Rayon is a super soft fabric with a luscious fall and better absorbing qualities than cotton. The discovery of this fabric dates back to 1924, when it was finally renamed ‘rayon’ from artificial silk. It is also the first semi-artificial fabric crafted by man. The use of natural fabrics can be traced back to the prehistoric times. And the invention of other innovative fabrics in the later years can be attributed to man’s desire to create something better; something that combines science and natural characteristics to offer superior products. Rayon fabric was one such discovery.
Although the production of rayon involves chemical processing, the components used are all natural. Wood is the primary source from which rayon is extracted. A solution of caustic soda is used for treating the wood and this transforms it into cellulose. Most people are unaware that rayon is a biodegradable fabric and hence more eco-friendly as compared to other textiles. The cellulose formed after the wood treatment is then converted into a unique viscose solution. This solution is forced through a spinning machine and forms filaments that are treated with a sulphuric acid solution. The process leads to the solidification of the viscose and the filaments formed are called ‘regenerated cellulose’.
Rayon is known for its unmatched absorbency, softness and strength. It is the perfect fabric to make active wear clothing and summer garments such as shirts, blouses, kurtas and flowing dresses.
Rayon is a popular ‘semi-synthetic’ material that was first introduced as an inexpensive substitute for silk. While there is a stark resemblance between rayon and silk as far as the appearance is concerned, the fabric feels much like cotton. Cellulose is used for making both rayon and cotton, but the former undergoes greater amounts of processing. Hence, it cannot be labelled as a 100 percent artificial or a 100 percent natural fabric.
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Are you a Garment, Home Furnishings or an Accessories manufacturer who wants to know more about the fabric called RAYON? If yes, then do watch out this video till end. Hello, this is Tushar from Charu Creation Pvt Ltd, a fashion fabric company at Nehru Place, New Delhi. So friends, first of all, what is Rayon? Rayon is a fabric made from purified cellulose fibres, which are typically created from wood pulp. Though rayon is derived from natural materials, it requires certain chemicals, so it’s considered to be a semi-synthetic fabric.
There are many types of Rayon fabrics but in this video I will discuss the 3 most important types of rayon. So, the first type of Rayon Fabric is called Viscose. It was first developed in 1855 and patented in 1894. The name Viscose comes from the process that’s used to make it; at one stage, rayon is a viscous, honey-like liquid that later settles into a solid form. So viscose is really soft and has a silken touch. This fabric is used for most applications for which cotton is used.
Whether it’s dresses, shirts, or pants, rayon is used to make a wide variety of different articles of clothing, and this fabric may also be used to make household items like towels, washcloths, or tablecloths. But it has some shortcomings too. It is really weak when wet. Fabric experts recommend that one should give rayon clothes a gentle hand wash with a mild detergent.
It is advisable to use cold water for washing rayon. Even dry cleaning of the garments made out of viscose is recommended. The second type of rayon is called HWM or High Wet Modulus. It is popularly known by the name of Modal. This type of rayon was particularly developed to concur the weakness of Viscose fabric which becomes weak on being wet. Modal was developed in Japan in 1951.
So like Viscose, it is extremely soft but unlike viscose it is strong even when it is wet. Modal rayon is generally more lightweight than viscose rayon, and it is also more breathable, which has prompted this fabric’s popularity in sportswear. Modal rayon wicks sweat effectively, it is easy to clean, and it is also surprisingly durable and long-lasting. This type of rayon is also a popular fabric for bed sheets due to its high moisture wicking ability.
It is common to see this fabric used for yoga pants, bike shorts, and even swimwear. As compared to cotton, modal rayon is highly resistant to pilling. The third type of Rayon is called Lyocell. It is popularly known by a brand called Tencel. So lyocell is made out of cellulose extracted from Eucalyptus trees. Originally developed in 1972, lyocell burst into popularity in the late Nineties.
Lyocell fabric is very strong whether it is wet or dry and very resistant to pilling. It’s unique features are a) it absorbs moisture very quickly and releases it into the atmosphere b) it is odour resistant. It is used to make all types of clothings but it is very popular in sportswear. Furthermore, Lyocell is quickly becoming a favorite fabric for medical dressings. This fabric’s high absorbency ability also makes it an ideal material to use in medical applications. Friends, to view our collection of Rayon fabrics, click on the link given in the description of the video. Friends, I want to acknowledge you for watching this video.
I hope that garments made out of our fabric collection would help you to win orders from your respective buyers and strengthen your business in these challenging times. For any enquiry regarding fabrics, you may call us at +91-9971106200 or email us at charu@charu.org.in. If you find this information useful, please subscribe to this YouTube channel to get more useful information. Thanks a lot
