Viscose, everywhere!!

[benjaminny]

Why?!
Especially ‘LENZING ECOVERO’ (always in capitals, no idea why!)

Anyone know why everything is blooming viscose? Is it a genuine attempt to be eco friendly (is that what ‘ecovero’ is all about?!) or is it just plain cheaper??

No they're not but both are synthetics made out of petroleum. Polyester is more breathable and acrylic is a better insulator.

Re most environmentally sustainable/ green - see the article I posted earlier.

Are you sure it’s viscose you are thinking of and not recycled polyester or something?

I ask because I’m disabled which causes my skin to feel burnt all the time, and I have high blood pressure so I’m always hot and sweaty… I try and buy everything in viscose because it’s the only thing that is soft and light enough against my skin so it doesn’t hurt like hell, and it doesn’t make me boil.

Cotton is much thicker and heavier.

I love viscose, I think it's so comfy and flattering on the bum.

I agree. I really don't like wearing it, however soft the fabric feels. You won't get me out of my linen, cotton, or wool, garments. I won't buy viscose because I've never had anything which I really liked to wear - and it goes quite strange when it's washed, and somehow never feels quite the same again.

Tencel drapes beautifully and has a really silky feel to it. It needs no more ironing than Tana lawn cotton and a lot less ironing than heavier cotton.

I've never had a problem washing other viscose dresses. Possibly because I don't think everything needs to be washed after one wear and I usually hand wash anything, no matter what it's made of, if it's something I want to last.

This thread has got me thinking about the attitudes to fabrics on here. On the one hand you get many threads running over many pages praising what to me looks like dresses in the cheapest, mass produced polyester of dubious provenance and threads ridiculing "Amish granny clothes" - the latter which may well be organic or GOTS cotton or linen.

Then on the other hand, there's the "shudder, not a man made fibre will touch my body" stance which to my mind ignores that even for a fabric like polyester there's a huge difference in quality and ways of production. It also ignores that sustainably produced fabrics like Tencel and Ecovero are natural fabrics and are ethically better than non organic/ non GOTS cotton.

I think if one is concerned about environmental issues, quality, animal welfare and working conditions it's a bit more complex than "all natural fabric is good and all non natural fabric is terrible"

Exactly this! The thought that all fabric other than cotton is the work of the devil is short sited to the extreme.

There's so many different types of viscose fabric to that I wonder which people are taking about!
Woven crêpe-y viscose, stretchy jersey viscose, the one that's like heavy silk (Tencel).

I am generally a fan. As with all fabric, there's good and bad quality.

I like viscose and I have noticed that just like cotton the quality varies from retailer to retailer. I have some Ghost X M&S dresses and a top that is substantial in weight and feels quality as does the Uniqlo blouse that I have where as some of the things I have liked in the shops made of viscose that I have rejected I have done so because the thin flimsy material used isn’t reflected by the price.

@NotDonna polyester and acrylic I put in the same box of being bad fabrics, acrylic (knitwear, throws) contains lots of microcplastics so bad for the environment. Also if you've ever noticed when you buy a jumper acrylic ones always bobble almost immediately, or look tatty. I'd always aim for wool or cashmere, you'll be warmer and keep those jumpers for a lifetime. Cotton jumpers also good. Aim for natural breathable fabrics and fibres where possible - in the summer go for cotton, cotton poplin, linen, viscose, chambray, linen & viscose mixes, tencel. In winter aim for wool and cashmere knitwear and viscose or cotton for tops/dresses. Appreciate they are more expensive but in the long run you will keep them longer and they will wear better. Or go for something with some wool content in.
Polyester will make you sweat. I think it looks cheap too but it is usually the cheapest option which is why its so popular. You can find alot more companies using recycled polyester which is a better option out of the two if you're trying to be environmentally friendly.

I never said it was. It’s the most polluting fabric of all.

But it’s more comfortable than viscose.

Polyester is more breathable and acrylic is a better insulator polyester is not breathable unless engineered to be so. In its most basic form it is solid plastic rods with no air spaces at all.

No, but you listed how awful viscose was in environmental terms and then went on to say how much better cotton is as a fabric, without adding that it's also a heavily polluting fabric. You obviously know that but it's obvious from other threads on here that others don't.

Polyester turned into clothes is designed to be wearable and breathable.

I'm fussy about fabric and always read labels. I actually don't love cotton and linen. I find they crease very easily. I hate polyester but own some going out things in polyester (velvet, sparkly etc). I will wear viscose and modal/cotton mix. Some viscose is very wearable. Some is very thin and doesn't drape well. I don't find it sweaty like polyester.

Imagine everyone standing on chairs with a megaphone shouting LENZING ECOVERO!!

I really like viscose it is really soft whereas cotton can be stiff and not so nice

Polyester turned into clothes is designed to be wearable and breathable

It is in active wear or sports wear. Primark polyester isn’t breathable. Fast fashion doesn’t use breathable polyester.

I was also a designer for 10 years

Then on the other hand, there's the "shudder, not a man made fibre will touch my body" stance which to my mind ignores that even for a fabric like polyester there's a huge difference in quality and ways of production.

I think these are different concerns. I am very wedded to cotton for most items, and like linen in summer and wool for smart trousers. It's not because of environmental sustainability. If polyester was somehow the most sustainable material on the planet and cotton the worst, I would still be choosing cotton. It's about how mostly the material feels when worn. Potentially there might be a nice synthetic out there that I wouldn't mind for other clothes - they have their places in things like fleeces and swimwear - but I won't be buying them in hope that one of them will be nicer in place of materials I know I like and feel comfortable in.

Cotton bras are pretty useless!

I like viscose, ecovero, modal, tencel etc. Unlike polyester I don’t find it sweaty at all, and I’ve never had it shrink, nor do I usually iron it - although I wash everything at 30 and hang dry so maybe that’s why.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow I’d argue leather is the most polluting fabric. Now that’s full of chemicals!

I like viscose too, it tends to have a bit of drape and give which is good over a large bust. I put nearly all my clothes on a hand wash cycle after years of shrunken items. This tends to make things keep their shape better (I iron most things which I know is scorned here sometimes) but some tops do start to suffer with sweat stains as they are not being washed rigorously enough. I do not wear polyester unless it’s something worn as evening wear for a few hours only (I run very very cold so don’t overheat) and never acrylic.

That's exactly how I feel. Some of us just prefer the feel of natural fabrics, and would continue to buy them under any circumstances. I have had viscose fabrics in the past, I just don't like them, so will continue to wear cotton, linen and wool as much as is possible.

@benjaminny

Yeah I know. I regularly whine on here about the stuff and that Lenzing whatever.

This is why I often buy online because it usually but not always states what it is made of, because it is annoying looking at the labels in the shops, particularly if they are near a security tag and I get "Can I Help you " to death!

The bloody material makes me sweat like a pig! back of my neck and my back. I bought something Lyocell for my Uncle's funeral and I was awash with sweat!

To be fair I don't mind some polyester (just not the 'shower curtain' material)and I do not like any wool which irritates. I am trying to think of the material I prefer which begins with A which people are sniffy about on here. I used to have a lovely v neck from BHS in that material. I don't mean Angora!!

Acrylic! That is what I meant. Have a number of knits in that!

No, not at all. It’s got better drape than cotton or linen, so nice and cool.