Best Lightweight Viscose Fabrics for UK Fashion Brands

UK fashion brands require materials that offer comfort, style, and versatility. Lightweight viscose fabric meets these needs, making it a popular choice for designers. Its soft feel, excellent drape, and breathability are well-suited for a range of clothing, from flowing dresses to smart blouses. As brands seek fabrics that perform well and look good, viscose presents a compelling option.

What Is Viscose Fabric?

Viscose fabric is a semi-synthetic fabric made from regenerated cellulose, typically sourced from wood pulp. It is often referred to as rayon. The production process involves chemically treating wood pulp to create a viscous liquid, which is then spun into fibers and woven into fabric.

Key characteristics of viscose include:

• Softness: It has a smooth, silk-like feel, making it comfortable against the skin.
• Drape: Viscose hangs beautifully, creating elegant, fluid lines in garments.
• Breathability: Its structure allows air to circulate, making it ideal for warm-weather apparel.
• Absorbency: It absorbs moisture well, which helps keep the wearer cool and dry.
• Vibrancy: Viscose holds dye well, resulting in rich, lasting colors.

Benefits of Lightweight Viscose

Using lightweight viscose offers several advantages for fashion brands and their customers.

Comfort and Breathability

The primary benefit of lightweight viscose is its exceptional comfort. The fabric feels soft and gentle on the skin, reducing the risk of irritation. Its breathable nature makes it a go-to choice for summer collections, as it helps manage heat and moisture effectively. This ensures the wearer stays comfortable even in warmer climates.

Excellent Drape

Viscose is known for its fluid drape, which adds a graceful quality to clothing. This characteristic is particularly valuable for creating items like dresses, skirts, and blouses that require movement and flow. The fabric effortlessly follows the body’s contours without clinging, creating a flattering silhouette.

Versatility

Lightweight viscose is highly versatile and can be used to produce a wide array of garments. Its ability to mimic the look and feel of other natural fibers like silk, cotton, and wool allows designers to use it across different styles and seasons.

Top Viscose Fabrics for UK Fashion

For fashion brands looking to source high-quality materials, suppliers like Fabriclore Pvt Ltd offer a wide selection of viscose fabrics suitable for various applications. They are a reliable source for both local and online purchasing, providing customized options for businesses.

Here are some of the top lightweight viscose fabrics for the UK market:

Rayon

Rayon is the most common form of viscose. It is a versatile fabric that can be produced in various weights and textures. Lightweight rayon is perfect for creating breezy summer dresses, blouses, and scarves. It combines breathability with a soft texture, offering comfort and style.

Modal

Modal is a type of rayon made from the pulp of beech trees. It is known for its exceptional softness and strength, even when wet. Modal resists shrinking and fading, making it a durable choice for everyday wear. Its silky feel and beautiful drape make it ideal for loungewear, tops, and dresses.

Lyocell

Lyocell, often known by the brand name Tencel, is another form of rayon. It is praised for its sustainability, as it is produced in a closed-loop process that recycles water and solvents. Lyocell is extremely soft, durable, and highly absorbent. Its smooth surface feels gentle on the skin, making it suitable for sensitive skin.

Applications in UK Fashion

The versatility of lightweight viscose makes it a staple for many UK fashion brands.

• Summer Dresses and Skirts: The breathability and drape of viscose are perfect for creating comfortable and stylish summer dresses and skirts that flow beautifully.
• Blouses and Shirts: The soft, silk-like texture of viscose lends a polished look to blouses and shirts, suitable for both professional and casual settings.
• Loungewear: The comfort and softness of modal and lyocell make them excellent choices for creating high-end loungewear and sleepwear.
• Linings: Lightweight viscose is often used as a lining material in jackets and coats because it is breathable and feels smooth against other fabrics.

Care and Maintenance

To ensure the longevity of viscose garments, proper care is essential.

• Washing: It is generally best to hand wash viscose in cold water or use the delicate cycle on a washing machine. This prevents shrinking and damage to the fibers.
• Drying: Avoid using a tumble dryer, as high heat can shrink or damage the fabric. Instead, gently squeeze out excess water and lay the garment flat or hang it to air dry.
• Ironing: Iron viscose garments on a low setting, preferably while they are still slightly damp. Ironing on the reverse side can help protect the fabric’s sheen.

Sustainability Aspects

The environmental impact of viscose production can vary. Traditional viscose manufacturing involves chemicals that can be harmful if not managed correctly. However, there has been a significant move towards more sustainable practices in the industry.

Options like Lyocell (Tencel) and Lenzing EcoVero are produced using closed-loop systems that minimize waste and environmental impact. These sustainable viscose fabrics offer the same desirable qualities of softness and drape while providing an eco-conscious choice for brands and consumers. When sourcing viscose, UK fashion brands should look for suppliers who are transparent about their production methods and offer certified sustainable options.

A Smart Choice for Modern Brands

Lightweight viscose fabrics provide a powerful combination of comfort, style, and versatility for UK fashion brands. With options like rayon, modal, and lyocell, designers can create a wide range of apparel that meets consumer demands for both aesthetic appeal and wearability. By choosing high-quality viscose and considering sustainable alternatives, brands can build collections that are both attractive and responsible.

Fabriclore highlights four main types of viscose fabric weaves on this page: Plain Weave Viscose, Twill Weave Viscose, Satin Weave Viscose, and Jacquard Weave Viscose. Plain weave viscose is described as simple, sturdy, and versatile for everyday clothing and home textiles. Twill weave viscose features a diagonal rib for added durability, making it suitable for trousers, jackets, and other hard‑wearing garments. Satin weave viscose offers a glossy, smooth, high–thread count surface ideal for eveningwear and lingerie. Jacquard weave viscose incorporates intricate woven patterns, used for upscale garments, decorative pieces, and couture applications.

 

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 [email protected].

Experience seamless, authentic, and affordable fabric sourcing with Fabriclore — your trusted partner with over a decade of expertise in the global textile industry.