What Are Natural Fabrics?

Simply put, natural fabrics are made from fibers that come from plants or animals rather than being manufactured from petroleum-based materials.

100% Organic Cotton Waffle Cropped Sweater Tank (M) // 100% European Linen Jacket (M) // 100% European Linen Patch Pocket Wide Leg Pants (10) // Italian Leather Cutout Slide Sandal (8)

Some of the most common natural fibers include:

• Cotton
• Linen (made from flax)
• Silk
• Wool
• Cashmere
• Hemp

When shopping online, you can usually find fabric content listed in the product details section. If you’re trying to prioritize natural fibers, look for garments where cotton, linen, silk, wool, or cashmere make up most or all of the fabric composition.

What Is Not a Natural Fiber?

Vuori Halo Modern Straight Leg Pant (M) // Vuori Energy Top Long (M) // EVEREVE Heritage Sweatshirt (S) // XERO Shoes HFS II (9) // Celine sunnies

The most common synthetic fibers include:

• Polyester
• Nylon
• Acrylic
• Spandex (elastane)

These fibers are manufactured rather than sourced directly from plants or animals. They offer benefits like stretch, durability, wrinkle resistance, and moisture management, which is why they’re often used in activewear, swimwear, and performance fabrics.

What About TENCEL, Modal, Rayon, and Viscose?

This is where things get a little confusing. Fabrics like TENCEL™ (lyocell), modal, rayon, viscose, and bamboo aren’t considered true natural fibers, but they aren’t traditional synthetics either. They’re made from plant materials such as wood pulp, then processed into fabric.

Splendid Lounge Denim Jacket – 100% Tencel™ Lyocell (M) // Splendid Faye – 60% Cotton 40% Viscose (L) // Madewell Zoe linen pants (8) // YSL sunnies // pebble necklace // silver cuff // beaded bag

Think of them as “natural-adjacent” fibers. They often offer many of the qualities people like about natural fabrics, including softness, breathability, and beautiful drape.

You’ll frequently find them in:

• Soft tees
• Casual dresses
• Lightweight jackets
• Denim
• Loungewear

TENCEL, modal, and rayon are especially popular because they tend to feel cool, soft, and comfortable against the skin.

What About Fabric Blends?

Not all blends are bad. In fact, some of my favorite pieces contain a small percentage of elastane (spandex) for stretch and recovery, or nylon to help a garment hold its shape.

Rather than focusing on finding 100% natural fibers in every piece, I think it’s more helpful to pay attention to the overall fabric composition. A cotton sweater with a small amount of nylon or a pair of jeans with a touch of stretch can often perform better than a garment made from a single fiber.

525 Saylor Square Neck Tank – 93% Cotton, 7% Nylon Knit (M) // KUT from the Kloth Kelsey – 98% cotton, 2% spandex (10) // Splendid Daria Wedge Slides (8) // Rebecca Minkoff Edie // Tom Ford sunnies

For me, it’s less about avoiding synthetic fibers entirely and more about looking for clothing where natural fibers make up the majority of the fabric content.

That said, it is certainly possible to build a wardrobe made almost entirely of natural fibers if that’s your preference. It just requires a bit more time and patience, along with a willingness to be selective about where you shop.

And in many cases, it also means paying a bit more, as natural fibers are often more expensive to produce than synthetic alternatives.

The Best Clothing Brands for Natural Fabrics

While you can occasionally find natural fibers almost anywhere, these are the brands and retailers I’m most familiar with that consistently offer a good selection of linen, cotton, silk, cashmere, wool, and other natural fabrics.

Jenni Kayne Flynn 100% Cashmere Sweater (S) // AGOLDE Harper – 99% cotton/1% elastane (29) // old Vince boots // Tom Ford sunnies

A quick note: Fabric content can vary from season to season and even from item to item within the same brand. While these retailers are generally good sources for natural fibers, most are not exclusively committed to them, so I always recommend checking the fabric composition of each garment before purchasing.

Quince

Best all-around source for natural fibers at affordable prices.

100% linen swing dress (M) // sandals (8) // earrings // bracelet // sunnies

Quince is probably one of the easiest places to find linen, cotton, silk, and cashmere at reasonable prices. They offer an impressive selection of natural fibers across nearly every category, from dresses and pants to sweaters and outerwear.

Some of my most-worn Quince pieces include their Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Crewneck Sweater, Patch Pocket Linen Pants, Linen Jacket, Organic Cotton Waffle Cropped Sweater Tank, and Linen Sleeveless Swing Dress.

J.Crew

Best mainstream retailer for natural fibers.

