There is a particular feeling — the one that comes from pulling on something so soft it barely registers against your skin — that is difficult to describe until you've experienced it. That feeling has a name: TENCEL™ Modal fabric. A semi-synthetic fiber made from sustainably harvested beech tree pulp and produced exclusively by the Austrian company Lenzing AG, TENCEL™ Modal is exceptionally breathable, moisture-wicking, and buttery-soft in a way that sets it apart from nearly every other material in your wardrobe. Made through a closed-loop process that recaptures up to 95% of the water and solvents used in manufacturing and certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100, it was the only fabric that made sense when Eberjey set out to make the world's most comfortable sleepwear. After nearly three decades working with TENCEL™ Modal, the question we hear most from customers — whether they're on their first set or their fifth — is always the same: why does this feel different from everything else I own?
What Exactly Is TENCEL™ Modal, and Where Does It Come From?
Not all Modal fabric is the same. The TENCEL™ brand name belongs specifically to Lenzing AG, an Austrian fiber company that has been refining sustainable textile production since 1938. When you see "TENCEL™ Modal" on a garment label — as you do on Eberjey's hero product, the Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Pajama Set — it signals a traceable, responsibly produced fiber that meets strict environmental and safety standards.
From Forest to Fabric
The journey begins in certified European beech forests. Beech trees are harvested from forests that carry FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC certification, meaning no old-growth forests are touched and replanting is built into the process. The wood pulp dissolves into a viscous solution, then extrudes through fine spinnerets to create long, smooth fibers that spin into yarn and knit into the fabric you eventually pull on before bed.
What separates Lenzing's process from conventional Modal or viscose production is its closed-loop manufacturing system. Lenzing AG's sustainability documentation confirms that more than 95% of the water and the non-toxic solvent used in production are recovered and reused in subsequent cycles (Lenzing AG, 2023). The result is a fiber with a significantly lower environmental footprint than cotton — and an incomparably softer hand feel.
How Does TENCEL™ Modal Compare to Cotton, Silk, and Bamboo?
The short answer: TENCEL™ Modal outperforms cotton in softness and moisture management, rivals silk in drape without the delicate care requirements, and is more rigorously certified than most bamboo fabrics on the market.
TENCEL™ Modal vs. Cotton
Cotton is breathable and familiar, but it absorbs moisture and holds onto it — which means it can feel damp and heavy during the night. TENCEL™ Modal fibers, engineered with a smooth surface, wick moisture away from the skin and release it into the air. Modal fibers demonstrate superior moisture transport properties compared to standard cotton, resulting in a drier microclimate against the skin — a meaningful benefit for anyone who runs warm or experiences night sweats (Kang et al., 2020).
TENCEL™ Modal is also measurably softer. The fibers are longer and finer than cotton, which means fewer fiber ends catching at the skin's surface. Smooth, low-friction fabrics reduce irritation for those with sensitive skin conditions — a distinction that OEKO-TEX-certified TENCEL™ Modal is particularly well-suited to deliver (AAD, 2022).
TENCEL™ Modal vs. Silk
Silk has long been synonymous with luxury sleepwear — it is extraordinarily smooth and temperature-regulating. But silk requires hand washing or dry cleaning, loses strength when wet, and is produced in a way many consumers find ethically or environmentally concerning. TENCEL™ Modal, by contrast, is machine washable, durable across hundreds of wash cycles, and produced from a renewable plant source.
TENCEL™ Modal vs. Bamboo
Bamboo fabric is frequently marketed as sustainable, and the plant itself is fast-growing and resource-efficient. However, most bamboo fabric processes use the same harsh chemical methods as conventional rayon or viscose, and few bamboo brands carry independent third-party verification. TENCEL™ Modal's OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification confirms every component — from fiber to dye to finishing chemicals — is free from over 100 harmful substances (OEKO-TEX, 2023).
Why Is TENCEL™ Modal So Soft?
The softness of TENCEL™ Modal is structural, not chemical. It comes from the physical properties of the fiber itself.
Beech tree cellulose produces particularly long, fine filaments. When spun into yarn and knit into fabric, these smooth filaments lie flat against one another with minimal surface irregularity — no rough ends catching against skin, no loose fibers pilling after washing.
Over time, TENCEL™ Modal actually becomes softer with washing, not stiffer. The fibers relax and settle, which is one reason customers who own Eberjey's Gisele PJ Set for years often describe their oldest pairs as their most beloved. The 1,400-plus five-star reviews the Gisele has accumulated speak directly to this durability of softness — a quality that fast-fashion alternatives, regardless of their initial hand feel, cannot sustain.
Is TENCEL™ Modal Sustainable?
Sustainability claims in fashion are often vague. TENCEL™ Modal is one of the more rigorously documented cases in the industry.
The Raw Material
Beech trees used for Lenzing's TENCEL™ Modal are sourced from certified European forests governed by FSC and PEFC standards. They naturally regenerate and require no irrigation or pesticides to grow — unlike cotton, which is one of the most water-intensive and pesticide-heavy crops in global agriculture (WWF, 2022).
