Warmer weather is finally here, and with it comes the need to stay cool without compromising on comfort or style.
When temperatures rise, natural fabrics become your ultimate choice for warm weather – they’re light, breathable and feel wonderfully gentle against the skin. From bamboo to light organic cotton, discover why natural fabrics are the best clothing materials for hot weather and the ones you’ll reach for when the sun shines.
What are natural fabrics?
Natural fabrics are materials that come from the world around us – from plants, animals, or minerals. There are plenty of options to choose from – take a look at some of our favourites below.
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What are the best fabrics to wear in hot weather?
Natural fibres are some of the best clothing materials for hot weather. Discover the ones that make our list of summer favourites.
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Cotton
One of the most-loved breathable fabrics for summer, cotton tops, skirts and dresses are everyday essentials. Cotton comes from the seed coat of the cotton plant, and is naturally renewable and biodegradable. It’s also a wonderful choice for sensitive skin because it’s hypoallergenic – not to mention soft, breathable and comfortable to wear in warm weather. For an even more conscious choice, you might prefer organic cotton. If cotton is organic, it means it was grown from non-genetically modified seeds (GMO-free) and farmed using more eco‑friendly methods such as crop rotation to help keep the soil – and the planet – healthy.
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Silk
Real silk has a way of making you feel instantly special. Effortlessly lightweight and luxurious, it flows beautifully around your body and is perfect for flowy kaftans and pretty scarves. Silk also has natural temperature-regulating properties, helping to keep you cool in summer and comfortably warm when the seasons change.
Linen
Linen’s breathable qualities make it a delight to wear and one of the best materials for hot weather. Naturally durable, it softens every time you wash and wear it, giving it that easy, lived‑in feel we love. What makes it even better is that the flax plant from which it comes needs little water to grow, making it a thoughtful, eco-conscious choice.
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Bamboo
Bamboo is a fast-growing plant, with some species capable of growing up to 35 inches in a single day. Beautifully soft, bamboo viscose is made by crushing the woody part of the plant and re-forming the pulp into fibres. Silky smooth against your skin, bamboo is perfect all year round because it offers excellent thermal regulation, keeping you cool in summer and warm in winter.
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Wool
You might think wool is better saved for the colder months, but lightweight wool can be surprisingly comfortable in warm weather. Naturally good at regulating body temperature, wool can absorb up to 30% of its own weight in moisture (twice as much as cotton) – helping you stay dry and comfortable as the heat rises. For effortless layering, look for fine or even extrafine styles and stay comfortable through the seasons ahead. Discover more layering ideas in our blog post.
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Why are natural fibres the best fabrics to wear in hot weather?
Natural fabrics are widely considered the best fabrics to wear in hot weather because they’re breathable, soft and effortlessly comfortable. Let’s take a closer look at why they work so well in the heat and are a favourite choice all year round.
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Beautifully breathable
Natural fibres are excellent for keeping us cool and make some of the best breathable fabrics for summer. They allow air to flow rather than trapping heat or moisture, keeping you cool and fresh even on the hottest days.
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Kind to sensitive skin
If you have sensitive skin or allergies – or just love the feel of gentle fibres – natural fibres are a wonderfully comfortable choice. Natural fabrics like silk and organic cotton are often chosen by people with sensitive skin because they’re less likely to irritate.
Softness
There's nothing better than the feel of soft fabrics next to your skin, and natural fabrics are loved for their softness. From smooth bamboo to soft, lived-in linen, natural fabrics bring that comfortable feeling you reach for on warm days.
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Kind to our planet
We know making thoughtful, sustainable choices matters to you, and opting for natural fibres is another good choice you can make for the planet. Almost all are renewable and biodegradable, and fabrics like bamboo and linen need very little water to grow, so they have less impact on the environment than some synthetic alternatives. Discover more about the sustainable choices that helped us win a King's Award.
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Long lasting
We believe in the motto ‘buy once, buy well’, and natural fabrics truly embody it, offering durability, comfort and a quality that stands the test of time. Fabrics like cotton, bamboo and linen feel gentle but last and last, so you can enjoy them for many seasons to come.
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Choose natural fabrics with David Nieper
Longer, lighter days are made even better by natural fabrics that feel wonderful to wear. Beautifully light, breathable and gentle, they keep you cool whatever your plans, so you can make the most of every day in the sun.
Discover our latest collection of natural fabrics – from soft organic cotton and gentle linen to silky bamboo – all designed in relaxed shapes that make summer dressing feel effortless.
And if you’d like to browse at your leisure, why not request your free catalogue to explore the newest styles.