Natural (Cellulosic) Man-made Fibres

Natural man-made fibres such as viscose, modal and lyocell are obtained from the plant-based raw material cellulose – from wood or from cotton linters, the short cotton seed hairs that cannot be spun.

How the fibres are made

Plant fibres are known as natural polymers – substances made of very large molecules. In production, the cellulose is dissolved by various processes and pressed through spinnerets as a liquid spinning mass, creating fibres that are plant-based in origin but industrially formed.

The fibres at a glance

• Viscose – the classic cellulosic fibre with a flowing drape
• Modal – more shape-stable and hard-wearing than viscose
• MicroModal – the especially fine modal variant
• Lyocell – produced in a solvent process

You will find all terms around fibres and materials in our Underwear Glossary.