J.Crew cashmere cardigan – 100% cashmere (S) // MOTHER Dazzler Flood (30) // VEJA Esplar (39)

J.Crew consistently offers one of the strongest selections of natural fibers among mainstream retailers. Depending on the season, you’ll find everything from linen and cotton to cashmere and wool, along with plenty of classic wardrobe staples.

My most-worn winter sweater is their Cashmere Patch-Pocket Cardigan. It’s such a versatile piece and one I reach for constantly during the colder months. Their Perfect Cashmere Cable-Knit Cardigan is another favorite, and their cotton rollneck sweaters are particularly good. I also love their linen and cotton tees.

For outerwear, their Double-Face Chiara Topcoat is a beautiful wool-blend coat (80% natural fibers) that I wore on repeat this past winter. It looks just as good with jeans and sneakers as it does dressed up for work, church, or dinner out.

Vince

Best for premium silk, cashmere, and wool.

Vince Cowl Neck Silk Blouse – 100% silk (S) (option) // MOTHER Weekender (30) // Sam Edelman Bianka (8.5)

Vince is known for elevated wardrobe staples in premium fabrics. They offer beautiful silk blouses and dresses, luxurious cashmere sweaters, wool coats, and high-quality cotton basics.

This is one of my favorite brands for silk blouses and lightweight silk and cotton tops in the summer, and wool and cashmere sweaters in the winter. The Cowl Neck Silk Blouse I’m wearing above is a favorite, and I’ve worn the Cable Short Sleeve Sweater (94% natural fibers) constantly this spring.

Over the years, I’ve noticed Vince incorporating a small amount of synthetic fibers into some of their knitwear, so I always check the fabric content before purchasing. That said, they’re still one of the better brands for sophisticated pieces made with high-quality natural fibers.

Jenni Kayne

Best for luxury cashmere and elevated natural-fiber essentials.

Jenni Kayne Cashmere Fisherman Sweater – 100% cashmere (S) // PAIGE Leenah Ankle (29) // old Aquatalia boots // YSL tote

Jenni Kayne has built its reputation around timeless, understated pieces in premium fabrics. Their collections feature beautiful cashmere sweaters, wool outerwear, cotton basics, silk pieces, and linen separates. The price point is definitely an investment, but the quality is excellent.

Their Flynn Cashmere Sweater and Cashmere Fisherman Sweater are my personal favorites. I have both in multiple colors.

Frank & Eileen

Best for elevated linen and cotton essentials.

Frank & Eileen EILEEN Relaxed Button-Up Shirt in Italian Classic Linen c/o (S) // Frank & Eileen GALWAY Gaucho Jean in 1972 Wash c/o (29)

Frank & Eileen is another higher-end brand known for premium fabrics and elevated casual pieces. Their collections feature beautifully made linen separates, cotton button-down shirts, casual dresses, and other wardrobe staples designed to be worn for years. While the price point is an investment, the quality is excellent.

I especially love the EILEEN Relaxed Button-Up Shirt in Italian Classic Linen that I’m wearing above and the Patrick Popover Henley, which I own in several colors. They’re two of the brand’s most versatile pieces and easy to wear year after year.

Tommy Bahama

Best for linen and warm-weather dressing.

Tommy Bahama Two Palms Linen Shirtdress – 100% linen (M) // Dolce Vita Mylee Heels (8.5) // J.Crew Portofino Clutch // Lele Sadoughi beaded bracelet // Lizzie Fortunato earrings

Tommy Bahama is a surprisingly good source for linen and other breathable fabrics. Their collections include everything from linen dresses and tops to lightweight cotton pieces, making them a great option for warm-weather wardrobes and vacation packing.

The Two Palms Linen Shirtdress (100% linen) I’m wearing above is a favorite this season, although sadly the black is sold out. I also love their Sunset Harbor Lace-Trim Dress (100% cotton), Palm-A-Dora Split-Neck Sheath (55% linen, 43% TENCEL™ Lyocell, 2% spandex), and the Lakes Edge Linen-Blend Stripe Sweater Top (65% linen, 35% cotton).

Gap Factory

Best for budget-friendly cotton basics.

Favorite V-Neck T-Shirt – 100% cotton (M) // SuperSoft Wide Leg Jeans (30)

I’m often pleasantly surprised by how many 100% cotton pieces Gap Factory carries, especially t-shirts, sweaters, denim, and casual basics. They also frequently offer linen-blend pieces during the warmer months, making them a budget-friendly option for shoppers looking for more natural fibers.

Current favorites include the Relaxed Ribbed Boatneck Tank Top and the ForeverSoft Shrunken Crewneck T-Shirt I’m wearing above.

Talbots

Best for classic wardrobe staples in linen, cotton, and cashmere.

