What is viscose?
Viscose is a regenerated cellulose fibre that is the earliest man-made semi-synthetic cellulosic fibre and was first commercially available in 1905. It was first marketed as artificial silk that is cheaper and more durable and is currently the third most commonly used textile fibre globally. Viscose most commonly comes from hardwood forests, and more specifically from fast-growing regenerative trees such as eucalyptus, beech, pine, bamboo, soy, sugarcane, and from cotton linters. Although harvesting methods vary drastically depending on the type of trees and the location of harvest, most trees are harvested where they are grown and then peeled and cut into logs. The cellulose is then transformed into dissolving wood pulp and sold to producers for either filament or fibre production.
Is viscose the same as rayon?
It is sometimes referred to as rayon, though it is a merely a type of rayon; the other types being modal, lyocell and cupro, each differing from each other based on manufacturing process and properties of the fabric.
How is viscose produced?
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1. Wood Harvesting
2. Pulp
3. Dissolving
4. Filaments
5. Yarn
In 2016-17, Viscose made 91% of cellulosic production, but only 29% of this was sustainably sourced.
To learn more about the environmental impact of viscose, as well as alternatives to viscose such as Tencel, Orange Fiber, Refibra and SeaCell (made from seaweed), download our free guide.
Learn more about viscose by downloading our free Sustainable Viscose Guide
Aly is a footwear and accessories designer with a particular interest in sustainable and ethical fashion. She graduated as valedictorian graduate from London College of Fashion with a specialised focus on disassembly and circularity within footwear design. Aly has experience working with both leathers and non-leathers and works closely with factories in Europe. Since graduating she has worked for Stella McCartney, Two Degrees, McQ Alexander McQueen and Ganni.
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