A quick guide to Tencel – Is it worth the hype?

By now you’ve probably heard of Tencel, the fiber that is revolutionizing the fashion industry for its sustainability. If you haven’t, then you are in the right place! Here’s everything you need to know about it.

What is Tencel?

Tencel is a brand name for a set of fibers called lyocell and modal. This means that lyocell/modal is “the generic name of the manufacturing process and fiber [while] Tencel® is the brand name of the lyocell commercialized by the company Lenzing AG.”[1]

Tencel lies somewhere in between natural fibers (i.e., wool, hemp, cotton, silk) and artificial fibers derived from petrochemicals (i.e., polyester, nylon).[2] It is safe to say that it is a semi-synthetic fiber since it has a natural origin (wood), but the finished fiber is technically man-made.[3]

Together with rayon (i.e., viscose), they are what the industry refers to as “regenerated cellulose” fibers. The big difference, though, is that rayon requires more energy and chemicals to produce.[4]

Why is it so sustainable?

We tend to equate “natural” with “sustainable”, which is often not entirely true. Take for example the case of cotton, a natural fiber that has nothing to do with sustainability. The same thing happens with Tencel, although it is not a 100% natural fiber, it has been coined as “the fabric of the future”[5] due to its high degree of sustainability. 

Tencel is a state-of-the-art fiber that is highly sustainable as it is made only with a natural chemical substance in a closed-loop production process, that transforms wood pulp into cellulosic fibers, thus, minimizing the impact on the environment. According to the Tencel website, it is “produced by environmentally responsible processes from the sustainably sourced natural raw material wood”.[6] So much so, that the eucalyptus trees from which the wood pulp are extracted are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the fiber bears the Pan-European Forest Council (PEFC) quality seal.[7] Moreover, since it uses a closed-loop production process, water use is very low.[8]

As usual, we have to be very careful when buying clothes made out of this fabric as its treatment may not be as environmentally friendly as the fiber itself. Some manufacturers use chemical processes that are not at all environmentally friendly and may cause allergies.[9]

Other benefits

As with any investment, there is always an initial cost. In the case of Tencel, the extra startup cost has led it to be labeled as a “luxury fiber”, which, as you can imagine, brands and retailers have dearly embraced.[10] So, since the production of this fiber is a bit more expensive compared to others, garments made with it also become pricier. However, here are some other benefits of Tencel that make the extra price totally worth it:

1. Absorption and breathability: Tencel is a very gentle-to-skin fiber since it is very breathable and can manage moisture, which can help with temperature regulation.[11] This ensures the wearer’s comfort, allowing sweat to breathe and evaporate, rather than stick to the skin and cause odor and bacteria.[12]
2. Softness: Tencel is exceptionally soft and pleasant to the skin, making it perfect for people with sensitive skin and intimate apparel. To improve the softness and comfort of fabrics, Tencel can be blended with other fibers.[13]
3. Biodegradability: [14] Tencel fibers are 100% biodegradable and compostable. But let’s make a pause here because this isn’t necessarily a best practice since any dyes and finishes from the fabric would end up in the soil along with it.[15] So, if you want to be sure, just go back to the basics: re-wear, re-use, re-cycle!
4. Versatility: To enhance the aesthetics and functionality of fabrics (and to reduce costs), Tencel can be combined with other fibers such as cotton, polyester, acrylic, wool, and silk.[16]
5. Doesn’t wrinkle easily and retains colors: Tencel has excellent drape, it barely wrinkles and, since it can hold dye well, it makes vibrant colors.[17] And on top of that, it is machine washable!

Watch out cotton: Tencel is “so fetch” this season!

Cotton has been around since forever but has never had a worthy opponent, at least until Tencel. Cotton has been the go-to for clothing because it’s soft and breathable. But guess what: Tencel does that and more! “Tencel fibers are incredibly small, which allow it to have an even softer sheen and more breathability than just about anything else out there.”[18] And for those who hate ironing, it also doesn’t wrinkle or shrink like cotton.[19]

On another note, and we cannot stress this enough, Tencel is much more sustainable! It is almost as natural as cotton but is made with a fraction of the resources due to its closed-loop production process. “This means that 99% of the materials and chemicals used can be reused to minimize waste.”[20]

So maybe your current favorite T-shirt is made from cotton, but who’s to say that in the future it will be made of Tencel…

Brands that are incorporating Tencel into their collections

From luxury to budget, many leading designers and retailers are starting to use Tencel in their collections. Here are some of them:

1. Allbirds
2. Aritzia
3. Asos
4. Athleta
5. Guess
6. H&M
7. J.Crew
8. Levi’s
9. Lucky Brand
10. Madewell
11. Mara Hoffman
12. New Balance
13. Organicbasics
14. Patagonia
15. Reformation
16. Reserved
17. Rituals
18. Ted Baker
19. The North Face
20. Victoria’s Secret

*You can access the complete list here.

---

Do you have any clothes made with Tencel? Did this post make you want to buy some now? Let us know in the comments below!