Is Modal Fabric Breathable?

Last Updated on December 6, 2022

Is Modal Fabric Breathable: Modal resembles cotton in properties and even surpasses it in terms of hygroscopicity. The fabric allows the body to breathe without overheating.

In hot weather, the cool surface of the fabric in contact with the skin cools and gives a comfortable feeling. Also, it absorbs liquid well and quickly removes it outside. Therefore, it does not irritate when it comes into contact with the body.

Table of Contents

What Is Modal Fabric?

Modal, a new generation material, is a lightweight artificial cellulose fiber fabric. In other words, this is a synthetically produced synthetic fiber.

Its properties resemble cotton, and its appearance is silk. In its pure form, the fabric is used for sewing elite comfortable linen and high-quality clothing. It is often advertised as sustainable because it is made of beech wood and is vegan. Therefore, modal is an alternative for designers who want to produce fashion from ecological fabrics.

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Where Is Modal Fabric Produced?

For the first time, modal fibers began to be produced in the 30s of the 20th century for industrial needs. The material was born as a result of experiments to improve the composition of viscose.

Artificial fibers without chloride substances began to spread widely in Japan, wherein, in the 50s, they launched the production of Polynosic fabric. In the 60s, they learned to create beech cellulose fabric in Austria, where the modal acquired its name.

How Is Modal Fabric Made?

Modal material is the result of complex chemical processes. Wood chips are boiled in factories to obtain cellulose, bleached with alkali, strictly without chlorine. The processed cellulose is passed through spinnerets and immersed in a special solution. They draw thin, weightless, tear-resistant threads suitable for making fabric.

Composition

Modal is an artificial material made from natural fibers. The composition includes cellulose from pine, beech, or eucalyptus wood. Pure modal is 100% cellulose, environmentally friendly, safe, and does not contain toxic substances and harmful dyes.

A commonly mixed modal of cellulose and cotton in a ratio of 1: 1. The material can dilute viscose or elastic. Adding to wool creates comfortable, warm winter garments. Moreover, modal threads are organically combined with all types of fibers. Being a part of the fabric, modal improves its operational properties: hygroscopicity increases, strength increases, and the fabric acquires additional softness.

Properties

Modal is a lightweight, weightless material. The weight of a modal thread 10 kilometers long is only 1 gram. And so, Modal fibers are easily dyed. The color scheme knows no restrictions; on sale, you can find fabrics of bright neon colors and delicate pastel colors, monochromatic and with printed patterns of various themes on the surface.

Furthermore, resistance to wear and external influences allow the material to withstand repeated washing without losing its outer gloss easily. Durability protects against tearing.

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Characteristics

The one-sided modal resembles silk in structure. It is distinguished by a smooth, even surface with a soft sheen.
The double-sided modal turns out to be dense and soft, with a fleecy surface similar to below.
Micromodal ultra-thin fibers are incredibly lightweight and weightless. Added to products to ensure durability.

Breathability

100% modal bedding sets are elite. They provide a comfortable sound sleep, especially in hot weather. Delicate to the touch, soft linen pleasantly cools, instantly absorbs moisture, saving from sweat. With careful handling, it pleases with long service life.

How Is Modal Fabric Used?

Modal is widely used in the textile industry. Home and sportswear, underwear, hosiery, bed linen, bath sheets and towels, bedspreads, bathroom rugs, and many other useful things are made of this quality material.

They are light but simultaneously have a high density, do not wrinkle, and are soft, and velvety to the touch. Bedding will be especially pleasant in summer: it can cool the skin. We would especially like to mention underwear. The panties fit perfectly on the figure, and they are soft, breathable, and inexpensive.

Manufacturers and Brands

The world’s leading manufacturer of the modal is the Austrian company Lenzing AG, which has subsidiaries in India, China, Indonesia, and America. The corporation produces fabric and a line of clothing from it. The second-largest Austrian manufacturer, Linz Textil, produces high-quality modal yarns. Moreover, the modal is produced in India, Spain, Italy, China, and South Korea. Many countries produce products from imported raw materials.

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The Sustainability of Modal Fabric

Modal is a successful development of scientists. The material, at the same time, resembles cotton, silk, and viscose, allowing you to create comfortable, practical, beautiful clothes and elite linen textiles. Therefore, happy owners of fashionable things after the first use assure that modal is the future material. It attracts customers with aesthetic characteristics, practicality, and ease of care, amazes users with its absorbency, and pleases with a wide range.

