What viscose means on a product label

Short answer: Viscose is the name of a regenerated cellulose fibre. If the label says viscose, the fibre is made from plant cellulose, whether it comes from bamboo, wood or another plant. The name describes the fibre, not the raw material.

The label names the fibre

Textile rules require the fibre type to be stated, not the raw material. That is why the label says viscose and not bamboo, even though the cellulose comes from the bamboo plant. It can seem confusing, but it is the same fibre in the fabric. See the labelling on bamboo sweatwear, where the fibre content is on the sewn in label.

What regenerated means

Regenerated means the cellulose has been dissolved and formed again. The plant material is broken down, the cellulose is dissolved and then pressed through nozzles into long threads. The result is a fibre made from a natural material but shaped in a factory. It is neither fully natural like cotton nor synthetic like polyester.

The percentages matter

If it says one hundred percent viscose, there is no elastane, and the fabric will not fully recover after stretching. If it says, for example, 95 percent viscose and 5 percent elastane, the fabric has more stretch and holds its shape better. See the blends in best sellers for women, where many styles contain a little elastane.

Bamboo is named as the raw material

Bamboo may be mentioned in the product name or description, but not as the fibre name on the label itself. That is why you often see bamboo viscose in the description and just viscose on the label. They are two ways of saying the same thing. This applies to all items in best sellers for men and the rest of the range.

Other names for related fibres

Other countries and contexts use other names. Rayon is the American name for viscose, and you may also come across modal or lyocell. The latter two are also regenerated cellulose fibres, but made in a different way. Viscose is the most common name in Europe and the one you will see most often here.

What viscose means for care

Viscose is weaker when wet than when dry, so it should be treated gently in the wash. Wash at 40 degrees or lower, avoid wringing hard and let it air dry. The tumble dryer can make the fabric shrink and lose its smoothness. Always follow the care label, which sits next to the fibre content.

How to read the label

Look for the fibre content in percent and the care instructions. The fibre content tells you how the fabric will behave. Lots of viscose means soft and smooth, elastane means stretch, and cotton means more robust. The care instructions tell you how best to look after it. It only takes a moment and saves surprises later.

A clear name makes a clear choice

Once you know what viscose is, comparing items becomes easier. You can see whether the fabric is pure or blended, whether it has stretch, and how it should be washed. That makes it simpler to choose clothing that suits your needs, whether for home, for work or for the night.

Frequently asked questions

Is bamboo viscose worse than wood viscose

No. The process and the fibre are the same. The only difference is the raw material. How the fabric feels depends mostly on the yarn, the knit and the finishing.

What does rayon mean

It is the American name for viscose. The same material, the same properties and the same care advice, just with a different name on the label.

Why does it not simply say bamboo

Because that would be misleading. The fibre is not bamboo in its original form, but cellulose from the plant that has been dissolved and formed again into a new fibre.