What is the difference between natural and synthetic fibres?

Natural fibres come from plants or animals. They are made by nature!

• Some examples of natural fibres are cotton, wool, and silk.
• Cotton comes from the cotton plant.
• Wool comes from sheep.
• Silk comes from silkworms.

Example 1: A cotton T-shirt is made from natural fibre because it comes from cotton plants.

Example 2: A warm wool sweater is made from natural fibre because the wool is from sheep.

Example 3: A shiny silk dress is made from natural fibre because it is made from silkworms.

Synthetic fibres are made by people in factories. They are made from chemicals!

• Some examples of synthetic fibres are polyester, nylon, and acrylic.
• Polyester is made from plastic.
• Nylon is a special type of strong plastic.
• Acrylic looks like wool and keeps you warm.

Example 4: A raincoat made from polyester is made from synthetic fibre because it is made by people.

Example 5: A nylon backpack is made from synthetic fibre because nylon is created in factories.

Example 6: A warm acrylic blanket is made from synthetic fibre because it is made from special materials, not from animals or plants.

Fun Fact: Natural fibres are often soft and comfortable, while synthetic fibres can make clothes that dry faster and are easy to care for!

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