Viscose vs cotton
Viscose is softer, cooler and drapes better – made for dresses and blouses. Cotton is tougher and takes washing and heat – the everyday choice.
Choose viscose
Flowing dresses, blouses, hot summers
Choose cotton
T-shirts, jeans, frequent washing
Viscose
- Looks like silk for less
- Breathable and cool
- Loses up to half its strength when wet
- Shrinks and creases
- Chemical-heavy production
Cotton
- Breathes and absorbs moisture
- Hypoallergenic, good for sensitive skin
- Washes easily, even hot
- Creases
- Shrinks in heat, especially jersey
- Slow to dry
| Viscose | Cotton | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Regenerated (from cellulose) | Natural plant fibre |
| Made from | Cellulose from wood pulp (eucalyptus, pine, bamboo). | The fluffy fibre around cotton plant seeds. |
| Feel | Soft, slippery and fluid – silk-like. | Cool, dry and kind to skin; softens with age. |
| Shrinks? | Yes – viscose shrinks in hot water and the dryer, especially as a knit. Wash at 30 °C and dry without heat. | Yes – cotton shrinks in hot water and the dryer, especially as a knit. Wash at 30 °C and dry without heat. |
| Used for | Dresses, blouses, linings, summer clothes. | T-shirts, shirts, jeans, underwear, bedding. |
More comparisons
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
01Which is better, viscose or cotton?
Viscose is softer, cooler and drapes better – made for dresses and blouses. Cotton is tougher and takes washing and heat – the everyday choice.
02Which is more breathable?
Cotton breathes better.
03Which creases less?
About the same.