Question about Viscose - YouLookFab Forum

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Question about Viscose

Anonymous

I saw several posts from Forum Members commenting on viscose. I thought I understood that the fabric was problematic, but I can't remember what was said. Could you please tell me your experience with viscose and whether you would recommend it in the Eileen Fisher brand? Thank you.

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18 replies

Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Brooklyn

Veteran

I have had some problems with it shrinking after washing, so I am careful. Wash in cold water only (or dry clean). Gentle cycle or hand wash. Air dry.
If it's Eileen Fisher, it may be a better quality viscose, so shrinkage might not be an issue.

Anonymous

Thank you, Brooklyn.

skylurker

Veteran

Unpredictable.
I have a viscose dress that drapes beautifully, has gone in the washing machine a dozen times and still looks new, doesn’t wrinkle at all, doesn’t need ironing after wash.
But most of the viscose tops I’ve had over the years were disasters : wrinckly, and didn’t resist a single wash. The fabrics of these tops were much thinner, lighter than the fabric of the dress.
It’s more fragile but more breathable than polyester.

unfrumped

Veteran

As far as I know, viscose is the same as rayon. For me, rayon has one or 2 desirable features- woven fabrics can have a wonderful drapey- ness that I can’t get in other materials. This is especially good for me for some blouse or shirt styles and potentially, pants, such as a dressy track pant style. I find it more breathable than polyester or silk, but not as comfy or practical as cotton. Its big downside is shrinkage and wrinkling, especially 100% rayon. Have to dry clean or wash very carefully and no machine drying. ( I’ve been able to sometimes fluff in the dryer for a minute, but have also ruined some things by oops, a minute of 2 too long.)
It also is often in a blend, often with polyester. This is less wrinkle- prone so sometimes makes a pant fabric workable and it handles washing a little better.
Also it’s just variable, the fabric. You can sometimes tell in the store, by the squeeze test, whether it eil just wrinkle horribly or be more resistant. Prints and colors and textures make a difference , too. If you don’t mind ironing that can be okay after washing if it holds up during wear.
That all sounds off- putting, but bottom line is, I DO buy rayon or blend items but shop very carefully and try to target the specific benefit, wardrobe- hole the garment will bring, that I can’t get otherwise, vs its fussiness- level and buy only the ones I think are least fussy.

delurked

Veteran

I've got an EF dress that's viscose that has been no problem. That said, I've read the unfavorable reviews here and have been minimizing my exposure to it based on them.

ETA - I tend to wash on gentle and hang dry the majority of my things, as I have done with this dress. Ironing is like you wanting to wear a dress. It doesn't happen.

carter

I have several EF viscose pieces and they all look great after many, many wears and washes. I have tried to buy a couple from ebay over the years that arrived looking wrinkly and very tired, so there is a way to screw it up in the wash. I machine wash on gentle, 5-10 min in luke warm dryer to get wrinkles out, then hang to dry.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

As others said, the fabric quality is variable, but I'll bet EF would be excellent. I really love viscose for hot weather wear, as long as I treat it carefully. It goes into my washer on delicate cycle, air dry, run an iron over it. The fabric can have a lovely drape and hand.

Marilyn

Veteran

It's one of those fabrics that is unpredictable for me. I always do a cold, gentle wash and hang to dry. I have mostly had good results. I bought a Massimo Dutti top this summer that shrunk so much that I had to donate it....so it can happen and luckily it was a lower price point brand.

That said, I really like viscose for the softness and drape.

The Cat

Veteran

I love viscose, and have done so for decades, for its beautiful drape and soft, retro feel. Have never experienced that it has shrunk. It may wrinkle more than you like (but so may cotton), and it may look "old and worn" after a couple of years (but so may other fabrics).

elpgal

Veteran

My experience is mixed - some are great,some become stiff and the texture changed, some shrank, others pilled. Not related to the price point at all. The only surviving viscose item I have is a patterned top from KMart that is over 8 years old and sees regular wear as a yoga top.

I expect EF will have good quality since drapey machine washable outfits is their schtick.

Gaylene

Veteran

Just like any other fiber, the quality and type of viscose can vary. Inexpensive cotton made from randomized short fibers has quite different properties than cotton made from silky smooth long-fiber Sea Island cotton although both may be labeled 100% cotton. It’s the same with viscose.

I’ve never had any issues with my EF viscose items, but I found the following information on the website interesting:
https://www.eileenfisher.com/s.....r-viscose/

LaPed

Veteran

There are definitely degrees of quality. Viscose is another name for rayon, and it's a pretty broad category of plant-based (sort of) fibres. Lots of info here: https://www.yesitsorganic.com/.....-foes.html

I bet if you contact EF customer service they could give you more information about their viscose, where it's made, and maybe you could get a sense of the quality that way. Edit: It looks like Gaylene's link provides all the info you need. Lenzing, the producer used by EF, is the most reputable manufacturer of viscose.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I can't link to the post from my phone, but read the viscose post on the blog.

Viscose blend = Fine (very nice infact)

100% Viscose = Problematic (shrinks and creases terribly)

Rayon is NOT the same as Viscose. So 100% Rayon is fine.

Rayon and Viscose are natural fibers. Made of cellulose.

Gigi

Veteran

I had thought that the viscose posts had to do with sustainability or some other ethical thing...I want to say that there was a lot of water pollution due to its manufacture. But I can't remember for sure.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Now there is an interesting contradiction here between Angie's blog post Viscose 101 of 7th Feb and LaP's link to Yes It's Organic. Angie says viscose and rayon are not the same thing and the other link says they are. Hmmm. Also I have been very lucky with my 100% viscose pink/blue camo top which has worn like iron. Overall these cellulosic fibres sound like they *can* be as environmentally friendly as some cotton ( read the EF link provided).

LaPed

Veteran

Okay, I think this is a square vs rectangle thing. All viscose is rayon, but not all rayon is viscose.

Viscose refers to a specific manufacturing process: "viscose rayon is a particular type of cellulose fibre made using the viscose process, and it's also often called just 'viscose' or just 'rayon', because it's the commonest kind of rayon. Other kinds of rayon are cuprammonium rayon and acetate rayon." http://www.hiraeth.com/ytg/qanda/answers/rayon.htm

So "cupro" and "acetate" (which are often used as linings) are also rayon, but they're made differently.

According to the US Federal Trade Commission, the terms are interchangeable: "Textiles made from rayon (or viscose, which is the same thing) that was created using bamboo as a plant source may be labeled and advertised as “rayon (or viscose) made from bamboo." http://www.ftc.gov/bamboo-textiles

A few years back there were a number of FTC lawsuits over manufacturers using the term "bamboo" for these fabrics. They were forced to change their labeling practices and since then I've seen the term "viscose" used a lot more frequently.

Anonymous

This was so informative. Thank you all for the information.

I ultimately decided against the top. My decision was not based on the fabrication. I decided since I was buying it for Winter, it would compete with other rarely-worn Winter sweater tops, and not get worn as much as I would like.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Sounds fair enough! Sometimes we need to decide on our own needs and not wider environmental questions!