Updated On: April 07, 2024 by 
Marise Sorial
Investing in luxury fabrics is an investment in comfort and quality. The majority of people choose luxury fabrics because they are made of exclusive materials, have unique designs, and there is almost no chance of anyone else wearing them.
Consider the following scenario, which most of us have encountered; when you take your favourite blouse out of the washer, and it has shrunken, that’s a bad situation, but let us tell you that the fabric here isn’t the best, and this is how you can test your clothes and know whether each item is made of a luxurious fabric that won’t shrink or fade or a regular fabric that will. However, you must first understand the care label because each luxurious fabric is washed differently. Luxurious fabrics with a higher price tag have characteristics that distinguish them from ordinary fabrics.
So, which fabrics are the most luxurious to wear? Here’s a rundown of the world’s most luxurious fabrics.
Linen
Region: France, Netherlands, and Belgium
Source: Flax plant
Of course, we must start with a well-known luxury fabric, such as linen. Unfortunately, many people are unaware that Ancient Egypt invented linen thousands of years ago.
It is made by weaving flax seed stalk fibres, giving it a delicate and one-of-a-kind texture. Everyone loves this fabric, linen; it is one of the most luxurious fabrics available, but it is one of the most widely used. Yet, it has a long history, with flax being one of the world’s oldest cultivated plants.
Japanese Denim
Region: Japan
Source: Zimbabwe cotton
While denim is a must-have in any wardrobe, you may wonder if it is a luxury fabric. Regular denim is not, but Japanese denim is, and it’s a whole different story. Japanese denim is made in the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan. Japanese denim is more of an art form than a traditional fabric.
Why is Japanese denim considered a luxury fabric? Let us explain. It is frequently regarded as a premium option due to its durability and distinctive features. Japanese denim is also frequently made using traditional techniques, such as shuttle looms to produce a tighter weave and using natural dye, which contributes to its reputation as a luxury product.
Burmese lotus flower silk
Region: Myanmar
Source: Lotus flower
The next luxury fabric has a fascinating story about how it was accidentally discovered. According to legend, a girl from a Buddhist pagoda picked a lotus flower to offer to the temple’s monk a century ago. However, she noticed a strand of fibre where the stem had been cut and wove it into a robe for the beloved monk. The practice appears to have spread throughout the temple and the Inle Lake area, which is still practised today.
Let’s go over the luxurious fabric in greater detail. Burmese lotus flower silk is silk made from the fibres of the lotus flower plant. It is distinguished by its soft, smooth texture and shining appearance. Silk fabric is made by extracting fibres from the plant’s stem and leaves and spinning them into thread. Burmese lotus flower silk is highly valued for its luxurious feel and is commonly used in the manufacture of high-end clothing and accessories.
Mulberry Silk
Region: China
Source: Mulberry tree
Mulberry silk is widely regarded as the most luxurious fabric. It is derived from Bombyx Mori silkworms, which feed on the mulberry tree leaves in China. The cocoons are collected, spun into raw fibre, and then transformed into luxurious mulberry silk. In comparison to wild silks, the fibres are pure white and completely unified.
Many people wonder why it is so expensive. Keep in mind that Mulberry silk is the rarest type of silk in the world. Of course, the manufacturing method has a significant impact on the price. Local farmers in China plant Mulberry trees on plantations to grow this silk by hand.
Mulberry silk is well-known for its luxurious feel, glossy texture, and durability. Mulberry silk is also hypoallergenic and naturally temperature-regulating, making it a popular fabric for clothing, bedding, and other household items.
Leopard Fur
Region: Africa/India
Source: Leopard
Animal rights activists will undoubtedly dislike this luxurious fabric, but it is loved by many. But, of course, we’re talking about the luxuriously soft Leopard fur. Animal cruelty and its impact on leopard populations have led to criticism of leopard fur in the fashion industry. As a result, some countries outright ban importing and selling leopard fur, while others regulate the trade.
Fur coats have been the best and most fashionable winter items for centuries because they keep you warm while also looking stylish. Leopard fur is a soft, thick coat that covers a leopard’s body. Its tawny yellow or golden colour, with black rosettes or spots, is what makes it so popular. Most leopard furs sold today are “faux leopard,” which has the same texture and appearance as real leopard fur but does not endanger the animals.
Cervelt
Region: New Zealand
Source: Red deer
Cervelt is a truly luxurious fabric. Cervelt is a synthetic fabric composed of acrylic and microfiber fibres. It is well-known for its soft texture as well as its ability to keep heat. Cervelt, because of its durability and resistance to wrinkling and pilling, is a popular choice for those looking for a long-lasting fabric. It is also easily maintained because it can be machine washed and dried.
