Rayon is a smooth, soft fabric made from wood pulp or other plant fibers that have been chemically processed into thread. Unlike cotton, which comes directly from cotton plants, rayon starts as wood chips or bamboo that get dissolved in chemicals, then squeezed through tiny holes to form long, thin fibers that can be woven into cloth.

Invented in the late 1800s, rayon was created as a less expensive alternative to silk. It drapes beautifully and feels cool against the skin, which makes it popular for dresses, shirts, and linings. You might find rayon in your favorite summer clothes or in the lining of a jacket.

While rayon isn't quite as strong as cotton when it gets wet, and it can wrinkle easily, it takes dye well and comes in many different weights and textures. Some types of rayon, like viscose or modal, have specific names based on how they're made, but they're all part of the rayon family: fabrics that start as plants and need human ingenuity to become the soft, flowing material we wear.