What is synthetic fabric? Advantages, disadvantages & applications

Synthetic fabrics have been asserting their position thanks to their outstanding advantages in terms of durability, wrinkle resistance and reasonable price. So what are synthetic fabrics , what are their advantages and disadvantages and how are they applied? Let's find out the details through the article below!

1. What is synthetic fabric?

Unlike natural fibers that are derived from plants or animals, this type of fabric is made from man-made synthetic fibers. Specifically, these synthetic fibers are created from petrochemical raw materials, typically petroleum and coal, through a series of complex chemical processes.

Born in the early 20th century, synthetic fabrics revolutionized the fashion industry. The first synthetic fibers were produced in 1910, and by the 1930s, these fabrics began to be widely used.

[caption id="attachment_6208" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Synthetic fabrics are made from man-made synthetic fibers[/caption]

Possessing many outstanding advantages such as high durability, less wrinkles, and lower price than natural fiber fabrics, synthetic fiber fabrics quickly become a popular choice in garment manufacturing and many other industries.

Although not as breathable as natural fibers, synthetic fibers score points for their durability, wrinkle resistance, and less shrinkage. Some popular types today are PE, Nylon, Spandex, Acrylic, PA, PAC, PVA, PU…

2. Synthetic fiber fabric production process

Few people know that soft, colorful fabrics are created through a complex production process with many stages, requiring a smooth combination of science and technology.

• First, raw materials such as petroleum, coal, etc. are mined and processed to create monomers - the building blocks of polymers.
• Next, the monomers link together through polymerization, forming viscous liquid polymers.
• Special techniques are then used to draw fibers from the liquid polymer.

Depending on the type of yarn you want to create, you can adjust the thickness, twist, and other characteristics. The synthetic fibers are then woven, knitted, or braided into fabrics of various sizes and colors. Finally, the fabric is treated to increase its strength, shine, and wrinkle resistance, etc., before it is cut and sewn into garments.

[caption id="attachment_6209" align="aligncenter" width="800"] The production process of synthetic fibers includes many stages[/caption]

3. Advantages and disadvantages of synthetic fabrics

3.1. Advantages

Synthetic fabrics are more popular because they have many outstanding advantages:

• High durability, less wrinkles, quick drying: Clothes always keep their shape, are easy to store and do not take much time to iron.
• Anti-mildew, heat-resistant: This fabric is the perfect choice for hot and humid weather conditions because of its anti-mildew and heat-resistant properties.
• Fabric surface is diverse: From soft and comfortable to shiny and beautiful, fabric meets all fashion needs.
• Waterproof and UV resistant: Synthetic fabric is very suitable for sewing sportswear, swimwear, etc. thanks to its effective waterproof and UV resistant properties.

3.2. Disadvantages

Besides the outstanding advantages, synthetic fabrics still have certain limitations:

• Poor sweat absorption: The fabric can be hot and uncomfortable to wear, especially in hot and humid weather conditions.
• Manufacturing can cause environmental pollution: Manufacturing requires a lot of energy and chemicals, which can affect the environment. However, this problem is gradually being solved with green manufacturing solutions, sustainable fashion.

[caption id="attachment_6210" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Some advantages and disadvantages of synthetic fabrics[/caption]

4. Classification of synthetic fabrics and applications

4.1. Polyester (PE) fabric

Polyester (PE) fabric is the most popular synthetic fiber fabric today. Possessing many outstanding advantages such as high durability, anti-wrinkle, anti-mold, low sweat absorption, color fastness, Polyester fabric is widely used in the production of clothes, backpacks, handbags,...

Some products using Polyester (PE) fabric are available at Shondo, you can refer to such as Shondo Backpack with black number 10 pattern , VOID with black cross-woven straps and fluorescent ,...

[caption id="attachment_6211" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Polyester (PE) fabric[/caption]

4.2. Nylon Fabric (PA)

Nylon (PA) fabric scores points for its high durability, light weight, quick drying, wrinkle-free and good elasticity. This type of fabric is often used to sew sportswear, underwear, bags, ropes, etc.

[caption id="attachment_6212" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Nylon fabric (PA) has the advantage of high durability and good elasticity[/caption]

4.3. Spandex fabric

Spandex fabric is famous for its magical stretch, high elasticity and body-hugging ability. Thanks to that, this fabric becomes the perfect choice for sewing sportswear, swimwear, medical gloves...

[caption id="attachment_6213" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Spandex fabric has high elasticity[/caption]

4.4. Acrylic Fabric

Acrylic fabric has softness, good heat retention and is wrinkle-resistant. This type of fabric is often used to make sweaters, scarves, carpets, etc. to help bring warmth to the cold winter.

[caption id="attachment_6214" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Acrylic fabric helps keep warm in cold weather[/caption]

5. How to preserve and clean synthetic fabrics

To keep your clothes looking as good as new, keep these tips in mind:

• Washing: Wash clothes by hand or in a washing machine on a gentle cycle, using cold or warm water. Avoid washing with colored clothes to prevent fading.
• Detergents: Say no to harsh detergents that contain a lot of chemicals. You should choose a mild detergent that is suitable for synthetic fabrics.
• Drying: It is best to dry clothes naturally. Avoid drying clothes directly in the sun because high temperatures can make the fabric brittle and easily torn.
• Ironing: Iron clothes at low temperature and turn clothes inside out before ironing to limit shine and fading.

6. Related questions

6.1. Are synthetic fabrics hot?

Many people are afraid that this type of fabric will make them feel hot when worn. This is completely understandable because synthetic fabrics have a lower sweat absorption capacity than natural fibers. Nowadays, there are many improved fabrics with advanced technology, helping to increase sweat absorption, bringing a more comfortable and pleasant feeling to the wearer.

6.2. Are synthetic fabrics durable?

The product is famous for its high durability, good resistance to wrinkles, abrasion and stains. Clothing made from synthetic fabrics often retains its original shape and color for a long time, even after many washes. However, the durability of synthetic fabrics also depends on the specific fiber and the manufacturing process.

6.3. Should I choose synthetic or natural fabrics?

Each type of fabric has its own advantages and disadvantages. Natural fiber fabrics score points for being cool and absorbent, but they wrinkle easily and are expensive. On the contrary, synthetic fibers are durable, beautiful, and more affordable, but are less breathable.

Depending on your needs, you can choose the appropriate fabric. For example, if you want to choose sportswear, synthetic fabric will be a better choice.

Thus, synthetic fabrics with many outstanding advantages have brought many practical applications in the fashion industry and life. Don't forget to visit Shondo to discover fashionable, quality shoes made from the best materials!