Most people rarely think about the different kinds and types of fabric in relation to different weather and seasonal conditions. Variety can be very overwhelming and so most people just end up buying the simpler and more readily available option even in very hot season like summer. But in order to fee and be comfortable in summer you need something light, something breathable and something that’s fairly easy to put on. Modal fabric comes to mind because of its biological based composition. What better way to know if a fabric like Modal is good for the summer than to know exactly how it’s made and where it is from, and the good it does for the environment.
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How Is Modal Fabric Made?
Modal fabric is an improvement of another type of fabric known as viscose rayon. The reason viscose rayon had to be improved upon is because its production is wasteful and harmful for the environment. Modal fabric is produced from harvesting of Beech trees that are chopped down into bits (wood chips) and then a protein called cellulose is extracted. This cellulose is then formed into sheets through hard pressing and then dipped into vats or large pools filled with what’s known as caustic soda (sodium hydroxide.) The formed sheets are then broken down into crumbs that are also dipped into another chemical solution. After this the crumbs turn into an orange colored substance known as sodium cellulose xanthate. This substance is then after immersed in another round of caustic soda to create a fluid-like solution. Which can then be forced through a spinneret to create Modal fibers. These fibers are then immersed into sulfuric acid, and the stretched to form Modal yarn. The yarn is what then creates Modal Fabric.
Is Modal Fabric Good For Summer?
Because Modal fabric is very breathable it is good for summer. Modal fabric is also very popular in the production of sportswear and bed sheets. Why is that relevant? Well sportswear needs to be as light and breathable as can be because when participating in any type of sport the body tends to increase its metabolic processes generating more heat (which also results in sweating) and so if your clothing is puffy or warm than light and cool, you might suffer from dehydration. This scenario is not too far (in terms of similarity) from what a summer day can do. That is where Modal fabric comes in because of its light make up and hole filled weave formation, it helps heat escape effectively from the body without trapping it in, a very useful property in a hot season like summer.
Modal fabric also has a high moisture-wicking ability, which means it drams up sweat quickly to cool your body down in summer (This also means that you would need to wash the Modal fabric a lot more in summer because that is when you’re most likely going to sweat or get hot.)
Modal fabric is also very soft, which is a plus for comfortability on hot summers.
Because of its soft and silky-like texture, Modal fabric is also used to make bed sheets and the like (basically most things or garments that are always on the body or close to the body.) Which makes Modal fabric great for even summer nights, which can also get relatively hot.
It is worth noting however that clothing made from Modal fabric is much more expensive than either cotton or polyester (these are the most common types of fabrics used in making clothing) because of its very complex and long extraction process.
More On Modal Fabric
- Modal fabric is 50% more absorbent than cotton. Which makes it a better alternative for summer.
- Modal fabric is biodegradable, which makes it very good for the environment, it decomposes naturally which helps stop pollution.
- Modal fabric can be used to better other materials like when blended with cotton, the composition becomes way more absorbent because both cotton and Modal are absorbent in nature. It is also used in hygiene products because of this capability.
- When blended with Lycra or Spandex, Modal can have more strength and flexibility than most other fabrics.
- Modal fabric is less likely to shrink when washed and then air-dried on hot days in summer.
- Modal fabric is also very durable, strong and withstands most forms of wear and pressure. You would actually need a pair of scissors to cut a piece of clothing made of Modal fabric. You’ll be pleased to know that you can wear Modal fabric clothing for more summers than you’ll be able to count.
- Because in summer people tend to sweat quite a lot, their clothing is prone to get wrinkles. This is not so with Modal fabric, it instead resists wrinkle formation that is wrought by a scorching summer sun.
The Ugly
- The main reason Beech trees are used to make Modal fabric (this is the only tree that can make Modal fabric) is because they’re easy to grow and they require less water to thrive. Sometimes manufacturers will claim to have the proper methods to Modal fabric production, but in reality they produce synthetic fabrics that are bad for the environment.
- Some people may be allergic to Modal fabric. Which will manifest in rashes, itching and redness of the skin.
- When cleaning clothing made of blended Modal fabric, you would actually need to dry clean it most of the time. This is so that the material retains its characteristics. But with 100% pure Beechwood Modal fabric, it is much easier to clean.
- When exposed to too much heat, Modal fabric tends to turn yellow. This is because of its plant based composition. However heat from the summer sun is unlikely to do this, except if you leave your clothes in the sun for too long.
Conclusion
Modal fabric is not only good for summer in the obvious aspect of the question. That’s to say it’s not only good because of its light and smooth texture on the skin. Modal fabric is also good for summer because it is an environmentally friendly type of fabric. It produces less waste than most other fabrics, although there’s some harmful chemicals used in its production. You can rest easy knowing that no other fabric is produced with good intentions as Modal fabric.