Why we love TENCEL™ Lyocel

We’re excited to see new season stock arriving in store, making us dream of warmer days. The Spring/Summer collection includes a lot of soft silky garments made from sustainable Tencel. We’re often asked what this man-made fabric is, and why it's considered to be sustainable. 

TENCEL™ Lyocell

Tencel was developed by Austrian company Lenzing, and it's made from the wood and cellulose of sustainably harvested Eucalyptus trees. TENCEL™ Lyocell is the brand name of Tencel produced by Lenzing. Technically the fibre is the same as viscose, but made more responsibly.

Eucalyptus trees grow quickly without irrigation, pesticides, fertilisers or genetic manipulation. They can be planted on land that can’t be used for crops, and the yield per acre is up to 10 times higher than that of cotton, requiring up to 20 times less water. 

So how does wood pulp become a fibre that can be used to make clothes? It requires a chemical process, but the amazing thing about Tencel is the ability to recover and reuse up to 99.8% of the solvent and emissions by breaking them down in biological water plants. This makes the manufacturing process extremely environmentally friendly. 

How to care for it

Due to the easy care nature of this fabric, it can be machine washed on a short, cool setting without need of fabric softener or whitening agents, massively reducing the environmental impact of Tencel garments during their lifetime. And when it’s time to finally say goodbye to your favourite Tencel t-shirt or dress it is completely biodegradable

Certifications

Sustainable Tencel comes from FSC and PEFC Certified and sustainably managed forests. These are independent not-for-profit organisations that work towards a long-term sustainable use of the world’s forest.