Even though “clothing made from wood” may initially sound strange and scratchy, our WoodShirts, tank tops, long-sleeve shirts, boxer shorts, socks, and hoodies are actually made from an incredibly soft fabric. In addition to its many environmental benefits, it also offers unique properties and optimal comfort. In short: We create wood-based clothing that feels great to wear. We’d be happy to explain in more detail what makes these unique properties special and why clothing made from wood is so comfortable to wear.

Our skin reacts differently to its surroundings depending on our skin type. In addition to external environmental influences, such as the sun, our skin can of course also react to textiles. Many people complain of intolerances to various textiles, as their rough surface can cause itching and irritation. People with atopic dermatitis in particular often have problems with the skin compatibility of certain fibers.

The wood fibers in our clothing have an especially skin-friendly and smooth surface that feels gentle against the skin instead of irritating it. This creates less friction on the skin, which is why our wood-based clothing feels like a second skin. In a study conducted by Heidelberg University Hospital, over 80% of participants said that wearing wood fibers had significantly improved the appearance of their skin, and that both the skin-sensory and thermoregulatory properties were convincing.

Why we find fabrics comfortable depends not only on their feel but also on the microclimate they create next to the skin. The extent to which fabrics regulate temperature has a major influence on how comfortable we feel. In summer or during physical exertion, our body temperature rises, and so does sweat production. Evaporation of sweat from the skin’s surface cools the body. During intense exertion, a person can lose up to 1.8 liters per hour this way. The requirement for close-fitting textiles is therefore to ensure fast and even moisture transport in order to support the body’s natural cooling effect. High water-absorption capacity and a high absorption speed are therefore decisive.

In fact, the wood-based fiber we use for our sustainable clothing has a significantly higher water-holding capacity and absorption rate than cotton or polyester. Within 20 seconds, the maximum absorption capacity of wood fibers is an impressive 380%, while cotton and polyester reach just 16 to 19%. The special nanostructure of wood-based fibers ensures that moisture is transported quickly and absorbed within the fibers. It therefore officially contributes to thermoregulation by enabling optimal evaporation at the fabric’s surface through homogeneous liquid distribution. The drying behavior of wood-based fibers can also certainly keep up with that of conventional fibers. Although many people believe that polyester fabrics dry faster than others, there is no difference in drying kinetics between polyester and wood-based fibers when the textile contains the same amount of moisture. It should also be mentioned that polyester fibers are closed and therefore cannot absorb moisture, meaning that the moisture remains only on the surface.

Wood fibers have very special thermophysiological properties. As a result, our clothing provides excellent thermal insulation in cold conditions. At the same time, in warm conditions or during physical activity, sweat is drawn away from the body and released into the surrounding environment to optimally support the body’s cooling.

Our skin is home to numerous microorganisms that are important for our skin flora. When we sweat, the microorganisms can multiply due to the moisture, begin to act, and consequently produce body odor. Through skin contact and sweat, the bacteria naturally also get into the textile. In some cases, it is extremely difficult to remove these odors from textiles; these problems are especially common with sportswear made from polyester fabrics.

The fabric of our clothing made from wood stays fresh for longer because it inhibits bacterial growth. This is because, with other fibers, water remains on the surface of the fiber, where it is fully accessible to bacteria. With wood fibers, on the other hand, the water is almost completely absorbed into the fiber, depriving bacteria of their breeding ground. In addition, bacteria have more difficulty adhering to the smooth surface of the fiber than they do to synthetic fibers or cotton.

Because wood fibers can wick away moisture more effectively, bacteria are deprived of the nutrients they need and bacterial growth is inhibited. Thanks to these special odor-inhibiting properties, our clothing made from wood stays fresh for longer, and you can, for example, wear our WoodShirts for longer without having to worry about unpleasant odors.