From Trees to Fabric

• Tencel is made entirely of wood cellulose. To make Tencel, hardwood, often fast-growing eucalyptus is harvested and pulped. The pulp is treated with chemicals to break it down, then extruded through a spinneret to form long, fine fibers. These fibers are washed and dried, then carded like wool. The finished fibers can be spun into yarn on their own, or blended with cotton, wool or other fibers to make blends.
  
  

Both Natural and Synthetic

• Unlike polyester and nylon, which are made from petroleum, Tencel is made entirely from natural materials. At the same time, its manufacturing process chemically breaks down these organic materials before reconstituting them into fibers. Like rayon, Tencel is considered both natural and synthetic.
  
  

Qualities of Tencel Yarn

• Yarn made of Tencel has excellent moisture absorption, thanks to the unique structure of Tencel's cellulose micro-hairs. Tencel yarn has an extremely silky hand and can have a lustrous appearance. It also has a soft drape. Tencel is also extremely strong, even more then cotton or linen.
  
  Because Tencel is fully manufactured, its staple length can be varied to give a variety of effects. With a longer staple length, Tencel yarn can resemble silk in its smoothness and luster. A short staple length creates a yarn that looks more like cotton. Tencel also accepts a variety of finishes.
  
  Tencel is often blended with other materials, including wool, cotton, silk, linen and synthetics.
  
  

Environmental Considerations

• Tencel is often marketed as an environmentally friendly alternative to cotton or synthetics. It does have many advantages over cotton and traditional synthetics. Telcel is made from renewable resources. Its cellulose is usually sourced from fast-growing managed eucalyptus forests, which can be sited on low-grade land -- unlike cotton plantations, which require excellent land and lots of water. Tencel requires more energy and more chemicals to manufacture than cotton does, but this is partially mitigated by the recycling of the chemicals involved. Overall, Tencel's environmental impact is roughly comparable to that of organic cotton.