As its name indicates, there are textiles that are composed of tri-blend fabrics: polyester, cotton, and rayon. Each fiber adds a specific function to the material. The polyester adds strength and durability, the cotton provides wicking and breathability, and the rayon brings softness. While we’ve learned already about polyester and cotton, we haven’t yet touched on rayon. Rayon is a wood fibre, but it doesn’t always have a sustainable supply chain. Old growth forests are often cleared and/or subsistence farmers are displaced to make way for pulpwood plantations.
Some manufacturers of rayon are working to create sustainable supply chains for their fibre sources. TENCEL®, for example, is a branded rayon with a transparent supply chain. The material is obtained from eucalyptus trees grown on farms. The pulp produced for TENCEL® has earned Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, which means it comes from responsibly managed forests. Tri-blends are popular for their super-soft feel and stretch properties. Essentially, they are a good match for activewear or a vintage look and feel.
Screen printing on tri-blend shirts does present some difficulties due to the properties of polyester and rayon.
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