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Modal is a beloved fabric used for clothing, bedding and furniture, and is famous for its softness and environmentally-friendly properties. At Thigh Society, we use modal, blended with Pima cotton, in our Cotton shorties to create a naturally soft pair of shorts that prevent chafing and hug your curves so comfortably you won’t want to take them off.
So what makes modal so great and what is it made of? Let’s dive into all things modal fabric and find out why it’s the unsung hero of the textile world.
What is modal fabric?
Modal is a type of rayon, a semi-synthetic fiber made from beech tree pulp. It was first developed in the ‘50s in Japan, and has been making its way into everything from luxury pajamas to everyday basics since then. If you’ve ever encountered a fabric that felt like a blend of silk and cotton but wasn’t either of those two materials, you’ve probably touched modal.
One of the biggest reasons people love modal is its exceptional comfort. Imagine the softness of cotton, but smoother and silkier to the touch. The softness allows the fabric to drape beautifully, making it more comfortable to wear in different scenarios. Its softness and versatility make it a popular choice for clothing, especially garments that touch the skin directly like underwear, pajamas and T-shirts.
In addition to how great it feels, modal is also highly breathable and moisture wicking, making it an ideal material to wear on hot summer days or during intense workouts. It pulls 50 percent more moisture from your skin than cotton, and then evaporates the perspiration into the air, keeping you dry and fresh even when things get heated. If that’s not enough to sell you, it’s also resistant to shrinkage and fading, which means your favorite modal shirts or shorts retain their shape even after many wears and washes.
How is modal sustainable?
We love modal for its comfort, but it also has another incredible feature: sustainability. Modal is leading the charge when it comes to eco-friendly fabrics. Here’s how:
1. Renewable Resource
Modal is derived from beech trees which are a renewable resource. Beech trees can thrive in less fertile soil and require significantly less water than cotton, which in comparison requires vast amounts of water and land to grow and harvest. In fact, the water consumption for producing modal is up to 20 times less than that for cotton. By choosing modal over cotton, you’re essentially saving gallons of water which is notoriously one of the most harmful byproducts of the fashion industry.
2. Eco-friendly Production
The modal fabric production process is designed to be as eco-friendly as possible, as the beech trees used are often grown on sustainably managed forests. Additionally, the process of turning wood pulp into fiber is done using a closed-loop system, meaning that almost all chemicals and solvents in the process are recycled and reused. This reduces the environmental impact significantly and is a stark contrast to traditional rayon, which often involves wasteful and toxic production processes.
Our Cotton shorties are made with Pima cotton instead of regular cotton. Pima cotton is considered more sustainable than regular cotton because of its longer fibers, which create a stronger and more durable fabric. This means products made from Pima cotton last longer, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimizing waste. Additionally, Pima cotton plants require less water and fewer pesticides to grow compared to conventional cotton, leading to a lower environmental impact. This combination of durability and reduced resource consumption makes Pima cotton an eco-friendlier choice in the textile industry.
3. Biodegradability
Modal is fully biodegradable so when you eventually decide to part ways with your modal clothing, it won’t be lingering in a landfill for hundreds of years. Unlike synthetic fabrics like polyester, which can take centuries to decompose, modal breaks down much faster, making it a much eco-friendlier choice for the planet.
How to Wear Modal
In a world increasingly concerned with sustainability, modal offers an option that doesn’t force you to sacrifice comfort for conscience. Even better, modal is also one of the most comfortable materials you can wear.
We love wearing modal in our Cotton shorties (available in 5-, 7-, and 9-inch lengths and a variety of colors) as a standalone piece of loungewear, or underneath a dress or skirt to prevent chafing and help manage butt sweat on warmer days.
It’s a fabric that’s soft, durable and kind to the planet. So the next time you’re shopping for a new shirt or shorts, keep in mind that modal feels good on you and also happens to be good for Mother Earth.
