What is Modal Fabric?
What is Modal?
A form of rayon, modal is a bio-based fabric that is made from spinning beech tree cellulose into fibres. Generally considered to be an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fabrics thanks to how little water beech trees need to grow, the modal production process uses between 10 to 20 times less water than cotton.
Beech Trees? Does it make nice fabric?
The fabric produced from beech trees is not only incredibly soft but has some great properties. Scroll down to find out more.
The Benefits Of Modal Fabric
Natural stretch
Modal’s flexibility makes it ideal for items like T-shirts and athletic wear.
Ultra-soft
Modal has an incredibly soft touch.
Breathable
Modal is great for sportswear, base layers, T-shirts and underwear as the fabric’s weave is very breathable.
Water absorbent
Modal is 50% more absorbent than cotton.
Durable
Modal is very strong because of the tight weave and the long fibres.
Drapes well
Similar to rayon and other silk alternatives, modal has a beautiful drape that makes it an ideal choice for our products.
Eco-friendly
Modal is made from regenerative plants and there are fewer chemicals used in the production process than with other types of rayon.
Doesn’t pill
The fabric resists pilling and has a smooth finish that makes it ideal for everyday wear and use.
Colour-fast
The fabric absorbs dye in warm water and the colour doesn’t run during the laundering process.
Doesn’t shrink
Unlike most forms of rayon, modal is much less likely to shrink in the wash.
Doesn’t crease
Modal resists wrinkles and will stay smooth with minimal ironing.
How is Modal made?
Wood - Pulp
Trees are harvested to become wood chips the size of postage stamps which are then processed to become a honey-like syrup.
Pulp - Fibre
The syrup is then poured through a colander to create continuous filaments that will be twisted into threads.
Fibre - Fabric
The threads are then knitted with wool, cotton and elastane to become our finished fabrics.
Where do we source our beech trees from?
Beech forests thrive in Northern and Central Europe. They are a natural and sustainable source for our products as they do not require artificial irrigation or planting. More than half the wood used in our products come from Austria, with a smaller part coming from other European countries.
How do we ensure quality?
We only use Lenzing's trademarked: TENCEL™Modal in our fabrics as they not only produce a quality product and have been Awarded the EU Ecolabel but they only:
- Source wood sustainably
- Continue to work towards lowering their emissions
- Offer supply chain transparency
Discover our Modal products
