In recent years, Lyocell has become a sought-after material in the fashion and textile industry due to its sustainable and environmentally friendly production process. The fabric is soft and breathable, feeling comfortable and wicking away moisture. For these reasons, it becomes ideal for a variety of uses, from clothing to home textiles. Although this environmentally friendly fabric is not used as widely as polyester and cotton, its increasing frequency of use has become a general trend. So, what is Lyocell fabric? And how can we properly care for it?
Introduction to Lyocell Fabric
What is Lyocell Fabric?
Lyocell fabric is a type of rayon made from plant-based and eco-friendly materials, making it generally more environmentally friendly than synthetic fibers like polyester. In the 1980s, Courtaulds Fibres in the UK created and produced lyocell fibres for the first time under the name TencelTM. For decades, many fabric manufacturers have been developing Lyocell, which has been widely applied in the garment industry, particularly in women's clothing. So, what is Lyocell fabric made of?
Lyocell is a man-made fabric, but it's still derived from plant-based materials - so what is Lyocell made of? The primary raw material is wood pulp (usually eucalyptus), sourced from sustainable tree farms to ensure environmental friendliness. If you want to find this kind of fabric, Regen-Tech Fabrics' Cloudure Lyocell series is a rayon made from wood pulp.
Advantages of Lyocell
Lyocell stands out in modern textiles for its balance of comfort, sustainability, and performance. Made from sustainably sourced wood pulp, it offers a silky-smooth touch with excellent breathability, making it ideal for both casual and performance wear. Its natural moisture management keeps the skin feeling fresh, while the fiber’s inherent strength ensures long-lasting durability. Unlike many synthetic fabrics, Lyocell is biodegradable, reducing its environmental footprint and aligning with the growing demand for eco-friendly fashion.
Why It’s Gaining Popularity
One of the main reasons why Lyocell is widely used in many products in the industry today is it has a very smooth feel. Best of all, it's noticeably breathable, making it perfect for warm and moist climates, as well as hot summer days. Therefore, it is a very affordable option for quality, close-to-skin clothing.
It has a lower environmental impact and uses less water and fewer chemicals than other fabrics. Lyocell fibers are widely used in the fashion and home textile industries, and are particularly popular in sportswear and sleepwear due to their skin-friendly properties.
How is Lyocell Made?
You may be surprised by how wood pulp can be transformed into a silk-like fabric used in various everyday clothing items. This occurs not by magic, but through scientific and practical processes that require complex techniques. Lyocell is a manmade fiber derived from cellulose. This production process includes five steps in total:
1. Dissolution: Pulp fibers are dissolved in a solution with NMMO to create a thick liquid.
2. Filtration: The thick liquid is filtered to remove any large particles.
3. Spinning and Regeneration: The liquid is pushed through a spinneret and forms fibers in an air gap before being solidified in a bath.
4. Washing: The lyocell fibers are washed to remove leftover NMMO, which is then recycled.
5. Finishing: The fibers are treated with bleaching, finishing, and drying processes.
Is Lyocell a Good Fabric?
Many people may have doubted whether this pulp-based textile is a suitable quality fabric for clothing such as sportswear or activewear. After all, the rough, hard touch of wood is entirely different from silk, which is smooth and soft. Besides, is it healthy for human skin and eco-friendly to the environment? How is it compared to other textiles? Now let's take a look at all these questions:
Sustainability and Comfort
Lyocell is processed using artificial solvents and products, first turning it into a sticky substance and then into white fibers that are spun into yarn. This property gives us sustainability and comfort, but is it a panacea for eco-friendly sheets? No. However, it is a step in the right direction, and there is still considerable room for Lyocell fibers to become an even more environmentally friendly option.
Moisture-Wicking and Breathability
The Lyocell fiber is breathable and moisture-absorbent due to its smooth surface and tiny pore structure, which is formed during the manufacturing process, making it particularly suitable for sports and everyday wear. It provides high moisture absorption, even surpassing that of cotton. If you sweat a lot or have sensitive skin, then it should be your first choice. The same applies if you live in a rainy, humid climate.
Durability Compared to Other Eco-Fabrics
Lyocell is an excellent fabric for a wide range of clothing types, but it is essential to consider its drawbacks, specifically fibrillation. Lyocell fabrics are relatively resistant to washing and will fibrillate after repeated washings, with a fluffy and whitened feel (which we'll talk about later in detail). For years, Lyocell manufacturers have been investing effort and money in improving the fibrillation resistance of this fabric.
So, which Lyocell fabrics are more durable? Regen-Tech's Cloudure Lyocell series has this feature, it improves the fibrillation problem through a unique dyeing and finishing process and making the fabric soft and not deformed. After 30 washes, it still looks like new.
Does Lyocell Fabric Shrink?
Shrinkage Concerns and Care Tips
And about does lyocell fabric shrink? The answer is yes. When washed gently, you can expect lyocell to shrink around 3% in the first wash and then resist shrinking from there on. And it does shrink more drastically when it is exposed to high temperatures during washing or drying You should hand wash or wash clothes in cold water instead of using a dryer, especially clothes made entirely of Lyocell. Also, try to minimize ironing.
