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Not all Fabrics Are Created Equal

Some fabrics are harder to categorize. Rayon, pictured above, is considered synthetic, but it is derived from chemically treated plant material such as bamboo.
Some fabrics are harder to categorize. Rayon, pictured above, is considered synthetic, but it is derived from chemically treated plant material such as bamboo. Image: E.P. Vicenzi/Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute and NIST

As you can see from these photomicrographs, not all fabrics have the same structure or properties. Polyester, for instance, is made by extrusion. In the manufacturing process, the polymer raw material is squeezed out through an opening, like spaghetti coming out of a pasta maker. As a result, the fibers have a consistent cross-sectional profile.

If you’re interested learning about the differences of more fabrics, check out this great explainer by NIST that goes through the particularities of some of the fabrics analyzed by Zangmeister, Vincenzi, and the rest of their team.

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