Natural fibre clothing australia: 7 Designer Tips for Australian women

As a designer who’s tested hundreds of fabrics in Byron Bay’s humidity, I always recommend merino wool-bamboo blends for hot yoga. My go-to is 13% merino, 87% bamboo at 180-200 GSM weight. For more premium options, visit visit yogaaustraliashop.com.

Look for these Australian brands at David Jones or online:

• Boody’s Bamboo Active Range – their leggings have strategic mesh panels at the lower back
• Nimble’s MoveLite collection – made from recycled fishing nets with natural mineral antimicrobial treatment
• Dharma Bums’ Merino Yoga Wear – ethically sourced Australian merino, naturally odour-resistant

Pro tip: Avoid light grey and marle colours – they show sweat instantly. Go for deep navy, forest green, or black with subtle texture patterns to disguise moisture.

In my experience designing for the Overland Track, seam placement is everything. Look for flatlock seams positioned forward of the shoulder joint and gusseted crotches in pants. Check out our see details for Australian women.

Essential specs for Australian conditions:

• Fabric weight: 160-180 GSM for tops, 200-220 GSM for bottoms
• Fibre blend: 70% organic cotton, 25% hemp, 5% elastane for stretch
• Construction: Tagless neck labels and cover-stitched hems

Where to buy: Kathmandu’s hemp range is surprisingly good value, or Patagonia’s hemp collection at their Sydney store. For budget options, Target’s Active Cotton range has flat seams under $40.

Fit test: Raise your arms overhead – if the hem rides up more than 5cm, size up. Natural fibres don’t have the recovery of synthetics. Check out our natural collection for Australian women.

This is the number one complaint I hear! Here’s what’s happening: most “bamboo” clothing is actually viscose rayon – a chemically processed fibre that loses 30-40% of its strength when wet.

The real culprit: Your washing machine’s spin cycle. High-speed spinning (over 800 RPM) permanently stretches natural fibres. Here’s my designer-approved fix:

• Wash cycle: Cold water, delicate cycle, maximum 600 RPM spin
• Drying: Reshape while damp, dry flat in shade – never hang wet bamboo leggings
• Prevention: Buy garments with 5% elastane or spandex for recovery

Best recovery fabrics: Look for Tencel™ lyocell instead of bamboo viscose – it’s made in a closed-loop system and retains shape beautifully. Country Road’s Active range uses it, as does Uniqlo’s AIRism cotton blend. Check out our premium natural for Australian women.

For emergency replacements (we’ve all been there!), here are my Melbourne-specific go-to spots:

Same-day delivery options:

• The Iconic – order before 2pm for Melbourne metro delivery. Search “natural fibre activewear” and filter by cotton, bamboo, merino
• David Jones – their Market Street store has Boody, Nimble, and DK Active in stock. Order online, pick up in 2 hours
• Stylerunner – based in Richmond, delivers same-day to inner suburbs. Look for “natural” filter under materials

Physical stores open late: For more premium options, visit explore yogaaustraliashop.com.

• Chadstone – Lorna Jane has a natural fibre range, open until 9pm weekdays
• Emporium Melbourne – Cotton On Body active range, affordable organic cotton options

Pro tip: Call ahead – natural fibre stock varies wildly. Ask specifically for “merino wool” or “organic cotton with elastane” to avoid the bamboo viscose trap.