Textile’s New Language

Deciphering textile labels has gotten a lot more complicated. Do you know the differences between lyocell, Tencel, and viscose? Do you know what eco-silk is? How about mycelium or bast? And what about all the different ways fibers and fabrics are marketed as “recycled”, “green”, “organic” and other eco-conscious terms? As consumers grow more knowledgeable regarding sustainability and natural resource allotment within the textile supply chain, understanding this arcane aspect of the industry represents an opportunity to build unique value and services into your practice. We’ll cover fiber/fabric label lingo and take a look at some of the emerging technical fibers and textiles you may see showing up soon in home furnishings.