Fox, an entomologist specializing in integrated pest management and a weaver and spinner herself, began Rayon Fabric her own breeding program to improve the spinning properties of the short-fiber brown cotton.

During her third year of research, Fox discovered shades of green, red and pink fibers hidden within the brown cotton. Upon that discovery, she began FoxFibre and a new business, Natural Cotton Colours.

At that point, the breeding program not only focused on improving fiber length, but also on increasing the number of colors available.

FoxFibre has already developed a range of fiber types and shades of greens and browns. Fox hopes to have red and gold varieties ready soon—maybe even a blue.

For consumers, theses colored cotton fibers can now be spun and made into finished fabrics without the use of chemicals, such as dyes and detergents. In fact, farmers under contract to cultivate this special cotton use only organic gardening methods.

FoxFibre fabrics are amazingly colorfast and durable. Research shows naturally-colored cottons actually intensify, not fade, when laundered.

Another benefit is that clothes made with FoxFibre tend to retain their fresh, new look for a longer time.

Until recently, no one paid much attention to Fox’s research until Levi Strauss & Co. began buying FoxFibre Suede Fabric knittingfabric.cc for an all-natural line of causal clothing.