What Are the Advantages of Synthetic Fibers?
A great advantage of synthetic fibers is that they are more durable than most natural fibers. In addition, many synthetic fibers offer consumer-friendly functions such as stretching, waterproofing and stain resistance.
Overtime, things like sunlight and oils from human skin cause fibers in various fabrics to break down and wear away. Natural fibers are much more sensitive to these elements than synthetic blends. This is mainly because natural products tend to be biodegradable. In addition, natural fibers often fall prey to moth and carpet beetles, whose larvae feast on things like cotton, wool and silk. Synthetic fibers are not a good food source for these fabric-damaging insects. As an added advantage, synthetic fibers do not break down easily when exposed to light, water, or oil.
Compared to natural fibers, many synthetic fibers are more water resistant and stain resistant. Some are even specially enhanced to withstand damage from water or stains. Some fabrics are also designed to stretch in specific ways, which makes them more comfortable to wear.
In many cases, synthetic fibers are environmental fabric choices. Cotton is incredibly resource intensive, as it takes a lot of water to farm cotton. Wool is not much better, as the sheep that produce wool need water, food and a lot of grazing land in order to survive. Although synthetic fiber production does involve some carbon emissions, the environmental footprint of many fibers is much lower in comparison to natural fibers.
Many synthetic fibers create highly attractive fabrics. Modern synthetic fabrics can look and feel as luxurious as silk or wool.
