Viscose

Viscose is a type of rayon. ‘Rayon’ is the broader category of regenerated cellulose fibres; viscose is the most common rayon production process. Other rayon types include modal (a higher-tenacity rayon) and lyocell (produced via a closed-loop solvent process). For practical sourcing purposes, viscose and rayon are used interchangeably for the same material in most markets.

Yes — viscose is derived from natural cellulose (wood pulp) and biodegrades under appropriate composting conditions, unlike synthetic fibres like polyester. The environmental profile depends heavily on the production process and sourcing of the wood pulp; certifications such as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) for the wood pulp source provide additional sustainability assurance.

Both are regenerated cellulose fibres, but modal is engineered for higher tenacity (especially when wet), better dimensional stability, and a smoother finish than standard viscose. Viscose is softer and more fluid; modal is stronger and more durable. Many premium apparel brands now specify modal where they previously used viscose, particularly for activewear, base layers, and underwear. We supply both — see our modal yarn page for details.

Yes, with caveats — viscose dyes well in standard reactive dye baths, while polyester requires disperse dyes at higher temperatures. For poly viscose blends, garment-stage dyeing typically uses a two-step process or dope-dyed polyester is used to simplify the dyeing route. Most knitwear mills familiar with the blend handle this routinely.