Characteristics

• Textiles that are made from modal need to be washed at a low temperature, but are resistant to shrinking and fading, whereas silk and rayon, which are similar fabrics, can be very sensitive. Modal can take dye as easily as cotton can and is color-fast when washed in warm water. The material is soft and smooth like silk and is a very popular choice of material with Indian textile manufacturers.
  
  

Uses

• Modal has gained more popularity during the 21st century and is used for items such as towels, bathrobes and bed sheets as well as clothing. In a domestic environment, modal is mixed with other materials, like spandex, to give it more of a cotton feel.
  
  

Development

• After modal was developed for industrial uses, changes in the processing of rayon provided different possibilities for the textile. These possibilities were born because of modifications---such as spin conditions, altered chemical compounds and stretching of individual fibers with an increased crystallinity---the led to greater strength. In the 1950s, the Japanese developed the fabric further to produce a modal fiber with a high water modulus, meaning it did not shrink or get pulled out of shape when wet.
  
  

Advantages over Cotton

• The material is gaining popularity over cotton with manufacturers and consumers. Modal is a lightweight fabric that holds its color well and doesn't age like cotton. It is resistant to hard water, which means there is very little residue left on it after washing, unlike cotton. It is always smooth and soft against the skin after several washes; cotton can become stiff.