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Featured: OG 3 Pack Think of everything that makes an excellent pair men's undergarments and multiply it by a factor of ten. This unique material provides a plethora of benefits both present and not found other fabrics as outlined below. Smooth and ComfortableSeeing as it's derived from natural fibers, micro modal provides a much softer wear than other fabrics, often compared to silk and some say the softest material available for men's underwear. The smooth and lightweight yet durable nature of micro modal is also a major factor in making it the ultimate comfortable underwear, producing an incredible wear that doesn't lose its softness after several wears and multiple washes. A Tight Fit with BreathabilityA skin tight fit isn't always breathable, and a breathable fit isn't always comfortable. But what is breathability? In a nutshell, breathability is a fabric's ability to absorb moisture and then release the moisture through the fabric itself. This is where micro modal shines, blending a perfect combination of breathability and a secure, skin tight fit to your body when blended properly with quality elastane. (Also known as spandex.) DurabilityThe fact that micro modal is derived from trees naturally leads to a durable material, even more so than other fabrics. Micro modal holds its shape well, retaining elasticity when mixed with just the right amount of elastane after wearing multiple times. It also resists shrinkage and pilling, those little annoying bits of fabric that bunch up and cling to the fabric. Moisture Wicking PropertiesMoisture wicking fabric quickly moves sweat off of your body, onto the fabric, moves the sweat to the outer surface of itself, and finally swiftly dries the sweat to prevent saturation and provide a cool fit. This makes micromodal an excellent choice for sportswear, especially when compared to other fabrics. Holds ColorDue to the beech fibers in its composition, micromodal holds and retains colour vibrancy seeing as it easily takes and holds dyes even after multiple washes and several wears. It truly is the best of all worlds. Sourcing and using sustainable fabrics is part of our mission when creating underwear here at Bon+Berg. We aim to make underwear that ensures you feel good while also being kind to the planet. Our commitment to sustainability means that we make it our mission to source our MicroModal ethically and carefully to ensure minimal impact on the environment and our planet. What is MicroModal made from?MicroModal derives from the pulp of beech trees. Beech trees are self-seeding plants commonly found in the Northern Hemisphere. This means, once we use the trees to manufacture MicroModal, they naturally renew themselves. Both Modal and MicroModal are made from the pulp of Beech Trees. In comparison to regular modal, MicroModal is a finer fibre. It is tightly thread, resulting in softer, better fitting and more breathable fabric. What makes MicroModal so special?We chose to use MicroModal for our eco-friendly underwear because it feels luxurious and soft to touch and does not harm the planet. Unlike some other sustainable fabrics, MicroModal has the feel-good factor we desire for our undergarments. By using this material in our bras and pants, we can guarantee a smooth and breathable feel at all times. Those familiar with MicroModal may identify similarities between the fabric and silk or linen. However, MicroModal isn’t as high maintenance as these materials. It’s easy to manufacture and remains naturally lightweight and wrinkle-free. We wanted a material that gives back to the Earth, and MicroModal does this. By investing in a closed-loop manufacturing process, we can minimise energy wastage and give back what we're taking from the environment. Not only is sourcing MicroModal planet-friendly, but making further changes to the fabric is too. MicroModal requires ten to twenty times less water to dye compared to cotton. Benefits of MicroModal
Natural versus synthetic materialsNatural fibres such as cotton, wool, silk and MicroModal are derived from plants, animals and minerals and usually have a hollow structure. This structure allows them to breathe which helps excess heat and odour to pass through the material, rather than remain in the clothes and against your body. By letting these particles pass through, our clothes become easier to breathe and we don’t have to deal with unwanted moisture making us feel uncomfortable. Man-made materials like synthetics or more specifically polyester for example, are commonly used in undergarments. This material is both breathable and durable and is made up of a combination of coal and petroleum which meads to it having a tight structure. This structure limits the fabrics ability to breathe and ensure that moisture stays on the skin and because of this is unsuitable for warmer climates. At Bon+Berg, we believe that MicroModal is the material behind long-lasting, sustainable underwear and is a significant step towards slowing down fast fashion. When we design and manufacture our products we do not compromise on anything that could potentially harm the environment and we are very mindful about where our products could one day end up. If you are serious about learning more on the fight against fast fashion, you might also be interested in our blog post on how to throw away your clothes responsibly.
