Any fabric that is not 100% natural Some are made from natural elements mixed with chemicals Some are made entirely from non-natural substances
Acetate Acrylic Made from cellulose and chemicals (Cellulose are the cell walls of plants) Made from ethylene (colourless, flammable gas) and acrylonitrile (chemical compound used in the manufacture of plastics) Resembles wool and often mixed with natural wool to make a machine washable substitute
Nylon Polyester Most popular man- made fibre Made from petroleum by-products Can make fine sheer fabrics to thick suiting Made from melted polymer chips (chemical molecules) that are stretched into fibres
Artificial silk Made from wood pulp or cotton linters mixed with chemicals Often blended with other fibres
Spandex Lightweight, soft fibre that can be stretched to 500% without breaking Often mixed with other fibres to produce woven’s with slight stretch