What kind of yarn is 'Cupro' listed in the material content?
While nylon and lyocell are names seen often, cupro is unfamiliar, leaving some readers unsure about what kind of properties the yarn has. Before choosing a dress, they want to know what this yarn is first.
Cupro is a regenerated cellulose yarn spun by dissolving the short cotton linter attached to cotton seeds, and it is blended at 18% in this dress.
Looking at the numbers first, the outer fabric of Lona Slip Dress in Beige is woven with 44% Nylon, 38% Lyocell, and 18% Cupro, and uses a YKK zipper[1]. Cupro has the lowest proportion among the three.
Cupro is a regenerated cellulose fiber made by dissolving linters—the short fibers of cotton not long enough to be spun into yarn—in a cuprammonium solution and then spinning them back into fine yarn. Because the raw material is plant-based, its feel is close to cotton, but going through a process of being dissolved and spun yields a yarn that is very fine and has a smooth surface. Because of its thin, slippery drape and the fact that it generates less static electricity, it is also a yarn that has long been used for jacket linings.
Its character becomes clearer when compared to the other two yarns blended with it. Nylon is a synthetic fiber made from petroleum; it is durable, dries quickly even when wet with water, and does not lose its shape easily. Lyocell belongs to the same regenerated cellulose family as cupro in that it is spun by dissolving wood pulp, but because its raw material and spinning method are different, it is known to retain moisture well and feel soft.
To add one point, regenerated cellulose such as cupro and lyocell loses strength when wet and can leave shrinkage or water spots, so dry cleaning or cold water hand washing is generally recommended. To be safe, it is best to refer to the care label attached to the product for the actual washing instructions for this dress.
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