Bamboo Facts

A special grass

More than two thirds of the world depends on bamboo as an amazing building material. As a grass, it is readily renewable and can be harvested continually without replanting. Once harvested and cured, it is stronger than maple or red oak.

The fibers of bamboo can be spun into fabric which is incredibly soft, amazingly absorbent, and naturally anti-microbial. With over 2000 known varieties, bamboo may very well be the most useful and versatile natural resource on the planet.

Have a look at our in-depth article on What’s so great about bamboo to learn more.

Some of bamboo’s ecological benefits:

· grows faster than any plant on earth
· produces 30% more oxygen than an equal area of trees
· renews itself and requires no chemical fertilizers or pesticides
· improves soil and controls erosion

And some of its performance advantages:

· softer and more breathable
· better UV protection
· moisture wicking and highly absorbent
· naturally hypo-allergenic

Bamboo Fabric

Bamboo Fiber Clothing

Bamboo fabric is a radical new material that promises to revolutionize the clothing and textile industry. But how do they do it?

Basically, the bamboo stalks are crushed and pulped, and the plant cellulose is extracted and converted into “rayon.” But while traditional viscose rayon relies on caustic chemicals to convert man-made cellulose, bamboo rayon employs a new eco-friendly method that preserves the natural characteristics of the bamboo (cellulose) without the use of toxic chemicals.

The organic solvent amine oxide has been in use since the 1990s for converting raw wood fiber into useful textiles. Bamboo’s abundance and renewability make it an ideal candidate for this process, and the non-toxic process is entirely in line with the ecological philosophy behind bamboo.

The end result is a sumptuously soft eco-fiber fashioned from organically grown bamboo, not only comfortable and breathable, but also hypoallergenic, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial.

Why change your shirt?

Conventional cotton is known to be one of the most pesticide intensive crops on the planet, as it is susceptible to a number of pests (particularly when grown in monoculture). And the defoliants used to strip cotton of its leaves before harvesting are some of the deadliest man-made chemicals available. (see Agent Orange )

Other synthetic fibers like nylon, polyester and traditional rayon are derived from petroleum, and so, of course, are those pesky fertilizers, pesticides and defoliants. Freeing ourselves from these industrial fibers represents one more step towards freeing ourselves from fossil fuel dependency.

Bamboo, hemp, and organic cotton all offer excellent alternatives to the highly-toxic conventional textiles, and the future of sustainable agriculture depends not on a single panacea, but on a healthy diversity of alternatives.

Care

We want your bamboo-based products to be in your life for a long, long time. To care for them, simply machine wash using gentle soap and tumble dry on a low setting. Natural fibers will break down under the stress of a hot dryer, so be sure not to over dry. Soft. Clean. And ready for your next adventure.

 See our detailed article on How to properly wash and care for bamboo clothing.