Modal: The soft fabric made from beech wood
Modal is a viscose fibre made from beech wood cellulose. It belongs to the family of regenerated fibres: industrially produced, but based on a natural raw material. We use TENCEL™ Modal x Micro from Lenzing in Austria.
Modal is made from beech wood cellulose and is known for its smooth feel. We use TENCEL™ Modal x Micro from Lenzing. The bleaching process works with oxygen-based chemistry instead of chlorine-based bleaches.
How is modal made?
According to Lenzing, TENCEL™ Modal x Micro uses beech wood from FSC- and PEFC-certified forestry. The certificates refer to the origin of the wood, not to the finished garment. The wood is debarked, chipped and converted into a spinnable fibre through chemical processes. This fibre is spun into yarn and then knitted or woven into fabric. Raw material preparation, pulp production and fibre manufacturing take place at a single Lenzing site in Austria.
Modal fibres are finer than human hair: 10 km of fibre weighs only 1.3 g. That is why modal feels light.
The key properties:
- Soft with a smooth handle
- Drapes fluidly and does not add bulk
We use modal mainly for underwear and loungewear.
Where the wood comes from and how Lenzing produces it
Lenzing states that more than 99 % of the beech wood for TENCEL™ Modal x Micro comes from FSC- or PEFC-certified forests in Austria and neighbouring countries.
For context: modal is based on wood as a renewable raw material, polyester on crude oil. For fibre production, Lenzing states lower water consumption than for cotton. According to the manufacturer, process chemicals are largely recovered; by-products such as sodium sulphate go to the detergent and food industries.
All information in this section comes from Lenzing and refers to fibre production, not to our finished products.
Modal at erlich textil
We use TENCEL™ Modal x Micro from Lenzing. Raw material processing, pulp and fibre production all run at one location in Austria. The micromodal fibre is then spun with elastane into yarn in Türkiye, dyed, knitted and made up into the finished garment there.
How to properly care for modal fabric
Washing:
Wash modal at a maximum of 40 °C on a delicate cycle with a mild detergent. Choose a low spin speed (600 rpm) and use a laundry bag, which protects against friction and pilling. Always check the care label before washing.
Drying:
Modal can usually go in the tumble dryer, but the washing line is gentler. Larger items such as jumpsuits are best dried flat. The material is heavy after washing and can otherwise stretch out of shape.
Ironing:
Modal wrinkles less than many other fabrics and is easy to iron. A low to medium setting is perfectly sufficient.
