Provided are MOF-fabric composites having a crystalline MOF adhered directly to fibers of the fabric and methods of making MOF-fabric composites. A solution is adsorbed onto a fabric. The solution can include a metal salt, a linker, and a solvent. The solution is adsorbed onto the fabric and the fabric suspended over a heated vapor. The vapor releases onto the fabric, causing the metal salt, the linker, and the solvent to diffuse out of the polymer fibers. The linker links metal from the metal salts to form crystals attached to the fabric, and the vapor aids crystallization.