What Is Viscose? — The Complete Answer

Viscose is one of the world's oldest manufactured fibres, first developed in the late 19th century as a cheaper alternative to silk. Today, it is one of the three most widely used textile fibres globally — alongside cotton and polyester — and can be found in everything from luxury fashion garments and womens's dresses to medical textiles and disposable wipes.

When people ask "what is viscose fabric?" the most accurate answer is this: viscose is a regenerated cellulosic fibre — meaning the raw material is a natural polymer (cellulose) that is dissolved, regenerated, and extruded into a new fibre form. This places it in the same family as modal, lyocell (Tencel), and cupro — all of which are made from cellulose but produced using different chemical processes.

In the USA, viscose is more commonly referred to as rayon — and the terms are used interchangeably on clothing labels. In the UK and Europe, "viscose" is the standard term. If you see either on a garment care label, they refer to the same textile family.

How Is Viscose Made? — The 7-Step Production Process

Understanding how viscose is made is important for anyone choosing fabrics for garment manufacturing. The viscose production process is more complex than natural fibre production (which involves harvesting and spinning) and more complex than synthetic fibre production (which typically involves direct petrochemical polymerisation). Here is the complete seven-step process:

Viscose Fabric Properties — Everything You Need to Know

Understanding viscose fabric properties is essential for anyone choosing materials for garment production. Viscose has a distinctive combination of positive attributes — particularly its softness and drape — but also some important limitations that affect how it performs in use and production.

Types of Viscose Fabric — The Complete Rayon Family

Viscose fabric is not a single product — it is the original member of an entire family of semi-synthetic cellulosic fibres. Each variant in the rayon/viscose family is made from the same raw material (wood cellulose) but produced using a modified process to achieve different properties. Understanding these types is essential when choosing the right fabric for your clothing brand.

Is Viscose Breathable? — What You Need to Know

Is viscose breathable? Yes — viscose is one of the most breathable fabrics available in fashion manufacturing. This is one of its most important commercial properties and a primary reason it is so widely used in warm-weather fashion, summer dresses, blouses, and lightweight resort wear.

Viscose is breathable for two reasons: first, it has a high moisture absorption rate (10–12% of its own weight in water vapour) which draws perspiration away from the skin; second, it has a lightweight, relatively open fibre structure that allows air to circulate through the fabric. Combined, these properties produce a cooling, comfortable sensation in warm and humid climates — one of the reasons viscose is so popular in custom crop tops, summer dresses, and lightweight fashion tops.

However, it is worth noting that while viscose absorbs moisture well, it dries more slowly than polyester and is not as wicking as performance synthetic fabrics — making it better suited to casual and fashion wear than high-intensity athletic performance.

Viscose Fabric Properties — Advantages & Disadvantages

✅ Advantages of Viscose Fabric

• Exceptional softness: Viscose has one of the softest hand feels of any fabric — comparable to silk — making it a popular choice for garments worn directly against skin.
• Beautiful drape: Viscose fabric drapes elegantly and moves with the body, making it ideal for feminine silhouettes, dresses, skirts, blouses, and lining fabrics.
• Highly breathable: With a moisture absorption rate of 10–12%, viscose is one of the most breathable fabrics available — keeping the wearer cool and comfortable.
• Dyes exceptionally well: Viscose accepts dye more readily than most fabrics, producing vivid, rich colors with excellent depth and brilliance — making it popular for bold fashion pieces.
• Affordable luxury feel: Viscose provides a silk-like appearance and feel at a significantly lower cost than genuine silk, making it accessible for commercial fashion brands.
• Lightweight: Viscose fabric is typically lighter than cotton at the same GSM, contributing to its popular use in lightweight summer garments.
• Plant-based origin: Unlike fully synthetic fabrics (polyester, nylon), viscose is derived from renewable plant cellulose — though its production process does involve chemicals.

