Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber made from natural sources of regenerated cellulose, such as wood and related agricultural products. It is also known as viscose and is commercialized in some countries as sabra silk or cactus silk. Rayon is a versatile fiber that can imitate the feel and texture of silk, wool, cotton, and linen. It is easily dyed in a wide range of colors and is soft, smooth, cool, comfortable, and highly absorbent. Rayon fabrics are ideal for use in hot and humid climates because they do not always insulate body heat, although this also makes their "hand" (feel) cool and sometimes almost slimy to the touch.

Rayon is a semi-synthetic fabric because it requires certain chemicals in its production, although it is derived from natural materials. The production process involves a lot of chemicals, energy, and water, and solvents used during the process can be very toxic to humans and the environment. Rayon is biodegradable and is made from renewable raw materials, namely cellulose from wood, so the production of rayon fabric does not contribute to the plastic soup. The production of viscose also costs less water than the production of cotton, for example.

Rayon is not a durable fabric, and standard machine washing can cause it to stretch, shrink, or bleed onto other articles of clothing. As a result, most experts recommend hand-washing rayon, but always be sure to check the care label instructions beforehand.

In summary, rayon is a semi-synthetic fabric made from natural sources of regenerated cellulose, such as wood and related agricultural products. It is versatile, soft, smooth, cool, comfortable, and highly absorbent. Rayon is biodegradable and made from renewable raw materials, but it is not a durable fabric and requires special care when washing.