Rayon

A French name given at the turn of the twentieth century to the brand-new material viscose, following a disagreement with the silk manufacturers. An artificial fiber derived from chemically modified cellulose, which was marketed both as a silk-like continuous thread, and as a cotton-like tuft. The largest manufacturer of rayon in the world is Enka Viscose (AKZO), with an 11 percent share for continuous thread. It is currently very widely used both in fabrics (for apparel and linings) and in knitwear. The leading textile industry locations for consumption are the districts of Prato, Como, Carpi, and Varese.