Without viscose, the fashion business would come to a halt! Viscose fibers are ideal for creating elegant yet comfortable looks. You wouldn’t believe how many of your clothes are actually made of this fabric. In addition to dresses, skirts, and blouses, many pants also have viscose as their main component. The reason for this lies in the positive properties of viscose compared to other materials.
Positives and negatives of viscose
Wool, cotton, or linen? No! These supposedly clearly recognizable fabrics are often viscose fibers. The properties of viscose—also known as “artificial silk”—first and foremost include skin-friendliness as a result of the natural basic material.
Another fascinating feature of viscose fibers is the high absorbency. This helps prevent unpleasant odors, making this sort of clothing the perfect fashion companion even in warm temperatures. On top of all this, there’s also the great feeling of viscose on your skin. The material is less elastic and therefore falls loosely and airily. What’s more, the fibers are very hard-wearing, making them last longer than comparable fabrics. So, you see, viscose will leave you feeling good all-round!
Viscose unfortunately has the disadvantage that the material always shrinks a little during washing. It’s therefore best to buy clothes that are one size bigger. The unpopular pilling of the fabric can be reduced by turning the garments inside out for washing.
What is viscose?
Does the term “rayon” mean anything to you? It’s what viscose fibers used to be called. It became widespread after its discovery in the 19th century. But what exactly is viscose? The material is an artificially produced fiber based on the natural substance cellulose. This natural fiber is obtained from wood components, which explains its similarity to cotton. Viscose is a very important component for the textile industry, as the properties of viscose combine the benefits of cotton and silk.
Is viscose a natural fiber?
This should be an easy question to answer. However, the classification of viscose fibers often leads to confusion. Although “artificial silk” has become an established synonym for viscose in everyday usage, it is important to emphasize that the material is predominantly a natural fiber.
Even though viscose is not made entirely from natural fibers, with cellulose as its natural base material, the natural element cannot be ignored. Strictly speaking though, viscose cannot be clearly assigned to either synthetic or natural fibers. Although natural substances are the basis for the material, the cellulose fibers are further processed, which requires complex chemical processes. Viscose fibers thus constitute a combination of the two categories of fabrics, which is why viscose is such a special material.
Washing viscose
You’ve just got a great new item of clothing and want to start wearing it right away. So you’ll need to give it a wash beforehand. But when you hang it up on the clothesline you immediately notice that something went wrong! Know the feeling? Making mistakes in how you look after your textiles often leads to annoying material changes. The classy look of viscose in particular requires the right care.
You should not only use a laundry net, but also make sure you set a gentle wash cycle at around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, a mild detergent is recommended, as this minimizes the strain on the viscose fibers. After the washing process you should pull the clothes into shape while they are still wet. And make sure you don’t use the spin function or the dryer!
It’s best to iron the material while there is still some moisture in it, using a cloth as protection between the iron and the viscose fibers. Viscose is generally very easy to handle, so you don’t need to be a laundry pro to be able to look after it properly.
