Natural fibers in our clothing has always been the preferred materials due to the strength of the fibers and the comfortable feel of the garment. Cotton and linen feel so good against our skin that we are willing to pay a higher price for that comfort when it looks good. We are now seeing those "feel good" natural fibers in many of our wardrobe accessories. Fiber knitted winter scarves are so popular today because the beautiful yarns make this an accent piece to be worn with or without heavy coats or jackets. They are not only eye-catching but warm and soft.
Popular felted accessory pieces are being seen in knitted hats, gloves, slippers, purses, and more. Felting is achieved with only certain wools, but it still knitted, washed and dried before the product is finished. Since felting a knitted item is shrunk in the washing and drying process, it has to be knitted as a much larger item. If you have ever seen a knitted pair of slippers before felting takes place, you would wonder if they are made for giant feet not normal human feet.
Fiber accessories are also finding their way into other mediums: Fiber jewelry. Fiber necklaces have recently become very fashionable as many different types of fibers and yarns are being combined with beads (in many cases) to make very striking and interesting accessories. With metallic fibers incorporated into many of the yarns today, these sparkly yarns have added new dimension to the interest in fiber jewelry. Hemp is still used in many fiber necklaces but many of the newer fiber necklaces show more varied textures and vibrant colors. The simple little eye-lash yarns have added that sloppy yet sophisticated look to these interesting necklaces. Yarns that have names that describe them so well (such as ladder yarn, butterfly yarn, railroad tie yarn, firefly yarn, slub yarn, flag yarn, metallic yarn, squiggle yarn, and the list goes on) add extra depth and interest in the texture. Where these get interesting is in the combining and winding of these different fiber types to get creative and colorful Fiber Necklaces.
The newest fiber accessory to hit the market is the fiber earring. Feathers have long been used for adding interest to earrings, but fiber earrings using yarn fibers in something altogether different. By taking the unusual new fibers on the market (many mentioned above) and combining them with beads and gold or silver earring findings makes a very interesting and eye-catching accessory. These are very different (though chic and distinctive) and may have strong appeal to the woman with flair.