The fascinating story behind the luxury fabric is that New Zealand is a remote corner of the globe. The local population had to adapt to being isolated and enduring the chill winds blowing in from Antarctica. In a harsh winter, the only way to survive is to have a good temperature-regulating coat, which comes from the country’s red deer population. Cervalt is a fibre derived from the red deer coat. It’s a soft fabric like cashmere but extremely rare, with only 20 grammes collected from a deer yearly.
Baby Cashmere
Region: Mongolia and Northern China
Source: Baby Capra hircus
A luxurious fabric that queens and kings prefer. The Baby Cashmere is a luxurious fabric that will make you feel like royalty. So why is it called Baby Cashmere? Baby cashmere can be obtained from Baby Capra hircus, also known as cashmere goats.
Baby cashmere is a luxuriously soft wool derived from the undercoats of young cashmere goats. Its softness, warmth, and durability make it popular for clothing, blankets, and other textiles. However, the luxury fabric is extremely rare because it can only be obtained from goats aged 6 to 12 months once, even though each goat produces around 30 grammes of fibre.
Baby cashmere is made in Mongolia and northern China from the under fleece of Hircus baby goats. Beautiful fibre requires precise and timely handling, which is typically accomplished by brushing baby goats. Each goat can only produce 80 grammes of this fibre, leaving only 30-40 grammes usable after brushing procedures.
Shahtoosh
Region: Tibet
Source: Chiru
This luxury fabric is considered rare or difficult to find. The shahtoosh is a Nepalese and Indian fabric woven from the down hair of Tibetan antelopes known as chiru. Because of its luxurious nature, shahtoosh is known as the “King of Fine Wool,” It is used to make $5,000 shawls. The shawls are only known to be woven by master weavers from Kashmir, so if you are lucky enough to get one, know for sure that you are wearing a work of art.
Shahtoosh fabric is highly valued for its softness and warmth and has been worn by Himalayan royalty and nobility for centuries. However, due to the endangered status of the Tibetan antelope, international trade in shahtoosh shawls has been prohibited, and it is illegal in many countries to possess or sell shahtoosh. In addition, illegal hunting for Tibetan antelope fur has significantly impacted the species, and measures to protect it are ongoing.
Guanaco
Region: Peru, Argentina, Chile
Source: Guanaco
Guanaco Wool is well-known as a luxury fabric made from the fur of the Guanaco, a wild camel found in South American mountainous coastal regions such as Peru, Argentina, and Chile. The wool is reddish and double-coated, with a thick furry overcoat and a soft downy coat beneath. Guanaco is a protected species that has become extremely rare as a result of its history of being hunted for its wool and meat.
Guanacos are now caught and sheered by fibre collectors who know when to do so without harming the animals. Unlike the closely related llamas and alpacas, guanacos are not bred or raised for their wool.
Vicuña Wool
Region: Peru
Source: Vicuña
The Vicuña Wool, also known as the “fibre of God,” is the most expensive wool in the world, which is why we had to include it as a luxurious fabric. It is derived from the Vicuña sheep, which can be shorn only once every three years in Peru’s Central Andes.
The hand-looming process for this luxury fabric is also time-consuming and costly. Previously, the material could only be obtained from the animal’s back and neck and was only available to Incan royalty.
The Vicua sheep, a cousin of the llama, is an endangered species because they were nearly hunted to extinction in the last century. The sheep population has only recently recovered enough for the harvest to resume, and the process is strictly regulated.
Pashmina
Region: India
Source: Changthangi goat
The last luxury fabric on our list is Pashmina, which derives its name from the Persian word “pashm,” which means “wool,” and yes, we are referring to the well-known shawl material.
Pashmina is a fabric made from an ultra-fine version of spun cashmere wool, with animal hairs sourced from the fluffy, soft undercoat of the Changthangi goat in India. Every Spring, Changthangi goats shed their smooth coats, giving fibre collectors plenty of opportunities to source this incredible wool.
Microns are used to measure the wool’s fineness. Despite coming from the same goat family, regular cashmere can be as thick as 21 microns, while pashmina cannot be thicker than 16.
Which of These Luxury Fabrics Would You Like to Have in Your Closet?
After learning about the top 11 luxury fabrics and the fascinating stories behind how they were discovered or made, we’re sure you’re even more convinced that you need to buy a piece of clothing made with one of these fabrics. The question is which luxury fabric you will choose as a new addition to your wardrobe.