MicroModal is a fabric first produced by Lenzing from semi-synthetic polymers in 1990. It's a type of modal, a regenerated cellulosic fiber, similar to viscose rayon, acetate, cupro, and lyocell. Lenzing MicroModal fabric is often used in the fashion industry to make affordable clothing. It's considered an eco-friendly material, even if more healthy and sustainable alternatives exist. MicroModal fabric has a very soft hand feel and luxurious appearance. It's manufactured using natural and renewable raw materials, filaments of cellulose made of wood pulp extracted from trees. The main advantages of Lenzing MicroModal compared to natural fibers such as cotton are very low costs and water requirements. Here is everything you need to know about Lenzing MicroModal fabric, its uses, manufacturing, properties, downsides, environmental impact, and sustainable alternatives. Panaprium is proud to be 100% independent, free of any influence, and not sponsored. We carefully handpick products from brands we trust. Thank you so much for buying something through our link, as we may earn a commission that supports us. What is Lenzing MicroModal?MicroModal is a man-made cellulosic fiber in the family of rayon and the finest cellulose fiber at the time of its conception. It's considered a semi-synthetic material and is very cheap to produce.Lenzing produces MicroModal fibers by solubilizing high-quality cellulose extracted from plants or wood. MicroModal is a special material, an even softer version of modal fiber. Modal is the second generation of man-made cellulosic fibers. It's a modified version of viscose with higher tenacity. It's stronger when wet, higher quality, more durable, and flexible. But modal is more expensive than viscose rayon or cotton. It's manufacturing process also uses more energy than processing natural fibers. Modal was first discovered in 1951 in Japan. However, the first commercial sale of modal fabrics occurred in 1964 by the Austrian company Lenzing AG.In 1990, Lenzing used technological innovation to enhance textile products to a new quality standard. It made the first MicroModal fabric by improving modal production processes. Today, Lenzing is one of the most well-known manufacturers of MicroModal. MicroModal is a trademark of Lenzing, similar to Lenzing Modal, Modal COLOR, and MicroModal AIR. Other widely used fibers produced by Lenzing are Tencel lyocell, Tencel Modal, and EcoVero, a type of viscose rayon. But many other manufacturers make their modal versions in Europe, as well as in many East-Asian countries like India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Japan, and China. Lenzing MicroModal fabric usesLenzing MicroModal fabric is used in the fashion industry to produce clothing and accessories as it's smooth, sheen, and affordable. MicroModal resembles luxurious silk. In the textile and apparel industry, MicroModal fabrics make knitwear, sportswear, hats, suits, blouses, evening dresses, formal shirts, coats, sweaters, pajamas, and undergarments. Lenzing MicroModal is also used in homeware, furniture, upholstery, carpets, bathrobes, towels, drapes, bed sheets, curtains, and home decor, like other soft and luxurious fabrics.Man-made cellulosic fibers like modal, acetate, viscose, cupro, or lyocell are slowly replacing petroleum-based synthetic fibers such as nylon, acrylic, and polyester. The market for Lenzing Modal and MicroModal fabrics is expected to slightly rise in the coming years, as new apparel and home furnishing applications develop, especially in China. Although MicroModal can be used alone, it's often blended with other types of fibers such as polyester, nylon, cotton, wool, silk, spandex, and more to lower raw material costs. Many fashion brands around the world choose Lenzing MicroModal fabrics to create affordable clothes. Modal is used in cheaply produced garments as the primary fiber content or a substantial part of the fiber composition.Every year, 6.7 million tons of man-made cellulosic fibers are produced globally, according to Lenzing. They account for 6.2% of all fiber production worldwide. Viscose rayon is the most widely used semi-synthetic fabric. It has around 79% market share with 5.3 million tons produced in 2018, as reported by the Textile Exchange. How Does Lenzing produce MicroModal fibers?Lenzing invests heavily in MicroModal and Modal manufacturing processes to make them one of the most sustainable fibers in the textile industry. MicroModal is made with beech wood, a replenishable raw material, and during production, up to 95% of the chemicals used are recycled. Since the production process is integrated with cellulose recovery, Lenzing MicroModal production is also CO2-neutral. MicroModal is manufactured by deconstructing wood pulp into a purified fluffy white cellulose using sodium hydroxide or caustic soda, carbon disulfide, an acid catalyst, such as sulfuric acid, and more. The resulting cellulosic solution is extruded by spinning. Spinnerets transform the viscous solution into filaments that are finally spun into MicroModal fibers. A lot of chemicals and water are needed to condition wood pulp, treat and dissolve cellulose fibers, and wash the regenerated fibers. Spinning is a manufacturing process used to create polymer fibers like modal and MicroModal fibers. It's a specific form of extrusion that employs a spinneret to produce multiple continuous filaments. The various types of spinning are wet, dry, dry jet-wet, melt, gel, and electrospinning. Lenzing produces MicroModal fiber via wet spinning, the oldest type of spinning. Many polymers use this manufacturing process as they need to be dissolved in a solvent to be spun. During the wet spinning extrusion process, the polymer is dissolved and extruded through several thousand holes into a large spin bath, washing rolls, and drying rolls. After being purified and extended to make long filaments, MicroModal fibers are ready to be spun into threads. Making extended filaments is an important step in fiber production. Fiber extension is a crucial process to make commercial textiles. It creates MicroModal fibers many times longer than their original length, which increases production efficiency and lowers the overall cost. Once spun into yarn, Lenzing ships MicroModal fibers to textile manufacturers who weave them into various fabrics to create apparel and other applications. Lenzing MicroModal fibers are smaller than Modal fibers. To spin thread and make textiles out of them, manufacturers use more of them and weave them together incredibly tightly. Lenzing MicroModal fabric propertiesLenzing MicroModal is a unique material with unique properties. It's a finer fiber than Lenzing Modal. It's even more comfortable, soft, lightweight, and feels like luxurious silk. MicroModal fibers are very pleasant to the touch, water-absorbent, and dry quickly. And they are also resistant to moths and mildew. Lenzing MicroModal fabrics drape and hang well. They have good resistance to wrinkling and pilling, multiple sheens, and color options. Since MicroModal is soft, breathable, comfortable, and durable, it's a great material for everyday clothing, as well as sportswear. However, MicroModal fabrics don't resist high temperatures. They have low thermal stability and will lose longevity when exposed directly to UV and sunlight.MicroModal fabric advantages and disadvantagesHere are some of the best advantages of Lenzing MicroModal fabrics:
