Viscose Rayon
A soft, drapey semi-synthetic fibre regenerated from wood pulp — silk-like but weak when wet.
Also known as: Rayon, Viscose, Art silk
intermediate Regenerated from wood-pulp cellulose; commercialised early 1900s
Viscose rayon is a regenerated cellulose fibre made from wood pulp. It is soft, breathable and highly drapey with a silk-like hand, but loses strength when wet and creases easily.
What it is
Viscose rayon is a regenerated cellulose fibre: wood pulp (or other cellulose) is chemically dissolved and extruded into filaments, making it semi-synthetic — a natural polymer processed by manufacture. It has a soft, smooth, silk-like hand, excellent drape and good breathability and absorbency, and takes dye to rich colours, which is why it is used for flowing dresses, blouses, linings and blended shirtings.
Its main weaknesses are that it loses significant strength when wet (so it can distort or shrink in washing and is often dry-clean or hand-wash recommended), it creases readily, and standard viscose production is chemically intensive. Related fibres address these issues: modal is a stronger, wet-stable rayon, and lyocell (Tencel) uses a closed-loop, less-polluting process and is stronger wet. Viscose is frequently blended with cotton, polyester or elastane.
Failure mode — when it misleads
Standard viscose can shrink, stretch or lose shape when machine-washed because the fibre weakens when wet; follow care labels or choose modal/lyocell for wash stability.
How to apply it
Use viscose for soft, drapey blouses, dresses and linings where fluid movement matters; choose modal or lyocell when you need the same hand with better wet strength and easier care.
Related entries
Sources & further reading
- Rayon — Wikipedia contributors (article)