How to Prevent Shrinking Lyocell Fabric
To reduce shrinkage, proper washing and care are essential. It is important to hand wash in cold or warm water and tumble dry at low temperatures, rather than high temperatures. Proper washing can help extend the life of Lyocell and preserve its original shape, reducing unnecessary shrinkage.
Is Lyocell Fabric Stretchy?
Stretchability of Lyocell and Its Comfort Features
Despite its soft, delicate look, lyocell is also known for its stretchability and flexibility. Because of its flexibility, this fibre can better adjust to the movements of the body and is more pleasant to wear. However, it is important to note that the degree of stretch may vary depending on the specific blend or construction of the fabric.
Comparing Lyocell’s Stretch with Other Fabrics
Lyocell fabric offers moderate stretchability, making it a comfortable and flexible choice for various applications. While it doesn't have the same level of stretch as some synthetic fabrics like spandex, it does possess a slight natural stretch due to its cellulose-based composition. Natural fibers like cotton and linen, while breathable and soft, tend to offer little to no stretch unless blended with synthetic materials. Cotton, for example, provides durability but lacks the elastic properties that Lyocell offers. And fabrics like polyester, often blended with spandex, can provide more stretch compared to Lyocell, but without the same level of moisture-wicking and breathability Lyocell provides.
What is Lyocell Used For?
Common Applications of Lyocell
Lyocell fiber has the characteristics of comfortable touch, good breathability and environmental protection. Because of this feature, it is widely used in fashion, home textile and other industries. It has become a popular choice of fabric for making close-fitting bottoming shirts, wide-leg pants, vests, yoga clothes and other clothing.
Lyocell in the Fashion and Home Textiles Industry
Lyocell has become a popular material in both the fashion and home textiles industries due to its unique combination of comfort, breathability, and sustainability. Its exceptional moisture absorption properties allow it to wick away moisture from the skin, making it perfect for activewear and warmer climates.
The fabric's breathable structure helps regulate body temperature, ensuring comfort in both summer and winter garments. Although Lyocell fabric has excellent moisture absorption properties, it can become weaker and lose strength when wet. Care must be taken during washing and drying to maintain its integrity.
The Challenge of Fibrillation in Lyocell
This is one of the important characteristics of Lyocell fiber. Due to the unique highly crystalline structure of Lyocell fiber and the weak lateral connection between the grains, local separation of fiber elements occurs on the fiber surface, that is, fibrillation. Due to fibrillation, the technical challenges of Lyocell fiber in fabric and garment processing are much higher than other regenerated cellulose fibers.
In order to achieve overall success in the textile industry, it is crucial to have a deep understanding of these issues, which will help overcome this difficulty. The fiber lock protection of our Cloudure Lyocell Series can well inhibit fibrillation and prevent pilling
What Is Fibrillation and Why It Matters
Common Complaints in Traditional Lyocell
Fiberization refers to the formation of tiny fiber balls on the surface of the fiber during washing or friction, which usually occurs in high humidity environments or after repeated washing. Fiberization will undoubtedly affect the appearance and touch of the fabric, making the clothes look rougher. Therefore, for Lyocell fiber, the problem of fiberization is very important, which directly affects the durability and comfort of the fabric.
How the Industry Is Addressing It
The industry has long paid attention to this problem and has solved this defect by improving the production process to maintain the high quality and functionality of Lyocell fiber.
The Breakthrough: Next-Generation Fibrillation-Resistant Lyocell
Advanced Finishing and Fiber Structure
With the development of the times and the advancement of science and technology, a new generation of anti-fiberization Lyocell fiber named Cloudure was born in response to consumer demand. Optimized fiber finishing technology and structural optimization make new lyocell fibers more washable and smoother.
Ideal for Washing Durability and Surface Smoothness
Compared with other fabrics, Lyocell fabrics are not as durable to washing, and their durability is also affected by the washing method. After multiple washings, the fiber surface may become rough, the fabric may harden, fade or change color. The Cloudure Lyocell Series uses an exclusive fiber-locking process to maintain its natural luster and prevent it from aging after washing.
Setting a New Standard in the Lyocell Market
This innovation has brought Lyocell fiber to a new level in terms of durability and environmental protection, becoming a new benchmark in the industry and promoting the sustainable development of the Lyocell fiber market.
Conclusion
Balancing Eco-Friendliness with Performance
Cloudure Lyocell Series Lyocell fabric balances eco-friendliness and performance by using sustainable materials and exclusive fiber locking technology while offering comfort, durability, and breathability.
Why Fibrillation-Resistant Lyocell Is the Next Step Forward
Anti-fibrillation Lyocell is the next step in textile innovation, improving fiber pilling and pilling. This breakthrough technology improves the durability of clothing fabrics, which means that the fabric can remain smooth and beautiful even after many washes. And by enhancing its anti-fibrillation ability, the new generation of Lyocell fiber maintains its comfort and environmental advantages, making it a good choice for sustainable and high-performance fabrics.