How to Identify Vintage Textile Fibers
Marcus Reid·Published
Why Fiber ID Matters
Identifying fiber content determines cleaning, storage, and value. Natural fibers age differently from synthetics.
Visual Inspection
- Silk: smooth luster, warm, fine threads
- Wool: matte, slight fuzz, elastic
- Cotton: flat matte, crisp, no stretch
- Linen: slubby, cool, visible nodes
The Burn Test
- Protein (silk, wool): burning hair smell, crushable black bead
- Cellulose (cotton, linen): burning paper, light ash
- Synthetic: melt into hard plastic beads