Cotton vs Modal Fabric – Is Modal Same as Cotton?

Moreover, modal fibers are often added to cotton, making cotton clothes soft, and pleasant to the touch and providing them with a bright color that does not change over time.

Yes! The modal fabric is breathable. However, most people agree that pure modal is less breathable than 100 percent cotton. Synthetic fibers are typically less breathable than fibers derived from plants.

Is Modal Good Quality?

Talking about the production process of this material, it should be noted that most often, cellulose obtained from pine, eucalyptus wood, and beech is used for this. In making fabrics, manufacturers do not use compounds harmful or dangerous to the human body, for example, chemical or chlorine substances.

This fabric is somewhat reminiscent of cotton and viscose jersey, and in rare cases, it can cause allergies. Many people still have not figured out what kind of modal fabric. The disadvantages and advantages of this material are summarized below.

Advantages:

High density, but at the same time, the canvas perfectly permeates the air;
The lightness and softness of modal bedding are an absolute delight for many;

After washing, the textile retains its properties; the shape remains the same, there is practically no shrinkage, the color does not change, and the bed linen remains soft and velvety;
Such textiles do not wrinkle;
Such things are endowed with certain advantages in terms of hygiene;

High hygroscopicity;
Providing a feeling of comfort while sleeping;
The paint holds well;

The original form is well preserved;
Wear resistance and high strength;
The canvas is not electrified.

Disadvantages:

Since this type of textile is not particularly hypoallergenic, you need to treat it with caution for people who react negatively to dust and other microbes that collect between the fibers;
Such material is highly flammable, so you need to keep it as far as possible from hot objects and open flames.

When added to fabrics of other types, the fibers of this material contribute to the improvement of their quality characteristics.

How to Recognize Modal Fabric

To recognize a modal among various fabrics, one should pay attention to the appearance of the material and the tactile sensation of touch. Modal is distinguished by a noble matte luster, comparable in appearance to silk. The fabric is soft, cool to the touch, and the palm glides easily over the surface.

If possible, you can conduct a combustion test: a set fire modal thread burns with a bright flame, and spreads the smell of burnt cotton wool around. After being charred, the fiber curls up into a ball, which crumbles when touched.

Credit: Discovery Trekking Outfitters & Discovery Fabrics

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How to Wash Modal Clothes?

It is easy to care for products made from modal. You can wash clothes made of modal fabric in warm or cold water with any powder. However, the modal tends to lose its elasticity and stretch easily. To avoid this, clothes should be hand washed in cold water or a washing machine with a delicate cycle.

True, sometimes the manufacturer recommends dry cleaning, as indicated on the label attached to the product. Furthermore, after things dry, iron them by heating the iron to a medium temperature. However, bed linen and towels do not require any special care, which is not the case for clothes.

Moreover, clothes made of modal fabric stretch very easily to avoid deformation and stretching; after washing, do not hang them up to dry in a conventional dryer. It should be done in a horizontal position, slightly smoothing it out with your hands. To store clothes, use soft hangers or fold them on shelves. When additional fibers (e.g., cotton) are added, the fabric tends to roll. You can remove the spools using an old, dull blade. Do not apply too much pressure or damage the fabric. You can’t easily sew damaged fabric on a sewing machine.

Hacks of Caring Modal Fabric

You must set a gentle mode on the washing machine.

The composition of detergents must be neutral, without aggressive components.
The maximum washing temperature is 40 degrees.
When washing by hand, it is advisable not to make efforts so that the weaving does not stretch.

It is recommended to dry in a horizontal position.
Do not leave such textiles in the open sun or near sources of high temperature.
You need to iron the Modal fabric from the wrong side.

For storage, it is preferable to fold home textiles neatly.

The rules for the care of mixed fabrics with such fibers are determined depending on the main components.

Final Verdict

By its technological features, modal is a fabric that belongs to a new generation. We can say that this material was developed and launched into mass production relatively. Even though the fabric is made from artificial synthetic fiber, it belongs to environmentally friendly and completely safe materials for human health. It is made exclusively from high-quality cellulose.

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Malinda Bailey

“I like to turn a piece of string into something that I can wear.” I am dedicated to sharing knowledge on the necessary sewing equipment in The Sewing Stuffs.