By: Daisy Hemmen
A garment that looks smooth and sumptuous on the rack won’t necessarily retain its shape after a day of wear. When buying new clothing, it pays off to research the fabric’s ability to hold up to humidity, repeated motion, and more. Viscose, a rayon fabric created with semi-synthetic fiber, is one type to pay attention to.
So is viscose good material for clothes? Viscose is known for its soft, drapey look—but it can wrinkle.
To get the look you want from your viscose clothing, it’s important to know when and where to wear it and how to care for it. Read on for our best tips and tricks to keep your viscose looking silky smooth every day and every wash.
Why does viscose wrinkle?
Let’s take a closer look at the science behind viscose’s many benefits—and its chance of wrinkling.
It's no secret that clothes made with viscose fibers tend to wrinkle and crease. But why does viscose fabric wrinkle? Viscose can wrinkle because it’s woven or knitted from the delicate, pulped fibers of woody plants like:
- Bamboo
- Beech
- Elm
- Eucalyptus
- Soy
- Sugarcane
Other woven and knitted naturally derived fabrics like cotton and silk are also prone to wrinkles, but this shouldn’t discourage you from wearing them. Sustainability produced and naturally derived fabrics are good for the environment and for your body thanks to moisture-wicking and breathability.
Likewise, you don’t have to stand like a statue to avoid wrinkles when wearing viscose.
Learning a few simple tricks to care for your viscose garments will help you feel smooth and confident.
Avoiding viscose wrinkles
Sitting and bending are both actions that tend to cause wrinkles in viscose fabric. At the same time, you have to move around!
Luckily, there are a few things you can do to make your viscose a bit more wrinkle-resistant:
- Choose viscose for wardrobe basics – Loose-fitting viscose pants and tops are most likely to wrinkle. However, form-fitting viscose undergarments, bodysuits, and camis are specifically designed to move with you.
- Buy viscose-blend clothing – While garments that are 100% viscose are most likely to crease easily, buying clothing that blends viscose with another fabric will reduce the likelihood of wrinkles. Take a look at the care tag before purchasing an item. Any blend that contains polyester in addition to viscose will make the garment less likely to wrinkle.
- If packing, roll viscose – Roll, don’t fold. That bit of advice is great for all your clothing, but especially so for your wrinkle-prone pieces like viscose. Even crushing, balling, or folding your viscose for a short time will leave wrinkles, so be sure it is loosely rolled before going into your suitcase.
- Avoid wearing when sitting for extended periods – If you know your day or event is going to be heavy on sitting, avoid viscose. On the other hand, viscose will stay smooth and silky if you're primarily standing or walking.
How to smooth wrinkled viscose
Sometimes it’s frankly impossible to keep the wrinkles out of your viscose clothing. But don’t toss them on account of a few creases! With caution, you can wash and iron viscose fabric yourself. While professionally dry-cleaning your garment will surely return it to its full, smooth glory, you can also follow a few quick, easy steps to return the fabric to its original luxurious texture at home.
Washing viscose
Washing your viscose offers a hard reset to any wrinkles and creases. However, there are certain precautions you should take when throwing in the washing machine and drying this delicate fabric. So what are the steps to take for learning how to wash viscose? Experts agree that the wise method for cleaning and de-wrinkling your viscose is:
- Handwashing –Viscose is highly absorbent, which is great for wicking sweat. Yet this same quality makes viscose fragile during washing, so gently handwashing in cool or barely lukewarm water is essential.
- Using a detergent formulated for delicates – A gentle and biodegradable detergent will not only clean your garment but also keep the environment healthy.
- Rinse cool – Rinse your viscose in cool water, handling it gently. This means no rubbing, scrubbing, or wringing.
- Shake and hang to dry – Don’t squeeze or hand-wring viscose. Lay your garment flat or drape it over the bar of a drying rack, gently smoothing it to avoid wrinkles as it dries. Do not leave your viscose clothing in direct sunlight.
If you're wondering does viscose shrink when washing it, there are precautions to avoiding shrinkage.
Ironing viscose
Sometimes the best fix for wrinkled viscose is ironing. Like washing, however, you must be cautious in order to prevent damaging the delicate fabric from the heat. Some tips for ironing a viscose garment include:
- Put the iron on the lowest or silk setting
- Place a cotton sheet between the iron and the viscose
- Pass the iron quickly over the fabric, not pressing or pausing in any one area
One good alternative to iron viscose is to steam it, but this requires a special tool and isn’t feasible unless you’ve invested in luxury quality laundry accessories.
Achieve all-day smooth with Boody Eco Wear
At Boody, we specialize in designing, crafting, and bringing you luxurious, sustainable bamboo viscose garments, from underwear and sleepwear to women’s bamboo shirts and loungewear.
But caring for them shouldn't be a chore. We recommend washing your Boody garments with similar colors, using gentle biodegradable detergent and a warm wash setting. Then, air-dry them in the shade or tumble dry on the lowest or delicate setting to prevent heat damage.
With proper care, your Boody Eco Wear will leave you feeling comfortable and chic all day long. Shop more sustainable clothing with Boody.
