BACK TO BASICS - WHAT IS TENCEL MODAL?

If you have ever had your hands on our Basics range (the black, white and grey marle pieces), you know that the fabric we use is luxuriously soft and a dream to wear all day. Here at NICO, all of our Basics range is made from the incredible fabric TENCEL™ Modal. 

TENCEL™ Modal is a high quality, silky soft, botanic fibre, that begins as sustainably sourced beechwood trees. Produced by Austrian company Lenzing, the raw material from these trees is turned into wood pulp, and further broken down into modal fibres. Spun into yarn, the whole production is considered a closed loop process, meaning at least 95% of the materials used are recovered in the factory - pretty impressive! This is also the point where Modal really shines in comparison to similar fabrics, like Bamboo, which can be really polluting.

In Austria and the surrounding countries in which the beechwood is sourced, the beechwood trees grow and propagate naturally so there is no planting or irrigation required. To ensure that their wood is sustainably sourced, Lenzing works with the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™). 

Lenzing excels in sustainability and have received numerous certifications and awards for their true commitment to sustainable practices. TENCEL™ is a USDA certified bio based product, certified with the internationally recognised EU Ecolabel and hold the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 Certificate. This guarantees the fibres are free of harmful chemicals. Further, Lenzing Group is set to become the first carbon neutral fibre producer in the world, with targets set to reduce the company's CO2 emissions by 50 percent by 2030, and 100 per cent by 2050.

The Lenzing branded swing tags that we use on our Basics range are evidence of the quality and authenticity of our fabrics. To access the tags our fabrics are tested in Lenzing labs to certify they are authentic and up to scratch.

Not only are modal fibres light, stretchy and gentle on the skin, they also have an exceptional capacity for thermoregulation, making it breathable and keeping you cool and dry. To ensure our modal stays smooth and silky soft, it goes through a bio washing process before dyeing. Usually a chemical process, we have collaborated with our natural dyeing team to develop an enzyme based natural alternative. The milk whey enzyme solution removes protruding fibres and prevents your garments from pilling or shrinking, while giving it the signature NICO smooth finish that holds up well with washing. 

We particularly love TENCEL™ Modal because both the fibre and production process are sustainable and easily traceable.

We hope this helps shed some light on the truly amazing fibre TENCEL™ Modal, and the reasons why you can feel good wearing it, knowing your choices are better for the planet, the people living here and for you!

P.S. Lenzing have recently updated their branding and what was previously known as just Lenzing Modal is now known as TENCEL™ Modal. Rest assured the fibres and our supply chain are still the same.