Environmentally friendly, colorful, and flexible electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-ochre (Oc) nanofibers (as-spun, stabilized) with very high flame resistance (heat release capacity of 24-143 J g(-1) K-1, total heat release of 2.1-8.7 kJ g(-1), char yield of 55-74%, limiting oxygen index of 22.5-34.5%) and mechanical properties (ultimate tensile strength of 80-177 MPa) were produced using a mineral, non-toxic, economic Oc and CNT in 1% CNTs and 10% Oc based on polymer concentration from a predominant synergistic effect between CNTs and Oc. This approach using a mineral material is an environmentally friendly method which may possibly solve a number of problems related to materials science and economics such as improving a flame resistance and lowering the cost for various applications in automobile, protective textile, and other areas. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.