A novel intra-ply woven fabric polyester composite with glass fibre yarns in one direction and natural fibre yarns in another direction of basket-type woven fabric has been investigated for mechanical and dynamic mechanical characteristics. Individual glass fibre woven fabric, natural fibres woven fabric and intra-ply natural fibres woven fabric composites are also investigated for the comparison purpose. Results reveal that the intra-ply woven fabric hybridization enhances impact and damping properties of the composite significantly than the tensile and flexural properties. Intra-ply woven fabrics with glass fibre yarns in warp direction and jute fibre yarns in weft direction (WGWJ) exhibit better impact properties compared with woven fabric with other combinations. Dynamic mechanical analysis results reveal that intra-ply woven fabric composite with glass fibre yarns in warp direction and jute and banana fibre yarns in weft direction (WGWJAB) gives higher damping characteristics due to the multi-level interaction between fibre–fibre and fibre–matrix interactions. © 2017, Indian Academy of Sciences.