❌ Disadvantages of Viscose Fabric

• Weakens when wet: Standard viscose loses up to 50% of its tensile strength when wet — the most significant disadvantage for garment production and consumer care. HWM rayon and modal address this.
• Prone to shrinkage: Viscose can shrink 3–5% in the first wash if exposed to hot water or tumble drying. Garment manufacturers must account for this in pattern sizing.
• Wrinkles easily: Viscose creases and wrinkles more than cotton and significantly more than polyester — requiring careful handling, pressing, and garment care.
• Delicate care requirements: Most viscose garments require hand-washing or a delicate machine cycle in cold water — reducing its convenience compared to cotton or polyester.
• Environmental concerns: The standard viscose production process uses carbon disulfide, a toxic chemical, and generates significant wastewater — though modern facilities with treatment systems significantly mitigate this.
• Not suitable for heavy use: Viscose is not appropriate for high-stress applications like activewear, workwear, or any garment requiring high tear resistance.

What Is Viscose Fabric Used For? — Applications in Clothing

Viscose fabric is used across a remarkably wide range of clothing and textile applications. Its softness, drape, and breathability make it a versatile fabric for both fashion and functional applications. Here is where viscose is most commonly used in custom clothing manufacturing for USA brands:

• Dresses and skirts: The most common application for viscose — the fluid drape and lightweight construction create beautifully flowing dresses and skirts ideal for warm weather and occasion wear.
• Blouses and tops: Viscose's silk-like surface and breathability make it an ideal fabric for women's blouses, fashion tops, and draped shirts — a staple in women's fashion manufacturing.
• Crop tops: Lightweight viscose jersey is increasingly used in custom crop top manufacturing for women's fashion brands — particularly for going-out, resort, and summer collections.
• Linings: Viscose is widely used as a lining fabric inside structured garments — jackets, varsity jackets, coats, and trousers — providing a smooth, comfortable interior layer.
• Loungewear and sleepwear: The soft, cool hand of viscose makes it a popular choice for premium loungewear, pyjamas, and sleepwear brands.
• Scarves and shawls: Woven viscose produces beautiful, lightweight scarves and shawls with excellent colour depth and a semi-lustrous appearance.
• Activewear blend fabrics: When blended with spandex or polyester, viscose contributes softness and breathability to activewear fabrics — used in custom yoga shorts and athleisure pieces.
• Medical textiles: Viscose is used in surgical textiles, wound care products, and non-woven hygiene items due to its high absorbency.

Viscose in Garment Manufacturing — What Brands Need to Know

For fashion brand founders and clothing entrepreneurs launching their first collection, understanding how viscose fabric behaves in garment manufacturing is essential before placing a production order. At ClothingManufacturer.US, we work with viscose and viscose-blend fabrics across multiple garment categories — and there are several key considerations every brand should understand:

Pre-washing before cutting: Viscose must be pre-washed or steam-shrunk before garment cutting to account for its shrinkage rate. Professional manufacturers account for this in their pattern-making, but brands specifying viscose should ensure this step is confirmed with their low MOQ clothing manufacturer.

Cutting direction matters: Viscose has a visible sheen direction — like silk and velvet. All garment pieces must be cut in the same direction (the lay must be single-direction) to ensure colour consistency across the finished garment.

Labeling requirements: The US FTC requires that viscose garments be labeled with the correct fibre content. "Rayon" is the required US term on care labels — a professional private label clothing manufacturer will handle this correctly as standard.

Blend opportunities: Many brands opt for viscose-cotton or viscose-polyester blends to improve durability and reduce shrinkage while maintaining the softness and drape that makes viscose attractive. Our fabric selection guide covers blend options in detail.

How to Care for Viscose Fabric — Washing & Maintenance

Proper care instructions for viscose fabric are important to communicate to end consumers via garment care labels:

• Hand-wash in cold or lukewarm water (30°C maximum) with a gentle detergent
• Machine wash only on a delicate or hand-wash cycle — cold water only
• Do not wring or twist wet viscose — the wet fabric loses strength and can distort
• Dry flat or hang dry away from direct sunlight — tumble drying causes significant shrinkage
• Iron on low-medium heat while slightly damp — high heat damages viscose fibres
• Dry cleaning is recommended for delicate or structured viscose garments
• Store flat or loosely folded — avoid heavy compression which causes persistent creases

Frequently Asked Questions — Viscose Fabric

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