Tencel Twill Medium is a medium-weight quality with a smooth weave and silky feel.
Tencel (Lyocell) is a woven natural fiber made from the pulp of sustainably grown beech and eucalyptus trees.
They use an environmentally friendly and resource-saving process that has been awarded the European Environmental Protection Prize.
The water consumption is only a fraction of that used in cotton cultivation, as eucalyptus does not need to be artificially irrigated and is almost completely shut down when the pulp is removed from the tree.
Tencel is a 100% natural material that is produced sustainably. Good for people and the environment. It is no surprise that Tencel fabrics are among the "rising stars" among sustainable designers.
There is a production cycle. Tencel is also biodegradable and compostable.
What exactly is Tencel?
First of all, the terms "Tencel" and "Lyocell" are often used synonymously. This is not surprising, because it is actually the same thing.
Background: The sustainable fiber is officially called Lyocell, but is marketed under the brand name Tencel® by Lenzing-Fibers. Tencel® fabric is described as a "natural synthetic fiber". Tencel® is made from pulp obtained from eucalyptus trees.
What starts as a pulp ends up as a smooth fiber with a flexible cloth and feels very soft on the skin.
What makes Tencel so sustainable?
In the case of Tencel®, the wood comes from specially managed, sustainable forests. These forests are found in South Africa, where the soil quality is poor. Agriculture is not possible, but eucalyptus trees still thrive there. The forests are managed sustainably so that new trees are planted in good time. This is why this wood also receives the FSC quality mark.
The raw material of Tencel® is pulp, similar to viscose. The typical difference lies in the dissolution of the wood fibers. This is not an environmentally friendly process for conventional viscose. Tencel uses a new solvent and the manufacturing process has been designed to create a "closed loop". More than 99% of the water and solvent used in the process are collected and reused. The bleaching of the fibers is also completely chlorine-free.
All production steps are designed to be as sustainable as possible, and this has not gone without awards: Tencel® bears the European Ecolabel and has even won the European Environmental Award.
Tencel fabric is comfortable to wear and very soft. They are breathable and can absorb up to 50% more water than cotton and release it quickly again.
This means that the fabrics keep you warm on cold days and cool on warm days.
What are the advantages of Tencel® fabrics?
One thing should be clear: Tencel® scores when it comes to sustainability.
But that's not all, because Tencel® has many other good properties:
Fabrics made from Tencel® are pleasantly soft and very comfortable to wear
Fabrics made from Tencel® are robust and therefore also suitable for sportswear, especially Tencel Stretch
Tencel® fabrics are breathable and comfortable in both winter and summer
Fabrics made from Tencel® absorb water better than cotton, but dry faster
Tencel® materials shrink and wrinkle less than cotton
Last but not least: fabrics made from Tencel® are extremely resistant to bacteria and therefore do not smell unpleasant (interesting detail: in synthetic materials such as polyester or polyamide, bacteria multiply about 2000 times faster!)
The fibers are naturally antibacterial and require less washing.
In addition, they do not lose their color when washed, which guarantees that the color remains as fast as on the first day even after many washes. This means that these materials can be used for much longer.
Sewing with Tencel fabrics is sustainable, environmentally friendly and saves resources.
The Tencel used ensures sustainable quality, certified by Lenzing.
How should you wash Tencel?
It's simple: you can wash and dry Tencel in much the same way as cotton. Check the care label to be on the safe side. Most Tencel fabrics can simply be washed at 30 or 40 degrees, but some are more delicate and must be washed by hand.
Drying on the line is great and of course also fits in with the sustainable character of the fabric. Do you want to iron the fabric? Then use a low temperature without steam.