Talbots has long been a reliable source for natural-fiber wardrobe staples, including linen, cotton, cashmere, and wool. Their collections tend to lean classic, making them a great option if you’re looking for timeless pieces rather than trend-driven styles. While I’ve noticed them incorporating more synthetic blends into their pieces in recent years, they still offer a strong selection of natural fibers compared to many mainstream retailers.

Right now I’m loving this Open-Stitch Crewneck Sweater, and this Open Stitch Crewneck Cardigan looks really good, too. I’ve also had great luck with their cashmere sweaters and wool-blend coats over the years.

EVEREVE

Best for discovering multiple natural-fiber brands in one place.

EVEREVE Nora V Neck Muscle Tee – 100% cotton // Madewell Wide Leg Airy Denim // Edie bag // Luv Aj hoops // Lili Claspe cuff

EVEREVE is both a retailer and a clothing brand, and it’s a great resource for shoppers looking for natural fibers. Between their in-house label and brands like Splendid, Michael Stars, Velvet, Melissa Nepton, Faherty, Rails, and others, you’ll often find cotton tees, cotton sweaters, linen dresses, silk pieces, cashmere sweaters, and other styles made with a high percentage of natural fibers.

The EVEREVE Nora V Neck Muscle Tee I’m wearing above is one of my favorite finds so far this season, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover it’s made from 100% Pima cotton jersey.

Other current favorites include the Splendid Devon Short Sleeve Cardigan, Heritage Sweatshirt, Velvet Zoella Sleeveless Collared Sweater, and Melissa Nepton Jane Sweater. These are all great examples of the natural-fiber pieces you can find at EVEREVE.

More Brands to Browse for Natural Fibers

Splendid Devon Short Sleeve Cardigan – 100% cotton (S) // PAIGE Sasha (30) // Sam Edelman Elissa Heels (8.5) // Lele Sadoughi beaded bracelet // Lizzie Fortunato earrings

While the brands above are some of the retailers and brands I know best, there are plenty of others worth exploring. Here are a few more that regularly offer cotton, linen, silk, cashmere, wool, and other natural-fiber pieces.

• Splendid – Known for exceptionally soft cotton tees, sweaters, dresses, and casual basics.
• Garnet Hill – A great source for cotton, linen, and cashmere, especially sweaters, sleepwear, and elevated basics.
• Eileen Fisher – Long known for its commitment to natural fibers, including linen, organic cotton, silk, and wool.
• J.Jill – Particularly strong in linen and cotton, with an extensive selection of relaxed dresses, tops, and separates.
• Boden – Offers colorful cotton dresses, sweaters, knitwear, and seasonal pieces made with a high percentage of natural fibers.
• Faherty – Worth checking for premium cotton knits, casual dresses, and relaxed everyday pieces.
• Michael Stars – Known for high-quality cotton basics, tees, tanks, and casual wardrobe staples.

Why Choose Natural Fabrics?

Gap Factory Relaxed Ribbed Boatneck Tank Top (M) // SuperSoft Drawstring Denim Midi Shorts (30) // Dolce Vita Deane Sandals (8)

There are a number of reasons people choose natural fabrics over synthetic materials. Many people find them more breathable and comfortable to wear, especially in warm weather. Linen, cotton, silk, and wool are known for their ability to regulate temperature, making them comfortable across a wide range of climates and seasons.

Natural fibers are also often associated with quality and longevity. While there are certainly exceptions, garments made from linen, cotton, wool, cashmere, and silk tend to age more gracefully and can last for years when properly cared for.

Others are drawn to natural fibers for environmental reasons. Because they’re derived from plants or animals, many natural fabrics are biodegradable, unlike synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon. Some shoppers also prefer natural fibers because they’re renewable resources.

That said, no fabric is perfect. Natural fibers can be more expensive, may require additional care, and often wrinkle more easily than synthetic alternatives. And while many people prefer natural fabrics for everyday wear, synthetic materials still serve an important purpose in categories like activewear, swimwear, outerwear, and performance clothing.

Ultimately, the best choice comes down to your priorities, lifestyle, budget, and personal preferences. For me, it’s less about avoiding synthetic fabrics entirely and more about being thoughtful about fabric content and choosing pieces that will look, feel, and wear well over time.

Final Thoughts

While natural fabrics can sometimes be harder to find than they used to be, there are still plenty of retailers offering beautiful clothing in linen, cotton, silk, cashmere, and wool.

When I’m shopping, I don’t focus exclusively on fabric content, but I do pay attention to it. Choosing breathable, high-quality fabrics often makes a noticeable difference in how clothing looks, feels, and wears over time.

If you’re trying to build a wardrobe with more natural fibers, the brands above are some of the first places I’d recommend starting.

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