Tencel fabric, commercially known as Tencel Lyocell, is a plant-based fabric made from eucalyptus wood. A soft fabric sought after by many fashion designers for being highly organic.

Thanks to this 100% sustainable innovation for our environment, so far in a small percentage, biodegradable fibres do not pollute the earth, but instead rejoin it without contributing to pollution.

What is Tencel fabric?

This cotton-like cellulose fibre offers plenty of quality in its texture, making it ideal for making garments because it allows moisture to pass through its fibres to the outside.

Because it is made from recycled fibres, it does not have a negative impact on the environment. Even during the spinning process when it is manufactured, the water is recycled, keeping the fabric recyclable.

This fabric was first used in the United States in the early 1970s. And the reason it is so popular is its great potential, providing extreme strength. In addition, because it is natural, it has a soft weave that is ideal for people with sensitive skin.

Being highly flexible as well, it has the ability to be transformed into incredible garment designs and to be produced with conventional machines, blending it with other fibres, significantly improving its comfort.

The pigmented colour in the fibres retains the colour for a long time, even longer than the usually dyed fibre, and after several washes still keeps the pigment.

Tencel fabric is innovation, sustainability and biodegradability. The best choice for sensitive skin and for our planet, being a material obtained entirely from nature.

How is Tencel produced?

In the manufacture of all the components used the environment is not harmed because everything is of organic and recycled origin. Eucalyptus wood residues are used, however, oak or birch residues can also be used.

Then, the pulp is extracted and the fibres are produced. So this fabric is made from recycled wood fibres and, because it is composed of a biodegradable material, it will become part of the earth over time.

Its entire production takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes, from the time the wood is extracted to the carding process, where the fibres are mixed. All this production, compared to other processes, only uses energy and water.

Eucalyptus or oak wood can be said to be completely healthy and free of harmful by-products, because it is extracted from tree plantations where the application of pesticides is not necessary.

And by not using toxic pesticides, it does not significantly increase pollution,

What type of material is Tencel?

The fibres are highly transformable, because they can be blended with a wide variety of textile fibres. In this group we can find acrylic, cotton, wool, silk, and polyester. It is advisable to combine Tencel fibre with silk to perfect its aesthetics and improve its functionality.

However, it is important to note that the fibre offers great resistance, wicks moisture away and provides extreme softness. In addition to being sustainable, silky, durable and biodegradable.

In fact, the fibre can also be obtained in other ways, however, it is less practical.

Now that you know where this amazing fibre comes from, we recommend you buy garments of this type to avoid the spread of environmental pollution caused by the excessive consumption of non-biodegradable garments.

Benefits of Tencel

• Environmentally friendly: it requires a minimal use of water and energy for its manufacture, as well as being biodegradable and sustainable. It does not increase pollution, being a material that can be recycled.

• Cool, for those who feel the heat: thanks to its absorption capacity in the presence of moisture, it will help keep you cool even on the sunniest and hottest days.

• Kind to your skin: there will be no more skin irritations thanks to its softness. Suffering from scratchy fabrics will come to an end, because it is produced with the purpose of not harming your skin. To perfect its softness even further, the fibre can be blended with cotton and silk fibres.

• It neither wrinkles nor shrinks: one of its great benefits is that it does not wrinkle easily and ironing is no longer necessary. Simply air drying and folding your garments or sheets as you normally do will be more than enough.

• Machine washable: it does not require any special care, you can wash your sheets as usual. However, we recommend washing in cold water and using the dryer at a low temperature, as this helps the fabric and the colour last much longer.

• If you buy Tencel sheets, for example, you will sleep better: it is proven that during those hot nights it is better to have sheets made of this fabric on your bed. Because of their ability to adjust body temperature, keeping you cool and sweat-free all night long. All your nights will be cooler!

This fabric is highly recommended due to its capacity for absorption and durability, this capacity being even much higher than that of linen and cotton.

Why is Tencel so important?

This does not end here! the possibilities this fibre has are really diverse. There are towel factories where the fibre is Tencel. There is also sportswear and underwear, but this fibre is much more common in the production of home textiles and in the fashion world.

We must emphasise that it is not the only type of fabric that exists in the world, there are various types whose sustainability is also affected by massive production and the amount of toxic chemicals needed for the fibres.

Worst of all, fabric remains can reach the water, polluting it and accumulating over time, since they are not biodegradable.

For this reason, it is so important to raise our awareness of the pollution that certain fabrics cause and to opt for fabrics that do not affect the environment on a massive scale, causing terrible, almost irreparable consequences. In addition, bet on slow fashion.

Conclusion

Now that you know where it comes from, its possibilities and its advantages, do not hesitate any longer to buy highly biodegradable garments and textiles such as Tencel. We recommend you not to buy clothes that you do not need and that you stop wearing after a short time. A first step is to start swapping the basic clothes in your capsule wardrobe for sustainable fashion.

Look for the best alternative by always choosing ecological and sustainable clothing, buying clothes in second-hand shops and building a new wardrobe with sustainable fabrics.

Do you dare to use Tencel fabric?