Tencel, Lyocell, Cellulose, Regenerated Fibers… What’s the Story Behind These Materials?
Lyocell jersey loves a gentle touch! To keep your pieces looking and feeling pristine, avoid high wash temperatures and harsh spin cycles.
Lyocell has taken the fashion world by storm—and for good reason. Whenever we showcase our pieces at pop-ups or events, the reaction to different fabrics is always fascinating. People almost instinctively pause at our lyocell garments, reaching out to feel the material and urging their friends to do the same. It simply feels that incredible against the skin.
Yet, it often leaves shoppers wondering: Is it a natural fiber or a synthetic one? And how exactly do you turn plant material into a fabric as silky-soft as this?
Lyocell in a Nutshell
Lyocell is the generic term for a cellulose fiber derived from fast-growing trees. For our lyocell jerseys at Hujaus, we use eucalyptus, though it can also be made from spruce or beech.
What makes lyocell particularly eco-friendly is its closed-loop production process. Nearly all the solvents and water used in manufacturing are captured, recycled, and reused. This drastically reduces its environmental footprint compared to traditional cellulose-based fibers like standard viscose.
You’ve likely also heard of Tencel. Tencel is simply lyocell produced by the Austrian company Lenzing, sold under their official registered trademark. At Hujaus, we use both certified Tencel-branded jersey and high-quality standard lyocell jersey. To keep things simple throughout this post, we’ll refer to the material by its general name: lyocell.
Natural Fiber or Synthetic?
Lyocell sits in a fascinating middle ground between natural and synthetic fibers. Its raw material—wood pulp—is 100% natural, but the transformation into yarn requires an industrial process. The cellulose must be dissolved in a solution to be spun into usable fibers.
Because of this, lyocell is classified as a regenerated (or semi-synthetic) fiber, placing it in the same family as viscose and modal.
What Products Is Lyocell Best Suited For?
Lyocell is naturally breathable, incredibly soft, and drapes like a dream. In our collection, you’ll find it in our Ainoa t-shirts, Louna skirts, Pouta trousers, and Kauno wrap tops. We also blend it with cotton and elastane to create the soft, flexible knit used in our Kiva and Oiva ribbed shirts.
Because of its fluid fall, lyocell is widely used for flowy garments: dresses, skirts, wide-leg pants, blouses, loungewear, and—thanks to its exceptional softness and breathability—even undergarments.
On the skin, lyocell feels so light and silky soft that you’ll barely notice you’re wearing anything at all. It moves, sways, and drapes beautifully. It makes an exceptionally fantastic material for summer wardrobes; compared to cotton, it’s much more breathable and excels at wicking moisture away from the skin. If you tend to feel warm easily, lyocell is a total game-changer, keeping you comfortably cool all day long!
Caring for Your Lyocell
Lyocell jersey loves a gentle touch! To keep your pieces looking and feeling pristine, avoid high wash temperatures and harsh spin cycles.
Wash your lyocell items at 30°C on a delicate cycle. Delicate programs use a low spin speed (around 600 RPM), which is perfect for protecting the fibers. After washing, reshape the garment gently while damp and hang it to dry on a hanger or drying rack. Avoid tumble drying, as heat can damage the fabric.
If you haven't experienced lyocell yet, we warmly invite you to give it a try. This is truly one of those fabrics you have to wear to fully appreciate!
Have you tried lyocell before? What’s your experience with it?