In an embodiment, an article comprises an infrared blocking layer comprising a host material (18) and a plurality of composite fibers (20); wherein each of the composite fibers of the plurality of composite fibers comprises a contrast material and a matrix material; wherein the contrast material forms a photonic crystal in the matrix material that when exposed to an infrared radiation manifests a photonic band gap. In another embodiment, a method of making an article comprises mixing a host material or a host polymer precursor and a plurality of composite fibers to form a mixture; and forming an infrared blocking layer from the mixture. In another embodiment, a method of making an article comprises one or both of forming a layered stack and co-extruding a host layer, a fiber layer, and an optional polymer layer.