Chennai: S Mohan is happy this festive season. The full-sleeve shirts made by the Kundrathur-based weaver using yarn extracted from natural fibre such as banana, bamboo, hemp and organic cotton fibres have become a big attraction. Lighter than cotton, these shirts are fire-resistant and are wrinkle-free, he says, adding that they are eco-friendly and no artificial dyes have been used in their manufacture.
While shirts made of banana fibre are better than those of conventional fibre – they are durable, have smaller elongation, are biodegradable and have robust moisture absorption – those made of bamboo have ultra-violet absorption properties, with even pregnant women and children able to use them. Bamboo can be grown without the use of pesticides, which together with other factors such as a fast-growing rate and low water consumption, makes it a sustainable textile material, says Mohan. Cross-sections of bamboo fibre are finer and softer than cotton and are filled with micro gaps and micropores.
Hemp fibre, he says, has many properties that make it a popular choice for a variety of applications, including textiles. One of the strongest and most durable, it can help keep the human body cool in warm weather and warm during cool weather.
Organic cotton fibre has many unique properties, which include softness and its comfortable condition. Shirts made of this fibre are hypoallergenic and chemical-free. Durability is an important factor of this fibre, which is stronger than other cotton material. Due to that clothes made of this fibre will last longer, he say.
Prices of shirts made of these natural fibres are not very expensive, compared to branded cotton shirts, he adds.