What Is Lenzing Modal? The 'Vegan Silk' Behind Our Underwear

Lenzing modal is a soft, breathable, sustainable fabric made from renewable beech wood. Often called "vegan silk", it feels silkier than cotton, wicks moisture better, resists shrinking and pilling, and has a lighter environmental footprint. At BOY'D, it's the fabric behind our Afterglow underwear, and once you've worn it, regular cotton feels like a downgrade.

What is Lenzing modal?

Let's get the science out of the way, because it's actually good news. Modal is a type of rayon, a fibre made from natural cellulose. Lenzing modal is the premium, branded version, made by the Austrian company Lenzing from the pulp of renewable beech trees. The wood gets spun into a fine, silky fibre, which is exactly why people call it "vegan silk". It's plant-based, not pumped out of petroleum like polyester or nylon, and it skips the thirsty, pesticide-heavy farming that cotton leans on. Clever trees.

Why Lenzing modal feels better than cotton

Here's the part your skin cares about. Lenzing modal is ridiculously soft and smooth, with a natural stretch that moves with you instead of fighting you. It's more breathable and more moisture-wicking than cotton, so it keeps its cool through a gym session, a heatwave, or a night that runs long. And because the fibre is so stable, it holds its shape and colour wash after wash, shrugging off the shrinking, fading and pilling that turns cotton briefs into sad rags.

  • Silky-soft and smooth on the skin
  • Breathable and moisture-wicking, better than cotton
  • Natural stretch and a flattering drape
  • Colourfast, and resistant to shrinking and pilling

Is Lenzing modal sustainable?

Short answer: yes, and meaningfully so. The beech wood comes from renewable, sustainably managed forests, the production uses far less water than cotton farming, and the finished fibre is biodegradable. We're not going to pretend it saves the planet single-handed, but for something that's against your skin all day, it's one of the better choices going. More on how we think about this on our sustainability page.

How BOY'D uses Lenzing modal

This is the good bit. Our Afterglow underwear, both the brief and the jockstrap, is cut from Lenzing modal. It's what gives Afterglow that soft, second-skin feel, and it's the reason it's the underwear you'll keep reaching for and never quite want to take off. Want to feel the difference for yourself? The Afterglow Brief in Glacier is a very good place to start.

Caring for Lenzing modal

Modal is refreshingly low-maintenance, much like your ideal date. Wash it cold on a gentle cycle with like colours, skip the bleach and the tumble dryer, and lay flat or hang to dry. Treat it well and it'll stay soft and rich in colour long after cotton would have given up.

Soft, breathable and responsibly made. That's why Lenzing modal is the heart of Afterglow. Be bold. Have fun.

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