Viscose/Rayon by Kloet Herrera

Composition and Production

kloetherrera — 2025-02-06 18:33:29 UTC

Viscose is a semi-synthetic fiber made from regenerated cellulose, which is sourced from wood pulp, bamboo or cotton linters. The production process includes treating the raw cellulose with different chemicals like sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide to create a viscous solution, which is then spun into fibers.

What is it?

kloetherrera — 2025-02-07 03:12:53 UTC

Viscose, also known as Rayon, is one of the oldest synthetic fibers, created by treating cellulose with chemicals like sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide to produce a fiber that is similar to the qualities of silk.

Environmental Benefits/ Challenges

kloetherrera — 2025-02-07 03:20:29 UTC

Viscose is derived from natural resources, but the production process can have significant environmental challenges. The chemicals used in manufacturing viscose, especially carbon disulfide, create a risk to both human health and the environment. Deforestation for raw materials like wood pulp also creates a negative impact on the environment and contributes to biodiversity loss.

What's it used for?

kloetherrera — 2025-02-07 03:25:05 UTC

Viscose is very versatile and widely used in fashion, home textiles and even medical products. It’s common in clothing like dresses, blouses and linings due to its softness and sheen texture. It’s also used in different upholstery fabrics and even nonwoven materials like wipes and hygiene products.

Sustainable Alternatives

kloetherrera — 2025-02-07 03:32:42 UTC

Now with more awareness, brands are working on reducing their environmental footprint by using sustainably sourced wood pulp and adopting more efficient production techniques. The development of fibers like Tencel which is a sustainable alternative to Viscose, uses a closed-loop system and is considered more eco-friendly. This method also requires less water compared to traditional viscose production.

Brands that use Viscose

kloetherrera — 2025-02-07 03:45:14 UTC

Zara, a major fashion retailer known for its fast fashion trends, uses sustainably sourced viscose in their clothing. They are experimenting with recycled viscose and exploring closed-loop production systems, where fibers are regenerated and reused which reduces the need for new raw materials, deforestation and more landfill waste.

Patagonia

kloetherrera — 2025-02-07 03:51:05 UTC

Patagonia, a leader in the sustainable fashion industry, widely respected for its commitment to environmental responsibility and social ethics. They have adopted Tencel, a more sustainable alternative to viscose, in many of its products. Tencel is produced using a closed-loop system, where the solvents used to dissolve the cellulose fibers are almost completely recycled, reducing the amount of waste and harmful chemicals produced.