A fiber made of two or more mixed fibers is called what?

A fiber made of two or more mixed fibers is called a blend. In textiles, the term also describes yarn or fabric produced by combining different fiber types to achieve particular qualities, appearances, or costs.

Blending can happen during several stages of textile production, including fiber preparation and yarn spinning. Cotton and polyester are a familiar example: cotton contributes softness and comfort, while polyester can improve durability, wrinkle resistance, dimensional stability, and affordability. Adding spandex to cotton creates stretch, which is useful in activewear and fitted clothing.

Blends have a long history. Mashru, a silk-and-cotton fabric associated with 16th-century India, is an early example of mixed cloth, while siamoise combined cotton and linen in the 17th century. In the 19th century, “union” or “union fabric” was used for blended textiles, though that term is now largely obsolete.

A blend is not the same as a combination yarn, where separate strands are twisted together, or mixed cloth, where different yarns may be used in the warp and weft. The exact percentage of each fiber matters because it affects care instructions, feel, strength, stretch, and performance.