Chicago’s fashion scene is buzzing with independent designers who prioritize sustainability. For these small brands, choosing the right materials is crucial. Tencel has become a popular choice due to its eco-friendly credentials and high quality. It offers a path for brands to create beautiful clothing while minimizing environmental impact.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Tencel fabric. We’ll cover what it is, why it’s a smart choice for your brand, and how to source it online. You’ll get practical tips for finding reliable suppliers and working with the fabric, making it easier for your Chicago-based brand to adopt this sustainable material.
What is Tencel?
Tencel is the brand name for a type of lyocell and modal fiber, produced by the Austrian company Lenzing AG. It’s known as a regenerated cellulose fiber, meaning it comes from natural raw materials—specifically, wood pulp from sustainably managed forests. The production process is what sets Tencel apart. It uses a closed-loop system that recycles over 99% of the solvents and water, making it a very low-impact process.
Properties of Tencel Fabric
Tencel stands out for several key characteristics:
- Softness: The fabric has a smooth, gentle feel against the skin, often compared to silk or high-quality cotton.
- Durability: It is strong and resilient, holding up well to wear and washing, which means longer-lasting garments.
- Breathability: Tencel is highly breathable and has excellent moisture-wicking properties, keeping the wearer cool and dry.
- Drape: It has a fluid, graceful drape that makes it ideal for creating flowing dresses, blouses, and skirts.
- Color Retention: The fibers absorb dye deeply, resulting in vibrant, long-lasting colors that don’t fade easily.
When compared to other common fabrics, Tencel’s advantages become clear. It is softer and more absorbent than cotton, and its production requires significantly less water and pesticides. Unlike synthetic fabrics like polyester, Tencel is biodegradable and doesn’t contribute to microplastic pollution.
Why Source Tencel?
For small fashion brands, choosing Tencel fabric offers a competitive edge. The material aligns with the growing consumer demand for sustainable and transparently made products.
Benefits for Small Brands
- Environmental Appeal: Using Tencel demonstrates a commitment to sustainability, which can attract eco-conscious customers. This helps build a brand story centered on responsible practices.
- Superior Quality: The premium feel and performance of Tencel can elevate your product line. Garments made from Tencel look and feel high-end, justifying a higher price point.
- Versatility: Tencel is suitable for a wide range of applications, from activewear and casual tees to elegant dresses. This flexibility allows designers to use a single sustainable material across various collections.
- Cost Efficiency: While the initial cost per yard may be higher than conventional fabrics, the durability of Tencel means fewer returns and greater customer satisfaction. Sourcing online can also lead to better pricing options.
Where to Buy Fabric Online
Finding the right supplier is key to integrating Tencel into your collections. Many online fabric stores cater to small businesses, offering lower minimum order quantities (MOQs) and competitive pricing.
A great starting point for both local and online sourcing is Fabriclore Pvt Ltd. They have established a reputation for reliability and offer a wide selection of sustainable materials, including Tencel fabric, making it easy for brands to get started.
Reputable Online Tencel Suppliers
Here are a few other trusted online suppliers for small businesses:
- Mood Fabrics: A well-known name in the industry, Mood offers a variety of Tencel blends and provides detailed fabric information on its website.
- Simplifi Fabric: This Canadian supplier specializes in organic and sustainable textiles, with a good selection of Tencel lyocell and modal options. They ship internationally and are known for their quality.
- Blackbird Fabrics: Another popular choice for independent designers, Blackbird Fabrics carries a curated collection of high-quality apparel fabrics, including various Tencel wovens and knits.
Tips for Evaluating Suppliers
When you decide to buy fabric online, it’s important to vet your suppliers carefully.
- Check Certifications: Look for suppliers that provide proof of Lenzing certification. This ensures you are getting authentic Tencel.
- Review MOQs: Find a supplier whose minimum order quantities fit your production scale. Many online stores sell fabric by the yard, which is ideal for small brands.
