admin Swiss loungewear brand Hanro recently released a shirt made of 100% lyocell which is currently enjoying a lot of attention as a plant-based fibre used for clothing as both luxury and high street labels are investing in the velvety-soft textile. Selfridges calls it a “miracle fabric” and London label Mother of Pearl uses it and Zara, Mango and H&M have also placed their bets on it.
Lyocell is widely used name for the textile, but it’s not the only term visible on clothes labels like by Lenzing AG it’s Tencel invented by the textile company Courtauld in Britain – the “ten” stands for tenacity. And Excel is lyocell manufactured by textile company Birla.
London label Mother of Pearl’s Amy Powney who known for her focus on sustainable and unusual designs likes using it for shirts, summer basics, and casual dresses because it’s perfect to “just sort of roll up and put in your suitcase,” says Amy.
And even under £30 many fast fashion versions are available. Made from 100% lyocell Hanro’s new “Balance” shirt is for £57 and for £185, Mother of Pearl’s polka-dotted lyocell cami is available as well as made of lyocell blended with organic cotton and recycled polyester, the Tentree “Kayaker” T-shirt is available for £28.99.
Stephan Hohmann, CEO of Hanro said “Tencel will replace viscose certainly in the future. Cotton, however, still strongly stands for most consumers for a natural material and its superior wearing comfort.” Powney prefers it to cotton and, she says, citing the easily creasing nature and larger environmental impact of viscose: “We want to use lyocell as much as we possibly can instead of viscose.”
“The growth of it will be much more in blending with other fibres,” says Van de Kerkhof. Lyocell can blend well with cotton, polyester and even silk, which adds properties like shine that it doesn’t have on its own.”
“It can, to a certain degree, replace cotton. Cotton is a wonderful material, but it has a huge environmental impact”.
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