Tencel Lyocell
The Fabric
We chose Tencel for the feel.
We choose the fibre to suit the garment. This is the long version of why some of our pieces are made from wood, what that does on the body, and what we can prove.
Choosing the fibre
The right fibre for the job.
We do not build the whole range from one material. A pair of leggings has to hold its shape under load, stay opaque through a squat and survive a few hundred washes. That is a job for a high performance synthetic, which is why our Proformance leggings, shorts and sports bras are cut from Repreve, a polyester spun from recycled plastic bottles.
A tank, a crop or a brief is doing something different. It sits directly against the skin, often for hours, and what matters most is how it feels and how it handles moisture. That is where we use TENCEL™ Lyocell, a cellulose fibre made from eucalyptus wood.
Neither is a compromise. They are answers to different questions. What they share is that neither starts life as virgin petroleum.
“This tank is the perfect length and so ridiculously soft to touch.”
Founder’s note, the Precision Tank
On the body
What the fibre actually does.
Four properties, all of them consequences of the same thing: a smooth fibre surface that takes up moisture readily.
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Hand feel
Lyocell fibres have a naturally smooth surface, which is why the fabric reads as soft and fluid rather than dry or slick. It also gives the cloth a subtle natural sheen.
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Moisture
The fibre absorbs moisture and releases it again, supporting a drier microclimate next to the skin. Sweat moves into the fibre rather than sitting on the surface of the fabric.
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Temperature
That same moisture uptake gives a higher perceived level of thermal comfort. In practice it is the reason one piece copes with a hard session indoors and the walk home afterwards.
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Freshness
Because sweat is absorbed efficiently, less moisture sits on the fibre surface, and the bacteria responsible for odour find it a less hospitable place to grow.
How it is made
From tree to fibre, in a closed loop.
Conventional viscose has a poor reputation for a reason: the solvents used to dissolve the pulp have historically been released. Lyocell production runs the solvent round a loop instead. More than 99.8% of it is recovered and reused.
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Wood
Eucalyptus, from FSC® or PEFC certified and controlled sources.
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Pulp
The wood is processed into a raw cellulose pulp.
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Closed loop
Pulp is dissolved in an organic solvent, then recovered and fed back in.
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Fibre
Spun into filament, knitted into fabric, cut and sewn into the piece.
The proof
Independently certified, not self declared.
Every claim below applies to the TENCEL™ Lyocell fibre itself and is held by Lenzing AG, the producer. We have not tested the finished garments against these standards and do not claim to have done so.
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TÜV Austria
Certified biodegradable in soil, freshwater and marine environments, and compostable under both home and industrial conditions.
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EU Ecolabel
Awarded to products with reduced environmental impact across the lifecycle, from raw material through to disposal.
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FSC® and PEFC
Wood sourced from certified and controlled forestry, audited against chain of custody requirements.
In the range
Where we use it.
Tencel does the work wherever the fabric sits directly against the skin for a long stretch.
- Women’s Precision Tank93% Tencel / 7% Elastane
- Men’s Precision Brief93% Tencel / 7% Elastane
- Women’s Aura Long Sleeve Crop93% Tencel / 7% Elastane
- The Merino T70% Merino / 30% Tencel — read the blend story
And where we do not.
Anything that has to hold its shape under load runs on Repreve instead, a polyester spun from recycled plastic bottles. That covers the Proformance leggings, shorts and sports bras. Different job, different fibre.
Read the Repreve storyQuestions
The things people ask us.
What is Tencel, in one sentence?
Tencel is a brand name for lyocell, a fibre made by dissolving wood pulp in a solvent and spinning it into filament. TENCEL™ Lyocell is produced by Lenzing AG from eucalyptus wood.
Should I choose Tencel or Repreve?
It depends on the piece. Repreve, our recycled polyester, is built for structure and durability, which is what leggings, shorts and sports bras need. Tencel is built for next to skin comfort, which is what tanks, crops, briefs and anything you stay in after training need. The two behave differently on moisture as well: polyester moves sweat along the surface of the fabric and dries fast, while Tencel takes it into the fibre. Most people end up owning both.
Why is there elastane in it if Tencel is biodegradable?
Because the garment has to hold its shape and recover after being stretched. The biodegradability certification applies to the Tencel fibre, not to a blended fabric. We would rather state that plainly than imply the finished piece will compost, because it will not.
How should I wash it?
Cool wash and line dry. Do not dry clean. Cool washing and air drying protects both the Tencel fibre and the elastane, and it is what the care label on the garment specifies.
Where is it made?
Our Tencel garments are made in China. The fibre itself is produced by Lenzing AG. Further detail on our manufacturing partners is available on request.
Fibre properties, production detail and certifications as published by Lenzing AG, the producer of TENCEL™ Lyocell. All certifications listed apply to the TENCEL™ Lyocell fibre rather than to finished PRO | ORA garments. TENCEL™ is a trademark of Lenzing AG. FSC® is a registered trademark of the Forest Stewardship Council.