'Modal' is a
bio-based fiber made by
spinning reconstituted
cellulose from
beech trees. It is about 50% more
hygroscopic, or water-absorbent, per unit volume than
cotton is. It is designed to
dye just like cotton, and is color-fast when washed in warm water. Modal is essentially a variety of
rayon.
Textiles made from Modal do not fibrillate, or pill, like cotton does, and are resistant to shrinkage and fading. They are smooth and soft, more so than even
mercerized cotton, to the point where mineral deposits from
hard water, such as
lime, do not stick to the fabric surface. Like pure cotton, modal should ideally be ironed after washing.
Lenzing Modal is a registered trademark of
Lenzing AG, an Austrian company specializing in textiles and fibers, particularly natural fibers made from cellulose. In the
United States, pure Modal has begun being used in household linens such as towels, bathrobes, and bedsheets.
Bed Bath & Beyond, for example, sells its newly-released Modal sheets under the name Pure Beech. Modal is also the main textile used in the ''Supersoft'' styles of panties in the ''Angels by
Victoria's Secret'' collection, the ''Flaunt'' series in
aussieBum underwear, sleepwear by Gap Body, and items in
Lululemon Athletica's casual line. Old Navy also uses Modal in their sleep wear and clothing lines.
Indian
textile companies, in particular, have taken to Modal, and were expected to produce around 4000
tons of it in
2005.
See also
Lyocell
Reference
Data sheet on modal
External links
★
Modal gains ground in India
★
Lenzing's website describing the fiber