Why you should be wearing Eucalyptus Clothing!

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus clothing is becoming more and more popular due to it's eco friendly manufacturing process, amazingly soft fabric and lightweight designs. Here at Nature Shop we love Eucalyptus clothing so we wanted to give you some information about the fabric and why it's so popular!

The proper name for fabric made from the Eucalyptus tree is Lyocell but you will often hear it being referred to as Tencel. TENCEL® is actually a brand name for a type of the Lyocell fabric which is created by Lenzing, a company in Austria. Below are a list of benefits of Lyocell clothing. 

Temperature Regulating:

Due to it's unique fibril structure the lyocell fabric pulls moisture away from the skin which is then evaporated from the surface of the fabric. It absorbs 50% more moisture than cotton! 

Naturally temperature regulating this fabric will keep you cool in the heat and warm in the cold, while being extremely breathable. 

The Lyocell fabric is softer than silk and cooler than linen meaning that it feels amazing on! 

Non itch, Odor Resistant & Hypoallergenic:

Because moisture is immediately pulled away from the skin and evaporated, bacteria doesn't have time to form meaning that Lyocell is naturally hypoallergenic and won't smell! The fabric is also extremely soft, meaning it's perfect for those with sensitive skin or allergies. 

Good for the environment: 

The Eucalyptus trees are grown in responsibly managed forests and are cut rather than uprooted so the trees grow back quickly. The trees require little water to grow and are typically found on land which is unsuitable for agriculture.

The process of turning the Eucalyptus wood into fibre has minimal impact on the environment. The wood pulp is dissolved in the non toxic chemical Amine Oxide and reduced down into a cellulose viscous solution. This solution is then extruded through fine holes to create the fiber and spun into the fabric.

99% of the chemical, water and waste is reused in the unique closed loop system which minises the impact on the environment and conserves water and energy. The water consumption to make lyocell is 10-20% lower than the manufacturing process for cotton. 

This unique process was awarded the Environmental award in 2000 by the European Union and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

 The different stages of manufacturing:

Image from http://www.lenzing-fibers.com/en/tencel/

Here at Nature Shop we stock Eucalyptus Lyocell clothing by top brands Earth Kind Originals (EKO), Icebreaker and Patagonia. Check out our full range HERE

We will also soon be creating our very own brand of Eucalyptus Lyocell underwear! If you'd like to be kept up to date with our progress just email contact@natureshop.co.uk