Viscose is a fabric that catches the eye with its silky sheen, soft texture, and elegant drape, making it a popular choice for clothing, upholstery, and home decor. Its luxurious look and feel often resembles high-end natural fabrics like silk and cotton— but while viscose may seem like the perfect option at first glance, it comes with several drawbacks that can affect its durability and ease of maintenance. Before investing in viscose fabric, it’s important to understand both its beauty and its challenges. In this blog, we’ll break down everything you need to know, from its benefits to its potential downsides, so you can make an informed decision.
What is viscose?
Viscose was first commercially manufactured in 1910. The name is derived from the viscous liquid solution used to produce the fiber. Viscose is one of several types of rayon, each with distinct characteristics shaped by its manufacturing process. Variants like Bemberg and cuprammonium rayon share the same regenerated cellulose origin but differ in texture, durability, and performance due to variations in production methods.
Viscose fabric pillows – Photography by Devin Connelly from Ethos Media
Why is viscose fabric so Popular?
Viscose has become a highly desirable fabric for home furnishings in recent years due to its luxurious appearance and silky-smooth texture. With these lavish qualities, viscose fabric adds a refined touch to upholstery and floor coverings.
Viscose fabric also absorbs dye exceptionally well, creating rich colors that enhance any interior design.
Viscose is often blended with other fibers to achieve a plush yet breathable feel, making it a comfortable choice for furniture. Its ability to mimic natural fibers at a more accessible price point makes it appealing for homeowners and designers alike. However, while viscose brings undeniable beauty to interiors, its maintenance requirements are important factors to consider before incorporating it into a home.
The drawbacks of viscose fabric
While the beauty of viscose fabric is undeniable, it has significant challenges that make it a high-maintenance fabric to own. From the care requirements to its poor durability and environmental concerns, these factors must be considered before introducing viscose into your home.
Difficult Maintenance
Viscose fabric is extremely sensitive to any amount of moisture. Viscose fibers weaken up to 80% when wet, making the fabric prone to shrinkage, permanent water stains, and other potential problems. Even the smallest amount of liquid on viscose fabric can result in damage beyond repair. Once these fabrics and others in the rayon family get wet, they will often never look the same as they did when they were new.
Since they don’t handle moisture well, it is very difficult to clean furnishings made of viscose fabric. Wet cleaning is nearly out of the question, and dry cleaning should only be handled by fabric cleaning professionals. Viscose can quickly lose its stunning sheen and become dingy and undesirable with consistent wear.
Sustainability
Despite being derived from plant-based cellulose, viscose is not an eco-friendly fabric. The manufacturing process involves harsh chemicals which are harmful to both workers and the environment. Additionally, the production of viscose contributes to deforestation, as many of the trees used to create it are harvested unsustainably. Runoff from textile mills that make viscose and other manmade cellulosic fabrics pollute their local water supply.
Additionally, viscose fabric does not biodegrade efficiently like natural fibers such as wool or silk, meaning discarded viscose fabrics contribute to the growing fast furniture crisis. As sustainability continues to be a top priority in interior design, many are reconsidering the long-term impact of choosing viscose for home furnishings.
Is viscose fabric the right choice for you
While viscose is visually appealing, its high-maintenance nature, lack of durability, and environmental concerns make it a high-risk investment for your or your clients’ home furnishings. Silk and mohair fabrics are a close alternative that may initially be more expensive to purchase, but are more durable— therefore you will be able to get more use out of them. Choosing a natural fiber type over viscose is a more sustainable choice, since they are made with more eco-conscious practices and are biodegradable for when they inevitably reach the end of their lifecycle.
Fabric protection services for viscose fabric
Viscose fabric may not be the best choice for sustainable, long-lasting furnishings— but that doesn’t mean we can’t help with its maintenance to keep viscose looking its best for as long as possible. Fiber-Seal’s fabric protection services help strengthen viscose against daily wear, spots/spills, and moisture-related damage, making it easier to maintain.
Fabric protection increases the repellency of fabrics, making spills easier to clean up— which is especially helpful to maintain the beauty of hydrophilic fibers like viscose. By applying a protective treatment and offering complimentary spot cleaning, Fiber-Seal ensures that your viscose furnishings stay looking their best. Investing in fabric protection means extending the life of your upholstery, area rugs, drapery, and more— so you can enjoy their refined beauty without constant worry.
Contact your local Fiber-Seal Service Center today to learn more about how our expert care can help preserve your viscose furnishings for the long run.
