I rarely respond to Facebook ads, but a few weeks ago, one of Upwest‘s summer clearance banners popped up. It was a carousel of basic loungewear at affordable prices. At first glance, I noticed the aesthetics remain true to their value: conscious comfort. I did not know it at the time, but Upwest is actually a sister-brand of Express, focused on wellness! (The two look nothing alike) My pick at the end of my spontaneous shopping spree: this sustainable dress with pockets made from Tencel™!
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Upwest Tank Tencel™ Dress
I know I just shared about my sustainable ECOVERO™ dress earlier. So I wanted to clarify: I am in no way supporting ‘sustainable’ brands as the only way to shop consciously. In fact, I would argue it’s not even the best way. But I love sharing about materials that are produced responsibly because, in the case that you are torn between choices, knowing the science can help!
My Review of Upwest Tank Dress
Great quality, sturdy fabric.
True to its nature, this Tencel™ dress was very smooth to touch that it almost feels sueded! I was also pleasantly surprised by the weight of the fabric. One of my concerns with rayon is how easily the material wrinkles! So the fact that this material was sturdy gave me confidence that it would not create folds too easily. (And I can attest that after a long subway ride to Brooklyn, this dress stays put!)
Features: adjustable straps, two side pockets.
The straps are adjustable, and the drape of the fabric is easy and relaxed. Perfect for lounging or for going out 🙂 And of course, my favorite feature: there are two pockets! I do wish they were located closer to waist level though. When I place something heavy in them, it feels as if the pockets sink way down to knee-level. But hey…how many dresses do you own that have pockets? (I have like…none. So not complaining)
A sustainable dress with pockets: it can be a key piece to a capsule wardrobe, worn with heels, or dressed down with sneakers and a denim jacket. Love all the versatile possibilities!
Now onto the information you all came here for…
What makes Tencel™ sustainable?
Tencel™ is a trademarked form of lyocell, which is a special form of rayon. The material is manufactured by the same company that makes ECOVERO™: Lenzing. However, what makes Tencel™ special is its use of ‘Eco Soft’ technology, which makes the fabric feel very smooth and soft.
Additionally, unlike regular lyocell, Tencel™ is produced using a closed-loop process. This term means that chemical solvents used to turn wood pulp into fiber are recovered and used again in the next production cycle. And similar to ECOVERO™, the wood is taken from responsibly managed forests.
While ECOVERO™ is a newer fabric technology, I’ve seen Tencel™ more commonly used by various brands. It’s found not only in clothes, but also bedding, shoes, denim, and many other forms of textiles. If you are curious to see what other products it is used in, you can visit Lenzing’s full list of brand partnerships here.
*Sharing a few brands below that you might shop at. For FULL list, please use the link above.
I highly suggest you visit Lenzing’s section on ‘Lyocell Production Process‘ as they have a really great diagram to describe the process. Hooray for learning! 🙂
