Fibres are generally classified into natural and man-made categories.
Natural fibres include materials derived from plants and animals, such as cotton and wool. Cotton was the dominant fibre throughout the 1980s and 1990s, maintaining its lead until around 2002, when demand for polyester began to surpass it.
Man-made fibres are split into two main types:
Cellulose fibres, which are derived from natural sources but chemically processed.
Synthetic fibres, which are produced from petrochemicalsāpolyester being the most widely used.
Synthetic fibres, particularly polyester, have seen strong growth since their introduction. By 2019, global fibre demand surpassed 100 million tonnes, with polyester accounting for 58 million tonnes and cotton for 26 million tonnes. Consumption of nylon fibre was close to 5 million tonnes globally.
This shift reflects polyester's growing popularity due to its durability, cost-effectiveness, and wide application across industries.