Sources:
Fabrics By The Yard. What is Viscose Fabric? https://www.fabricsyard.com/print-by-the-yard-blog/what-is-viscose-fabric-everything-you-need-to-know/
Martha Stewart. How to Steam Delicate Garments. https://www.marthastewart.com/1531045/how-to-steam-delicate-garments
About the Author: Daisy Hemmen is a San Diego State University Fowler College of Business alumni. Based in Encinitas, California, Daisy is a part of the marketing team at Boody North America. She is passionate about learning the ins and outs of living a happy and healthy lifestyle that benefits both people and the planet, and enjoys sharing her bountiful findings with the community.
shaun@boody.com TrustPilot
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By: Heather Bien We’re all trying to be better stewards of Mother Earth. From recycling to upcycling and eating conscientiously to dressing mindfully, our choices affect the planet. So choosing organic cotton clothing seems like an easy decision, right? Not so fast! As with all sustainable choices, it’s important to take a moment to learn a bit more about why organic cotton might win over conventional cotton—and what makes these two materials different in the first place. Read on if you’re interested in learning about organic cotton and whether it’s the best choice for you and the environment. Conventional cotton Before we get into debating modern cotton farming techniques, let’s get familiar with the plant we’re talking about: cotton. It’s soft, durable, and probably on your body right now. But what else do you really know about cotton? Here are the basics: Cotton comes from the cotton plant – The cotton plant is a warm-season woody perennial shrub from the genus Gossypium and the family Malvaceae. Cotton fabric is made from the plant’s fibrous seed-hair (which is also called a cotton boll). Cotton is one of the top agricultural crops – Traditional cotton is the most widespread and profitable non-food crop in the world. Although the plant is capable of growing in any warm-weather climate, India and China are now the top producers of cotton globally. Cotton is thirsty – A normal cotton plant requires 10 gallons of water to reach peak potential. That doesn’t sound so bad, but multiplying it outward, that means it takes about 5,000 gallons of water to produce just 2.2 pounds of cotton fabric. Pests think it’s delicious – Not only is cotton thirsty, but it’s prone to pest infestations from bollworms, weevils, aphids, stink bugs, thrips, and spider mites. In order to combat these common pests, conventional cotton is routinely sprayed with a veritable salad-dressing of pesticides, many of which can remain in the soil and water supply for years afterward. Cotton harvesting requires defoliation – In order to quickly and efficiently harvest cotton, many commercial growers use chemical defoliants to strip the leaves from the cotton plant prior to harvesting the bolls. Like pesticides, these chemicals remain in the environment and on the cotton itself. Is organic cotton better? All of those cotton factoids point pretty compellingly to buying and wearing organic cotton fabric. But first, it’s important to understand what sets this organic alternative apart. Why exactly is “organic” cotton anyway? You might associate the word organic with your healthy fruits and veggies, but it’s not always clear what this term means when it comes to cotton. 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Crop pests, weeds, and diseases will be controlled primarily through management practices, including physical, mechanical, and biological controls. When these practices are not sufficient, a biological, botanical, or synthetic substance approved for use on the National List may be used. Operations must use organic seeds and other planting stock when available. The use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge is prohibited. What is organic cotton? In short, it’s cotton that is farmed according to these practices and certified organic by the USDA. Why should you choose organic cotton? With fewer pesticides, fewer synthetic chemicals, and more thoughtful cultivation practices, organic cotton can certainly offer a more environmentally friendly choice when compared to regular cotton. Is organic cotton sustainable? Here are a few other reasons why organic cotton can be a better alternative for you and the earth: It’s better for our water resources – According to an analysis by the Textile Exchange, producing an organic cotton T-shirt requires 1,982 fewer gallons of water compared to a regular cotton T-shirt. Because organic cotton uses less chemicals, its production also releases fewer toxins into our aquatic ecosystems. It’s good for the soil (and our carbon footprint) – According to the Soil Association, the more natural cultivation practices and fewer pesticides used by organic cotton farmers can support healthier soil. That soil, in turn, can absorb more carbon from our atmosphere and help keep the planet healthy. It encourages biodiversity – Multiple studies have shown that organic farming practices can encourage more diversity among the animal species of our planet. Sustainability is sometimes in the eye of the beholder. But when it comes to plant-derived textiles, the ones which help us create a healthier world are always a better alternative. Explore the benefits of bamboo with Boody Whether you choose to purchase conventional or organic cotton clothing, the fact that you are shopping mindfully for yourself is a win for the environment. At Boody, we believe in bringing you quality, comfy, sustainable clothing basics that keep you feeling good about yourself and your personal impact on Mother Earth. From our sleepwear to our loungewear, women’s bamboo shirts to our underwear, sustainable and ethical are our touchstones. Our clothing is made of bamboo viscose, requiring less water than cotton while putting precious oxygen back into the environment. That just feels good, doesn’t it? Explore the bamboo benefits today, with Boody. Sources: Britannica. Cotton. https://www.britannica.com/topic/cotton-fibre-and-plant Cotton. The Story of Cotton - Where Cotton Grows. https://www.cotton.org/pubs/cottoncounts/story/where.cfm World Wildlife Federation. Cotton. https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/cotton Textile Exchange. Quick Guide to Organic Cotton. https://textileexchange.org/quick-guide-to-organic-cotton Soil Association. What is organic cotton? https://www.soilassociation.org/take-action/organic-living/fashion-textiles/organic-cotton/ USDA. Conservation and Biological Diversity in Organic Production. https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2016/02/29/conservation-and-biological-diversity-organic-production About the Author: Heather Bien is a copywriter and writer based in Washington, DC. She works with retail, ecommerce, and creative brands on their website copy and digital presence, and her freelance writing has appeared on MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, and more. When she's not with laptop and coffee in hand, you'll find her planning her next weekend getaway, working on her budding green thumb, or scouting for her next great vintage find.
