Bamboo clothing terms like lyocell and viscose explained

Short answer: Bamboo clothing terms such as bamboo, lyocell and viscose are often mixed up when you read about garments. In short, viscose and lyocell are both regenerated cellulose, while bamboo tells you which plant the cellulose comes from. Here the terms are explained simply, so you can read a label without guessing.

Viscose in brief

Viscose is a fibre type where plant cellulose is dissolved and pressed into threads. It is used in many kinds of clothing because it feels smooth and drapes softly. When bamboo clothing is made of bamboo, it is usually viscose you are holding, and you can see it on the label.

Lyocell in brief

Lyocell is also regenerated cellulose, but the manufacturing differs from that of viscose. The fibre often feels smooth and soft, and it is used in many types of clothing. There is no reason to prefer one over the other until you have felt the cloth and read the care label.

Where bamboo clothing terms come in

Bamboo is the name of the plant the cellulose comes from, and it may appear on the label together with or instead of viscose. That means bamboo clothing and viscose can be the same cloth described from two sides. See bamboo clothing for women, for example, and read the label on each piece.

The difference between the three words

Viscose and lyocell describe how the fibre is made, while bamboo describes which plant the cellulose comes from. So you can have viscose from bamboo, or lyocell from another plant. That is why the words cannot replace each other, even though they are often mentioned together.

How to read a label

The label shows the fibre name as a percentage, and it is the only reliable source for what the cloth consists of. Look for viscose, lyocell, bamboo and elastane, which also affects the fit. If something is unclear, ask before you buy, and keep the label after you have bought.

How they feel on the body

Both fibres often feel smooth and soft, but the finished cloth always depends on knit and weight. Close fitting pieces such as bamboo tops for women show the difference most clearly. Try the cloth at home and feel around the neck, shoulders and waist.

Care for both fibres

Wash at a low temperature on a gentle cycle, whether it is viscose or lyocell. Skip fabric softener, and dry on a rack or on low heat. Always follow the care label on each piece, because it tells you what your piece can take.

How to use this in daily life

Stick to a few terms when you read about clothes: fibre, plant, knit and care. Then it is easy to compare across brands. Look at the range for women to see how a brand states it on its products.

Frequently asked questions

Are viscose and lyocell the same

No, but both are regenerated cellulose. The difference lies in the manufacturing. The label always shows which fibre is in each piece.

Why does it say bamboo on the clothes

Bamboo tells you which plant the cellulose comes from. The fibre is typically viscose, so the clothing can be described both as bamboo and as viscose.

Does lyocell need different washing from viscose

Follow the care label on each piece. As a rule both are washed gently at a low temperature without fabric softener.