- Request Swatches: Always order swatches before placing a large order. This allows you to check the fabric’s color, weight, and feel firsthand.
- Compare Pricing: Look at the price per yard across different suppliers. Don’t forget to factor in shipping costs, especially for international orders.
Tips for Working with Tencel
Tencel is a pleasure to work with, but it has some unique characteristics. Here are a few tips for handling this fabric, with insights from Chicago designers who use it regularly.
Cutting and Sewing
- Use Sharp Tools: A fresh rotary cutter or sharp fabric shears will ensure clean cuts and prevent fraying.
- Choose the Right Needle: A universal or microtex needle, size 70/10 or 80/12, works best for most Tencel fabrics.
- Pre-Wash the Fabric: Tencel can shrink slightly during the first wash. Pre-washing your fabric ensures the final garment fits as intended.
- Finish Your Seams: Use a serger or a zigzag stitch to finish the seams, as Tencel can be prone to fraying.
Fabric Care
Advise your customers on proper care to extend the life of their Tencel garments. Recommend washing in cold water on a gentle cycle and either tumble drying on low or hanging to dry. This helps maintain the fabric’s softness and shape.
Case Studies: Chicago Brands Using Tencel
Several Chicago-based fashion brands have already made Tencel a core part of their collections.
Production Mode: This Pilsen-based studio, led by designer Jamie Hayes, focuses on ethical production and sustainable materials. They use Tencel in their custom-made apparel, valuing its beautiful drape and eco-friendly origins. Their experience shows that Tencel can be successfully incorporated into high-end, locally-made fashion.
Another Garde: This brand is committed to slow fashion and creates timeless pieces from sustainable materials. Their collections often feature Tencel for its soft texture and versatility. By highlighting the fabric’s benefits in their marketing, they connect with customers who value both style and substance.
These brands prove that sourcing and working with Tencel is not only possible for small Chicago designers but also a powerful way to build a brand identity centered on quality and responsibility.
A Smart Choice for Your Brand
Sourcing Tencel fabric online offers a practical way for small Chicago fashion brands to embrace sustainability without sacrificing quality. Its softness, durability, and environmental benefits make it an excellent choice for creating clothing that customers will love. By selecting reliable online suppliers and following best practices for handling the fabric, you can seamlessly add Tencel to your material library. This move can enhance your products, strengthen your brand’s story, and meet the growing demand for thoughtful fashion.
Fabriclore’s Lenzing TENCEL collection page currently shows a total of 6 Tencel fabrics, but the specific product names are not visible in the provided page content, which only mentions that there are “6 products” listed under this category without detailing individual fabric names or types.
Fabriclore is a leading B2B fabric sourcing platform dedicated to empowering fashion designers, apparel manufacturers, and clothing brands worldwide. With 10+ years of experience in the textile industry, we have built a trusted network that connects creativity with high-quality fabrics, ensuring seamless and efficient sourcing for every scale of production.
Our extensive collection includes natural fibers like cotton fabric, linen fabric, and silk fabric; man-made fibers such as viscose and polyester; along with sustainable options like LENZING™, LIVA™, BEMBERG™ Cupro, and organic cotton.
We offer four key services tailored to meet every design and production need:
- Dyeable Fabric – Woven RFD & greige, sustainable, and knitted fabrics.
- Dyed Fabric – Mill dyed, yarn dyed, Schiffli, and denim fabrics.
- Made To Order – Digital printing, screen printing, block printing, and dyeing solutions.
- Ready Stock – Block, screen, Ikat, tweed, and jacquard fabrics.
Explore our diverse range of custom-printed, ready mill-dyed, and yarn-dyed fabrics to find the perfect match for your next collection.
For personalized assistance or inquiries, reach out to us at hello@fabriclore.com.
Experience seamless, authentic, and affordable fabric sourcing with Fabriclore — your trusted partner with over a decade of expertise in the global textile industry.