The Manufacturing Process
Lenzing's closed-loop process recovers more than 95% of the non-toxic solvent used to dissolve wood pulp. No chlorine bleaching is used. The resulting fiber carries OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification — the textile industry's most recognized independent safety and sustainability verification — confirming freedom from harmful substances including pesticide residues, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and skin-sensitizing dyes.
Longevity as Sustainability
A garment that lasts ten years has a far lower environmental footprint than one that wears out in ten months. TENCEL™ Modal's resistance to pilling, stretching, and fiber breakdown makes Eberjey's sleepwear a genuine wearable heirloom — which aligns with the brand's philosophy of quality over quantity, and comfort that deepens over time.
How Should You Care for TENCEL™ Modal Fabric?
TENCEL™ Modal is more forgiving than silk or wool, but a few gentle rituals will keep it feeling its best indefinitely.
Washing
Machine wash on a gentle or delicate cycle in cold water with a mild, fragrance-free detergent — harsh detergents with optical brighteners or enzymes can gradually weaken the fiber structure and fade color.
Drying
Tumble dry on low heat or lay flat to dry. High heat is the primary enemy of Modal fabric: it can cause slight shrinkage and, over time, diminish the fiber's characteristic softness. If you use a dryer, remove garments while slightly damp and allow them to finish drying in the air.
Ironing
TENCEL™ Modal rarely needs ironing — its natural drape smooths out as you wear it. If needed, use a low heat setting with a pressing cloth between iron and fabric.
Storing
Store folded rather than hung where possible. Because TENCEL™ Modal has a slight natural give, hanging heavier garments over time can cause distortion at the shoulders.
Who Should Wear TENCEL™ Modal?
The honest answer: almost everyone. But certain sleepers find TENCEL™ Modal particularly transformative.
Sensitive skin and eczema-prone sleepers benefit from the low-friction surface and the absence of synthetic dyes or chemical finishes — confirmed by OEKO-TEX testing. Moisture-wicking, smooth-surfaced fabrics reduce overnight skin irritation in a way that conventional alternatives simply cannot match (AAD, 2022).
Hot sleepers find relief in Modal's moisture-wicking properties. Where cotton traps warmth and holds sweat against the body, Modal moves moisture away from the skin and releases it into the air, helping regulate body temperature through the night.
Those who care about the world they're dressing for can feel confident in a fiber with traceable sourcing, third-party certification, and a manufacturing process that dramatically reduces water and chemical waste compared to conventional alternatives.
Those who want effortless everyday luxury — which is Eberjey's core woman — find that TENCEL™ Modal delivers the softness of considered, high-end fabric with the washability and durability of everyday wear. You don't need to treat it carefully. You simply wear it, wash it, and reach for it again tomorrow.
What Makes Eberjey's Use of TENCEL™ Modal Different?
Many brands use Modal. Fewer use TENCEL™ Modal specifically — the certified Lenzing fiber rather than generic Modal made through less transparent processes. And fewer still have built an entire brand philosophy around what that fabric makes possible.
Eberjey was founded in Miami in 1996 by Ali Mejia and Mariela Rovito on a single conviction: that comfort and confidence are inseparable. The Gisele PJ Set, now the brand's iconic enduring style, was designed to be the pajama you actually live in — not the one you fold neatly in a drawer. TENCEL™ Modal was the natural fabric choice because it matches that intention precisely: soft enough to feel like self-care, durable enough to outlast trends, and responsible enough to wear without compromise.
The Gisele is available in dozens of colorways each season, and every version uses OEKO-TEX Standard 100-certified TENCEL™ Modal. The brand's intimates and bralettes are made in the same Modal blends — it is not a single product decision, but a material philosophy that runs through everything Eberjey makes.
The softer side of life is a choice. And it begins with what you wear to bed.
References & Citations
Lenzing AG. (2023). TENCEL™ Modal fiber: Sustainability and environmental performance. Retrieved from https://www.lenzing.com/sustainability/tencel-modal
Kang, Y., et al. (2020). Moisture transport properties of Modal and cotton knit fabrics. Journal of Natural Fibers, 17(4), 512–521.
American Academy of Dermatology. (2022). Eczema: Tips for managing itchy skin. Retrieved from https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/eczema/childhood/treating/itchy-skin
OEKO-TEX Association. (2023). OEKO-TEX Standard 100: What it means for consumers. Retrieved from https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/our-standards/oeko-tex-standard-100
World Wildlife Fund. (2022). The impact of cotton on fresh water resources and ecosystems. Retrieved from https://www.wwf.org/our_work/food/agriculture/cotton
Sleep Foundation. (2023). Best fabrics for sleep: What to look for in sleepwear and bedding. Retrieved from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/bedroom-environment/best-fabric-for-sleep
Textile Exchange. (2023). Preferred fiber and materials market report. Retrieved from https://textileexchange.org/knowledge-center/reports/preferred-fiber-and-materials-market-report
