Austria-based man-made cellulose fibre producer Lenzing Group showcased its Tencel cellulose fibre at ispo in July.

Tencel is said to have excellent moisture and temperature regulation properties for regulating the micro-climate in activewear. The fibre acts like a natural Phase Change Material (PCM) that can either cool or warm depending on the prevailing conditions.

Dry Tencel fibre releases energy when water vapour is being absorbed to give a feeling of warmth, whilst damp Tencel provides a cooling effect when water is released from the fibre.

Company research work has shown that the fibre’s ‘natural intelligence’ can be explained by its nano-structure – submicroscopic channels between the nanofibrils in the fibre that regulate the absorption and release of moisture and maintain the environment at the surface of the body.