TENCEL™: innovative, soft, sustainable

Next to cotton, TENCEL™ is not only our second most important natural fiber, but also one of our absolute favorite materials.

But what exactly is TENCEL™ ?

The TENCEL™ fiber is obtained from beech wood and belongs to the family of regenerated fibers. Regenerated fibers are fibers that are made from naturally occurring, renewable raw materials via chemical processes. The TENCEL™ fiber gets its name from the Lenzing company, which has revolutionized the textile industry thanks to its particularly resource-saving “Edelweiss” manufacturing process.

Buchenwald


Why do we use TENCEL™ ?

TENCEL™ is naturally soft on the skin and, thanks to its production using “Edelweiss technology”, is particularly resource-saving and ecological. The fiber is vegan and biodegradable due to its natural origin.

In terms of its wearing properties, the modal fiber impresses not only with its special softness, but also with its wonderfully flowing drape and the fact that the fibers can absorb a lot of moisture. The modal fabrics also retain their shape even after many washes and are therefore particularly durable.

Why is TENCEL™ so sustainable?

The sustainability of modal fiber has been scientifically examined and confirmed by Utrecht University. This is due, on the one hand, to the biological origin of the fiber and, on the other hand, to the particularly environmentally friendly manufacturing process used by Lenzing.

Advantages of the beech tree as a raw material:

  • Co2 binding as the beech tree grows helps relieve the burden on the planet
  • Natural resistance to pests and environmental influences thanks to deep roots
  • Natural rain irrigation is sufficient
  • Reproduction without human intervention
  • Local fiber production in Austria. From wood as a raw material to pulp production and fiber production, all stages of fiber production are located at the same location.

Advantages of the “Edelweiss manufacturing process” from Lenzing

Thanks to its innovative manufacturing processes, Lenzing enables a sustainable circular economy and recovers a large part of the resources used.

  • Origin of the wood from ecological and sustainable forestry in Austria
  • Transparent design of the value chain
  • High recovery rates of used process chemicals (up to 95%)
  • Minimizing wastewater and emissions pollution
  • Formation of sodium sulfate as a co-product. This “waste product” is used in the detergent, glass and food industries.

Circular economy from Lenzing

Lenzing’s circular economy model on Lenzing.com

How is the TENCEL™ fiber obtained from beech wood:

In order to obtain a material as soft as modal, the beech trunks must first be debarked. More than half of the wood can be processed into modal fibers.
The remaining wood is used thermally in Lenzing's facilities and thus contributes significantly to the company's energy production

Using various chemical processes, the cellulose fibers can be transformed into a spinnable material after debarking. These fibers are made into yarn and eventually knitted or woven.

TENCEL™ products from OGNX:

Because we are convinced of the advantages of TENCEL™ fiber, we already use it for some of our women's and men's yoga tanks, sweaters and pants. The goal is to continually expand the Lenzing portion of our collection.

For our OGNX sportswear, the modal fiber is first spun into yarn at Lenzing. The fibers are sent from Lenzing to our partner in Portugal, who knits the yarn into a fine jersey. The raw materials are then forwarded to our producer, who is also Portuguese. At its penultimate station, the raw material is cut, sewn and subjected to a quality check before it finally makes its way to our warehouse in Cologne.

Advantages of TENCEL™ compared to cotton:

Material properties
Compared to cotton fiber, modal is more elastic, more durable and more dimensionally stable. It also has greater strength, wrinkles less and is therefore easier to iron.

Ecologically:

  • More ecological, local and resource-saving cultivation
  • No need for fertilizers
  • Shorter transport routes
  • No artificial irrigation needed. Water consumption for irrigation of modal is 10 – 20 times lower than for growing conventional cotton. In addition, a large part of the water is only used for cooling purposes and is returned to surface waters without being polluted.
  • Obtaining by-products in the manufacturing process


Care of TENCEL™ :

Modal can be washed between 30° and 60°. A gentle wash cycle with mild detergent at a low spin speed (600 revolutions) is usually enough. It is best to use a laundry net for additional protection for your clothing. This way you avoid friction with other textiles. Always follow the instructions on the care label before washing.