Wood Based Fibres

Part natural part man-made, wood based or cellulose fibres such as viscose, lyocell, TENCEL™ and modal are innovative and high-performance fabrics that offer versatility across many designs.

Beginning their life cycle as a tree or wood pulp before facing chemical processing, these fabrics naturally pose some risk to the world’s forests and woodlands.

As trees play an integral role in cleaning the world’s air and act as a home to the majority of the worlds’ birds and animals, we’re putting measures in place to ensure our clothes don’t cost the earth.

Viscose:

One of Witchery’s favourite materials, viscose is lightweight, absorbent, breathable and drapes beautifully, making it a perfect choice for our soft blouses to summer dresses.

A fabric manufactured from plant-based materials such as trees and bamboo called cellulose, viscose is part of the rayon family.

Canopy:

Due to the rise of popularity in cellulose fibres that are derived from natural wood sources, 150+ million trees are threatened by logging annually, some of these ancient or endangered forests. Considered one of the last frontiers of forest protection, not-for-profit organisation Canopy works with companies large and small in policy development, through implementation to supply chain innovation.

By partnering with not-for-profit organisation Canopy, Witchery is committed to ensuring cellulose-based fabrics (like viscose) used in our garment production are deforestation-free and sustainable and are not sourced from the world’s endangered forests.

Deforestation Free Cellulose:

Deforestation Free refers to cellulose sourced from fabric producers who are not at risk of sourcing from ancient or endangered forests, or controversial sources.

Sustainable Cellulose:

Sustainable Cellulose refers to those fibres that are made from wood pulp sourced from responsibly managed forests and/or converted into fibre using manufacturing processes that minimise the impact on the environment.

Examples of this include Lenzing Modal and TENCEL™.

Lyocell:

Soft, breathable, lightweight and comfortable, Lyocell has an extremely smooth soft surface that drapes beautifully. Also known for its versatility, durability, and strength when both wet and dry, Lyocell is the generic name for a biodegradable fabric that's made out of treated wood pulp.

A form of rayon which consists of cellulose fibre made from dissolving wood pulp, the fabric is commonly sold under the brand name TENCEL™, which is made by company Lenzing AG.

TENCEL™ Lyocell:

By using Lenzing fabrics like TENCEL™ Lyocell, Witchery is ensuring fibres are derived from sustainable wood sources – natural forests and sustainably managed plantations, as wood and pulp used by the Lenzing Group is harvested from certified and controlled sources.

All of TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres have an environmentally responsible closed-loop production process. This means wood pulp is transformed into cellulosic fibres with high resource efficiency and low ecological impact. This solvent-spinning process recycles process water and reuses the solvent at a recovery rate of more than 99%.

Modal:

Modal fabric is a semi-synthetic fabric made from beech tree pulp. Often blended with other fibres like cotton and spandex for added strength, the final fabric is considered superior for its light, soft feel, breathability and high quality.

TENCEL™ Modal:

TENCEL™ Modal fibres are mainly manufactured from renewable raw beechwood, sourced from sustainable forests in Austria and neighbouring countries and using fewer chemicals in the production process.

Read More about Lenzing’s innovative and sustainable business practices.