Natural
Materials

SOFILA works with all materials, and its history began with a natural material, silk, in the 19th century.
Natural materials come directly, without chemical transformation, from materials existing in nature. There are two kinds of natural materials: animal or vegetal.

Natural materials of
animal origin

Silk

Silk is produced by the mulberry silkworm as it makes its cocoon. This continuous filament is very long and soft. SOFILA works with different types of silk:

  • Raw silk: This is the raw silk directly from the cocoon. SOFILA offers to twist, assemble or cover this thread to prepare it for different uses.
  • “Degummed” silk: This is raw silk from which the excess animal fat (the “gristle”) has been removed, making it softer but also more fragile. SOFILA carries out this degumming operation and then processes the silk by assembling, twisting or covering.
matière naturelle

Characteristics:

  • Mainly used for garments.
  • Can also be used for medical purposes.
  • Titles worked: mainly 22 dtex for raw silk, with the possibility of assembly to increase thickness.

Wool

SOFILA works with different types of wool, more occasionally because twisting operations are rarely necessary for this material. However, SOFILA offers assemblies based on cashmere (or other fragile fibers), in particular to protect cashmere (which is very fragile).

matière naturelle

Characteristics :

  • Cashmere: SOFILA protects this fragile fiber by combining it with a soluble synthetic, allowing the thread to be worked without damaging it.

Applications :

  • Specific assemblies to guarantee the resistance and preserve the quality of fragile fibers.

Natural materials of plant origin

Natural fibers of vegetal origin come from plants. These fibers are grouped together by spinners to form yarns. SOFILA works with these materials throughout the year.

Cotton

The main plant material, cotton is distinguished by the length of its fiber and the spinning processes used. SOFILA collaborates with partners around the world to source quality cotton, tailored to the needs of its customers:

  • Long fiber cotton.
  • American or Egyptian cotton.
  • Variants: combed or not.
  • Organic cotton: from sustainable agriculture, limiting the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
matière naturelle

Characteristics :

  • Assembling or coverings: SOFILA often combines cotton with elastane to improve comfort.

Applications :

  • Clothing
  • Technical yarns

Linen and Hemp

These materials are gaining in popularity for their many applications, whether in clothing or technical yarns.
The fibers obtained are often thicker than cotton, but have unique properties:

  • Linen: natural, resistant, absorbent
  • Hemp: similar to linen, with characteristics of robustness.
matière naturelle

Characteristics :

  • SOFILA offers innovative combinations of these fibers with synthetic materials, creating thermoplastic or technical products