A process for the preparation of a microfibrous non-woven fabric, comprising the steps of: a) preparing a bicomponent fibre of the island-sea type, in which the sea component is a polymer that is removable in hot water or in an aqueous alkaline solution; b) preparing a felt by needle-punching the bicomponent fibre of the "island-in-the-sea" type; c) performing hot impregnation of said felt with an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) having a degree of saponification of at least 94%, possibly supplemented with a water-soluble organic or inorganic salt; d) removing the sea component from the felt impregnated with PVA as obtained in step c), by contact of the felt with an aqueous basic solution of an alkaline or alkaline earth hydroxide, thereby obtaining a microfibrous intermediate product; e) washing the microfibrous intermediate product of point d) with neutral water containing a water-soluble organic or inorganic salt or with acidic water or, if the aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) of step c) is supplemented with a water-soluble organic or inorganic salt, with neutral water; f) performing cold impregnation of the microfibrous intermediate product specified in point e) with a polyurethane (PU) dispersed in water containing additives for adjusting viscosity and possible water-soluble substances; g) fixing the PU to the microfibrous intermediate product by means of coagulation of the PU dispersion and subsequent drying; h) removing the PVA added at point c), the salt possibly added at point c) and/or e) and the additives added at point f); i) subjecting the material thus obtained to cutting, buffing, on one or both sides, and dyeing. a) preparing a bicomponent fibre of the island-sea type, in which the sea component is a polymer that is removable in hot water or in an aqueous alkaline solution; b) preparing a felt by needle-punching the bicomponent fibre of the "island-in-the-sea" type; c) performing hot impregnation of said felt with an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) having a degree of saponification of at least 94%, possibly supplemented with a water-soluble organic or inorganic salt; d) removing the sea component from the felt impregnated with PVA as obtained in step c), by contact of the felt with an aqueous basic solution of an alkaline or alkaline earth hydroxide, thereby obtaining a microfibrous intermediate product; e) washing the microfibrous intermediate product of point d) with neutral water containing a water-soluble organic or inorganic salt or with acidic water or, if the aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) of step c) is supplemented with a water-soluble organic or inorganic salt, with neutral water; f) performing cold impregnation of the microfibrous intermediate product specified in point e) with a polyurethane (PU) dispersed in water containing additives for adjusting viscosity and possible water-soluble substances; g) fixing the PU to the microfibrous intermediate product by means of coagulation of the PU dispersion and subsequent drying; h) removing the PVA added at point c), the salt possibly added at point c) and/or e) and the additives added at point f); i) subjecting the material thus obtained to cutting, buffing, on one or both sides, and dyeing. <EOS>