TENCEL™And Silk: Similarities, Differences, And More

Silk is a fibre that is usually made out of the cocoons of silkworms. It has been used for centuries for clothing and other textiles because of its strong, shiny, and durable qualities. In addition, silk has a smooth texture and a lustrous sheen, making it popular for garments and home decorations. Its high price, elegance, and softness make it luxurious in the fashion and fabric industry.

Silk was predominantly used and valued in ancient China, and it was used initially to wrap a child's body in a tomb. It was also a textile that was exclusive to the Emperor. This fabric had high value and was used as a form of currency that was measured in length. The Silk Road was the known route for the trading of silk that connected the West to the East, and it continues to be known as The Silk Road even until this day.

As time went on, other countries became famous for silk-producing as well. This includes India, Korea, Thailand, and some parts of Europe. The US also became silk producing during the 17th century, and now, more than 60 countries around the globe are manufacturing it.

What is silk fabric made of? It is a natural material made from fibre produced by insects such as beetles, hornets, honey bees, weaver ants, and the most popular type of silk - silkworms. These insects produce natural silk fibres for their cocoons and nests. Silk is made from fibroin, a protein that makes it shiny and soft.

Now that you know how silk is produced, let’s explore what the different types of silk are:

This is the most popular type of silk. It accounts for most of the silk globally, around 90%. Coming from the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori, this type of silk is the top quality among all its varieties as it is 100% natural, odorless, and hypoallergenic. On top of that, this type of silk is most suited for those with allergies as mulberry silk contains a protein (sericin) that reduces the chance of an allergic reaction.

Eri silk is one of the more durable and stronger fibres within this list. Because of its thermal properties, Eri silk can keep you both cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Eri silk is produced by caterpillars in North East India, Japan, and China.

Gold in colour, Tussar silk is produced by silkworms found in China, Sri Lanka, Japan, and India. This silk is most commonly used for making sarees and can come in a variety of natural colour, such as beige, cream, honey, and tawny. However, Tussar silk is less durable and may not feel as soft as other silks such as Mulberry silk.

This silk possesses a golden sheen and is commonly used by Indian royalty. It is also known for its strong natural durability that the other types of silks do not have.

Aside from being famous for its luxurious and absorbent feel, here are the other benefits of silk:

Silk is one of the most popular fabrics in terms of strength. However, its durability lessens when wet. Silk is usually mixed with other natural fibres like cotton to add more strength. The type of cotton that is mixed in varies from Egyptian cotton to Pima cotton, where both have long staples that make the material more durable.

Silk's elastic quality makes it an ideal material for garments.

As with every material, silk also possesses some disadvantages such as:

Silk shrinks when it is washed, hence, it is ideal to engage in dry cleaning in order avoid your fabrics shrinking.

When applying friction to silk fabrics, static gets generated easily as it is a poor conductor of electricity.

Many products are made from silk. For example, flat sheets and pure silk bedding are some of the few known popular products. But are silk sheets worth it? For many, it is a firm yes, as silk sheets, silk pillows, and pillowcases, and other products are luxuriously soft and smooth against sensitive skin. Other silk products include silk clothing, silk sheet set, cotton silk, scarves, and socks.

Before we talk about what TENCEL™ is, an important thing to note is that TENCEL™ is a brand name, much like how VELCRO® is one as well. TENCEL™ was produced by an Austrian company called Lenzing AG, which produces a variety of semi-synthetic fibres such as modal and lyocell. The first Modal fibre was launched in 1945 while the first Lyocell fibre was first introduced in 1991, where Lenzing revolutionized the world of botanical cellulose fibres.

There are two popular types of TENCEL™, Modal and Lyocell. Both are neither synthetic nor fully natural, but are instead, semi-synthetic fibres that have natural botanic origins. This means that these fibres are made from natural raw materials with a naturally occurring long-chain polymer structure, but are modified and partially degraded due to the chemical processes. Furthermore, these are environmentally friendly bedding materials as a result of closed cycle. In this production process, the materials that form during production are continuously circulated and do not get wasted nor does it need to be replenished.

Below are some of the pros of TENCEL™:

Due to the structure of TENCEL™ Lyocell fibre, it feels exceptionally silky and smooth on the skin. Longer fibre are also used for weaving the sheets, which results in a smoother surface that ideal for those with sensitive or easily irritated skin. TENCEL™ is often considered as an eco-friendly alternative to silk because it provides a similar comfortable feel and luxurious look silk offers.

TENCEL™ is a durable fibre with a high dry and wet tensile strength and it is capable of retaining 85% of its dry tenacity under wet conditions. This allows the fibre to retain its shape and be naturally more wrinkle-resistant. It is also less likely to shrink and not prone to fading and becoming thin overtime. All these factors make it easy to care for TENCEL™ sheets.

TENCEL™ fibres originate from wood pulp and undergoes an environmentally responsible production process, making it certified as compostable and biodegradable.

There are many key differences between silk and TENCEL™. The main difference is that silk is a natural fibre, while TENCEL™ is semi-synthetic. This is because silk comes from nests and cocoons that are produced by silkworms, while TENCEL™ Lyocell is made from wood pulp that has undergone chemical processes.

Additionally, TENCEL™ bed sheets are more moisture-wicking than silk, and they can wick away more moisture to keep you cool and dry during the summer weather. TENCEL™ is also less likely to shrink or stretch than silk, making it a better choice for garments that need to fit well. Finally, TENCEL™ is biodegradable, while silk is not. So if you're looking for a biodegradable fibre, TENCEL™ is a good choice.

Silk has been on top of the fabric and clothing industry because of its many advantages. But with TENCEL™ as the newer and more eco-friendly option, it might be time to switch to TENCEL™. Not only is TENCEL™ more environmentally friendly, but it is also proven to be softer than silk.