Although “clothing made from wood” may initially sound strange and scratchy, our WoodShirts, tank tops, long-sleeved 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 woody clothing with a feel-good factor. We would 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 its 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 surfaces can cause itching and irritation. People with atopic dermatitis in particular often experience problems with the skin compatibility of certain fibers.

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

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

In fact, wood-based fibers—as we use them for our sustainable clothing—have a significantly higher water-holding capacity and absorption speed than cotton or polyester. Within 20 seconds, the maximum absorption capacity of wood-based fibers is an impressive 380%, while cotton and polyester reach only 16 to 19%. The unique nanostructure of wood-based fibers ensures that moisture is transported quickly and absorbed inside the fibers. They therefore officially contribute to thermoregulation by enabling optimal evaporation at the fabric surface through homogeneous liquid distribution. The drying performance 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 special thermophysiological properties. As a result, our clothing provides excellent thermal insulation in cold weather. At the same time, in warm conditions or during physical activity, sweat is wicked 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 moisture can cause these microorganisms to multiply and start becoming active, which results in body odor. Through skin contact and sweat, the bacteria naturally also get into the fabric. In some cases, it is extremely difficult to remove these odors from textiles; these problems are particularly familiar with sportswear made from polyester fabrics.

The fabric of our clothing made from wood stays fresh 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 absorbed almost completely into the fiber, depriving bacteria of their breeding ground. In addition, bacteria have more difficulty adhering to the smooth fiber surface 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, inhibiting bacterial growth. Thanks to these special odor-inhibiting properties, our clothing made from wood stays fresh longer, meaning you can wear our WoodShirts for longer without having to worry about unpleasant odors.