Seed fibers develop in the seedpod of the plant from which it must be separated to be used. Seed fibers include cotton, coir, kapok, and milkweed. COTTON is a seed fiber that grows within a pod or boll from developing seeds and is the most common natural fiber used in the apparel industry. Cotton cloth has been used for millennia by people of ancient Egypt, China, India, Mexico, and Peru. Cotton fiber makes a soft and breathable fabric that is absorbent and comfortable. It is also easily blended with other fibers. Today, cotton denim is one of the most popular fabrics in the world. It is also one of the most environmentally damaging of all fibers utilized in the apparel industry. Cotton is a water-intensive crop that requires at least 20 inches of rain per year, acquired through natural rainfall and/or irrigation. One cotton shirt requires 2,700 liters of water (what one person drinks in 2.5 years.)(1) Fabric dyeing also uses 1.3 trillion gallons of water each year.(2)

Woven Cotton, Wood and Leather Shoes, Brazil (ca 1900) Museum of Anthropology

COIR is a fibrous material from the tissues surrounding the seed of the coconut palm (Cocus nucifera.) The processing of coir fiber uses only about 25%-30% of the total coconut husk (10); the remaining waste is often used for mulch and fertilizer.(24) Coir is an abundant, renewable natural resource and textiles made from coir are considered very durable and 100% biodegradable.(24) India and Sri Lanka are the main exporters of coir, followed by Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.(24) Traditional uses include floor coverings, carpets, door mats, mattress filling, ropes, and twine.

Coconut Fiber Sun Hat (Mid-20th Century) MHCTC

KAPOK comes from the seed of the Ceiba or “Silk Cotton” tree (Ceiba pentandra.) Kapok tree “fruit hairs” are packed inside a large pod which splits open when ripe. The fine, silky lustrous fibers are thermally insulating, water repellent and buoyant. These latter characteristics made kapok ideal for use in life preservers, vests and buoys. Milkweed was used as a substitute for kapok during World War II when Japan cut off the U.S. supply (28) and synthetic substitutes were developed.(26) Today, kapok fibers are used as fillers in life jackets and life belts, as stuffing for upholstery and bedding, and for acoustic and thermal insulation.(27) MILKWEED (Asciepius syriaca) is a weak, smooth fiber resembling kapok, and is obtained from large seedpods. The silky, lightweight fibers are rarely used to make clothing.(29)

Kapok Pods. Wikimedia Commons