Wonders of Viscose

THE WONDER OF VISCOSE:

A soft and lightweight luxury material, viscose is often seen as a silk substitute, thanks to its elegant drape and smooth feel. The term “viscose” refers specifically to the solution of wood pulp that is turned into fabric—also known as artificial silk. As viscose is typically made from renewable plant sources, it is often considered one of the more sustainable fabrics in the fashion industry. This makes it an attractive option for designers and brands seeking eco-conscious materials for custom fabric printing.

However, due to its popularity in fast fashion, viscose is now mass-produced—often through energy, water, and chemically intensive processes. This raises concerns when choosing fabric for printing or production, especially when balancing quality with sustainability.

CHARACTERISTICS OF VISCOSE:

1. Absorbent – Viscose rayon doesn’t trap heat, and it absorbs water and sweat nicely, making it ideal for t-shirts, sportswear, and other breathable garments.

2. Lightweight. Viscose is extremely airy, which makes it nice for blouses and summer dresses.

3. Breathable – Since it doesn’t cling to the body, viscose is favored for breathable clothing, especially where textile printing is used for creative expression.

4. Soft. While the material looks like silk, it feels like cotton.

5. Maintains Shape. The fabric is not elastic but can be blended with other textiles, such as spandex, to add stretch.

6. Viscose holds dye beautifully, maintaining vibrancy even after multiple washes—making it ideal for digital printing on fabric where color accuracy and detail are critical.

VISCOSE AND ENVIRONMENT:

While viscose originates from renewable sources, its manufacturing process can have significant environmental drawbacks. When choosing viscose for textile printing, these concerns should be part of the conversation.

1. Deforestation – Though it can be sourced from sustainable forests, many viscose products come from unsustainable logging, causing ecological damage.

• Toxic Chemicals – Producing viscose involves harmful chemicals that pollute air and water. Though many modern digital textile printing providers are moving toward cleaner solutions, traditional methods still raise concerns.

• Water Waste – Viscose requires large amounts of water, both for growing raw materials and for processing them into fabric.

As viscose is made from renewable plants the majority of the time, it can easily be considered a sustainable and environmentally friendly option. However, the fast fashion industry has caused this material to be produced on a huge scale, so it is quite often manufactured cheaply using energy, water, and chemically-intensive processes.

LYOCELL - A SUSTAINABLE VISCOSE FABRIC

Lyocell, often marketed under names like Tencel, Newcell, or Excel, is a next-generation viscose that represents a cleaner, more sustainable approach. Made typically from eucalyptus pulp, it grows without irrigation or pesticides. The production of Lyocell avoids harmful chemicals, making it ideal for custom fabric printing with an eco-friendly edge.

This evolution is especially relevant for brands and designers seeking sustainable fabrics for printing without sacrificing quality or feel.

TYPES OF VISCOSE FABRIC:

1. Viscose twill

A modern take on a classic weave, viscose twill is perfect for flowing skirts, tops, and loose trousers. Its diagonal ridges offer beautiful drape and are highly suitable for fashion-focused digital printing projects.

2. Viscose crepe

With its elegant weight and drape, this fabric is often used for blouses and vintage-style dresses. It also performs well in custom digital printing, holding complex patterns beautifully.

3. Viscose lawn

Although drape fabrics can be slightly more difficult to work with as a beginner, viscose lawn would be the perfect choice of fabric to achieve that same finish, but without worrying about the fabric moving too much. It is soft and drapes beautifully but is not difficult to work with.

4. Viscose georgette

Viscose georgette is suitable for many different garments, including scarves, shirts, and dresses - and can even be used in furnishing projects for upholstery and decorative purposes. With a grainy feel, this material is woven in highly twisted yarns and is highly durable, but still drapes beautifully. The viscose blend is a much cheaper alternative to the 100% natural fabrics on the market but still provides a wonderful finish for any project you decide to take on.

5. Viscose marocain

With a soft and airy feel, viscose marocain has a crepe-like feel which is ideal for tops and trousers, as well as all types of summer dresses. It’s a medium-weight material which also has a lovely drape, with a slight creasing.

6. Viscose satin

If you would like to create a gorgeous, yet durable look, with your next dressmaking project, viscose satin would be the ideal choice of material for you. Viscose satin is a light-to-medium weight fabric that is perfect for any luxurious garments, such as blouses and dresses. Satin, in general, is such a beautiful fabric and this viscose blend allows you to enjoy the finish even more, as it’s easy to use and affordable.

7. Javanaise viscose

This type of viscose fabric is notable for its softness, amazing drape, and a very subtle sheen which makes it amazing as a dressmaking fabric. Javanaise refers to the type of weave as it has a spun weft and filament warp which provides the sheen. This beautiful viscose is incredibly cool and comfortable to wear, as it is so lightweight and looks fantastic due to its superb drape.