Lenzing MicroModal fabrics certificationsSome of the best certification standards for textiles apply to Lenzing MicroModal fabric. Standards for textiles are important to ensure that each piece of clothing has been produced in sustainable processes under environmentally friendly and socially responsible working conditions. They guarantee that fabrics have been manufactured with the least possible impact on people, the environment, the animals, and with responsible use of resources. Lenzing MicroModal is a certified biobased fiber under the BioPreferred designation of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). It's also certified with the internationally recognized EU Ecolabel and Oeko-Tex standard. The fibers are compostable and biodegradable under industrial, home, soil, and marine conditions, as certified by the Belgium certification company Vinçotte.Lenzing uses wood and pulp that comes from natural forests and sustainably managed plantations. Lenzing MicroModal fabric is available PEFC or FSC certified. BioPreferred ProgramThe BioPreferred Program managed by the USDA aims to increase the purchase and use of biobased products. It was created in 2002 to promote economic development, create jobs, and provide new markets for farm commodities. The BioPreferred Program wants to limit reliance on petroleum and increase the use of renewable agricultural resources. It offers a voluntary labeling initiative to companies manufacturing biobased products. The USDA certified biobased label makes it easy for consumers to identify biobased products. It ensures that products contain a verified amount of renewable biological ingredients. EU EcolabelThe EU Ecolabel (EC Regulation n. 66/2010) is a reference for consumers who want to help reduce pollution by buying more environmentally friendly products. It's a trademark of the European Union that certifies environmental quality and ecological performance. The standard is awarded to products and services that have a lower environmental impact than comparable products. The EU Ecolabel makes it easier for consumers to choose high-quality, environmentally friendly, and healthier products. It certifies that the product has a low impact on the environment throughout its entire lifespan. Standard 100 by Oeko-TexThe Oeko-Tex certification is one of the world's best-known labels for textiles tested for harmful substances. It certifies high product safety and is widely used in the global apparel and footwear industry. The Oeko-Tex certification guarantees that products are harmless to the human environment. It takes into account many regulated and non-regulated substances, which may be harmful to human health. The Oeko-Tex certification also ensures in some cases that textile products have been manufactured in sustainable processes under environmentally friendly and socially responsible working conditions. Oeko-Tex is a widely recognized textile standard around the globe. It's a great label ensuring the safety of fabrics, clothing, garments, accessories, and more. If a textile product bears the Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certification, customers can be sure that all components, zips, studs, threads, labels, prints, buttons, and other accessories have been tested for harmful substances. All textile articles in every stage of processing can be certified Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex. The certification applies to every single component and ingredient before the final article. Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex takes into account many regulated and non-regulated substances potentially harmful to human health. The test criteria are globally standardized. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)Textile production is often responsible for massive deforestation, destruction of ecosystems, and carbon emissions. Sustainable forest management is necessary to improve the eco-friendliness of man-made cellulosic fibers. Founded in 1993, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international member-led organization that sets the FSC standards for responsible forest management and chain of custody. The FSC is currently working with key players in the industry to achieve complete certified textile supply chains to allow FSC labels on apparel. FSC forest management certification confirms that the forest is being managed in a way that benefits the lives of local people and workers and preserves biological diversity while ensuring it sustains economic viability. Any forest operation must adhere to ten principles before it can receive FSC forest management certification. These principles have been developed to be relevant to all kinds of forest ecosystems and applicable worldwide. They ensure the monitoring of forest management environmental and social impacts, as well as high conservation values to community relations and workers’ rights. Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)PEFC international standards are another certification for sustainable forest management. Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization providing third-party certification. FSC forest management certification is often too expensive for small forest owners. They choose the PEFC certification system as it differs in the way inspections are carried. PEFC aims to save forests for the future and protect them against destruction. The organization is composed of various stakeholders, including industry associations, trade unions, nature, and environmental organizations. FSC is the more common certification, but both are reputable and very similar. Some forests carry both FSC and PEFC forest management certifications. How to care for Lenzing MicroModal fabricsTaking good care of your clothes is one of the best ways to live more sustainably and ensure that they last longer. Give special attention to Lenzing MicroModal fabrics, as they are delicate and easily melt.Extend the life of your clothes and the time you can wear them by taking good care of them and avoiding common mistakes. You can limit pressure on natural resources, reduces waste, pollution, and emissions.
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