There are so many different types of fabric, but how do you know which is the best?
And what exactlyarethose fabrics, anyway?
Its durable, breathable, soft, easy to care for, and generally quite affordable.
The Spruce / Catherine Song
Youll find several different types of cotton, however.
Tencel
Tencelis a brand name for fabrics made from Lyocell and Modal fibers.
Lyocell is made out of wood pulp from eucalyptus or oak, bamboo, and birch trees.
The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo
Modal is made from beech wood.
The fabrics are soft and very durable.
Acetate
Acetate is a fabric made from the cellulose in wood fibers.
The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo
Silk
Silk is a luxurious, soft fiber produced by silkworms.
For sheer indulgence, its hard to beat real silk sheets; theyre cool and soft.
Still, if you want the utmost in luxury, consider a set of silk sheets.
Polyester
Polyesteris a manmade fiber produced from the same polymers used to make plastic drink bottles.
While polyester is inexpensive, its quite stiff and scratchy when used on its own.
Generally, youll find polyester mixed with another thread, often cotton, in inexpensive sheet sets.
Bamboo
While bamboo fibers can be made into fabric, its typically rather stiff and rough.
Most often, what you find labeled asbamboo sheets are actually rayon.
Bamboo is as breathable as cotton and feels good against your skin.
Blends
There are lots of blended fabrics available, most including some form of cotton.
Cotton/polyester is the most common, but youll also find cotton/bamboo, cotton/rayon, and nylon/polyester.
Blended fabrics are usually inexpensive, durable, and wrinkle-resistant, making them a good choicefor childrens bedding.
Not All Bamboo is Created Equal.Natural Resources Defense Council.
