthetic fibers, like other plastics, can take decades to centuries to biodegrade. The laundering of synthetic fibers has led to devastating amounts of microplastics in the world’s lakes and oceans with serious consequences for marine and human life. Additionally, many of the chemicals used in synthetic textile production are toxic and pose health risks to people working in the factories and living in the communities around them.

In 2014, the industry used 132.4 billion pounds of synthetic fiber and man-made cellulosic fibers while natural fibers, including cotton and wool, accounted for 50.1 billion pounds. In many cases, natural fibers are combined with synthetic fibers to create stretch or make them easier to launder. While this may benefit the consumer, blended textiles cannot be broken down or recycled into new textiles. This has implications for efforts to reuse textiles that end up in landfills or disposed of in the global south. Non-governmental organizations and other non-profits are working to make the textile lifecycle more circular by creating incentives to produce textiles that can be recycled and reused.

J.P. Stevens & Company. Stevens Astro cloth Fashion/Color Combos, ca. 1960s-1970s.

On loan from the Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives

Collection/Call #: 6896/022 MB

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J.P. Stevens & Company. Beyond the Rainbow with Stevens: Stevens Fashion Forecast for Spring '69, 1969.

This marketing material for J.P. Stevens demonstrates how companies attempted to tune into changing tastes: in this case, the psychedelic esthetic of the late 1960s.

On loan from the Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives

Collection/Call #: 6896/022 MB

Search CUL catalog for this item/collection