Bamboo is an eco-friendly, hypoallergenic natural fiber that has strong anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It is a flowering evergreen perennial plant and there are around a thousand different varieties. This diversity makes it more adaptable to different climates than most other softwoods.
The bamboo plant consumes more carbon dioxide (CO2) and generates up to 35% more Oxygen (O2) than an equivalent stand of trees. So it provides an abundance of usable oxygen, making it a crucial element in the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Hand made paper in Asia was historically made from bamboo. Bamboo pulp can now be used to create a bamboo fiber which is then used to make yarn and fabric. To make bamboo fiber the bamboo grass is pulped until it separates into thin threads of fiber. The mechanical way is to crush the woody parts of the bamboo plant. And then use natural enzymes to break down the bamboo walls into a mushy mass. The natural fibers can then be combed out and then spun and woven into cloth.
In many rural areas where economic development is limited, bamboo is available in abundance. So it can offer a social benefit by providing income to those growing bamboo. When bamboo is harvested, the roots do not need to be cut and therefore no replanting is required as with hardwood trees.
To grow bamboo, very little water is required comparing with cotton farming and other crops. It does well in impoverished soils and the roots help maintain water in the soil due to their tight hold on the soil. So bamboo is water conserving.
The Versatility of Bamboo
There are many uses for bamboo ranging from clothing and accessories to furniture and building applications. It is increasingly used for making toys, cutlery and crockery and also musical instruments like didgeridoos, drums and flutes.
Bamboo is edible and is often used in Asian and Oriental cooking. Bamboo leaves and shoots are also the staple diet of pandas and elephants. The type of bamboo that is used to make bamboo fabric, is not the variety that is eaten by pandas. The antioxidant properties of bamboo also make it a natural food preservative.
There are more than one billion people in the world that live in bamboo houses with many schools and houses in Bali built from bamboo. According to UNESCO, 70 hectares of bamboo will produce sufficient material to build a thousand homes. Thus, saving the diminishing forests and helping our planet as no land degradation or environmental upset occurs.
Why choose Bamboo fiber products?
There are many advantages and benefits of choosing bamboo for your clothing, bedding and other household products.
- Bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic and the fabric is as soft as silk. The fibers undergo no chemical treatments so they are naturally rounder and smoother and without sharp spurs that can irritate the skin. This hypoallergenic quality means that it doesn’t cause allergic reactions. So it is kind to sensitive skin and fabulous for allergy sufferers.
- Bamboo is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. It possesses an anti-bacterial and bacteriostatic bio-agent called “bamboo kun”. This natural antimicrobial agent gives bamboo a natural resistance to pest and fungi infestation. The inherent quality of bamboo allows it to grow naturally in the wild without having to treat the bamboo crop with pesticides, fertilizers or chemicals. This beneficial quality is retained in the textile form which means all bacteria are killed making the garment more hygienic.
- Bamboo is extremely breathable. When you look at the magnification of bamboo fiber under a microscope, the fiber cross-section is covered with little micro gaps. These give better moisture absorption and ventilation to the fabric. The hollow structure of a bamboo fiber promotes moisture absorption and evaporation making it more breathable than cotton.
- Bamboo is highly sweat absorbent and pulls moisture away from the skin for evaporation. It therefore keeps you dry and let the body breathe naturally.
- Bamboo is powerfully insulating. The hollow fiber has unusual breathing capabilities, which keeps you cooler in the summer and warmer in the warmer.
- Bamboo is naturally UV protectant – by cutting out 98% of harmful UV rays it protects the skin from damage by the sun.
- All bamboo products are 100% biodegradable making it the most renewable resource on the planet. Bamboo is grown completely naturally making it kind to the environment.
Bamboo In Your Home
If you choose bamboo fiber products for your home, you’ll be contributing to a more sustainable environment and a greener planet. Bamboo flooring looks very similar to hardwoods and shares many of the positive benefits of a hardwood floor. It does also have similar drawbacks and you need to be aware of that.
Certain types of bamboo flooring can be very hard and durable and it is relatively easy to maintain. Although it can be washed, long term exposure to moisture will damage the floor just as hardwood flooring would be damaged.
Bamboo flooring looks elegant and yet distinct and different.
The price of bamboo flooring is very similar to that of hardwood.
Bamboo bed linen is luxuriously soft and because of the moisture wicking properties it keeps you dry and comfortable during the hot summer nights. Bamboo towels are super absorbent and even after numerous washes, they seem to just get softer. They also dry quicker than cotton towels.
Bamboo clothing and specially bamboo underwear and socks is super soft and keep your body and feet healthy and hygienic. Bamboo is one of the softest fabrics on the planet with a beautifully soft and flowing drape. I Iove the way it feels on my skin. Caring for your bamboo clothing and bedding is very easy. It is machine washable and can be washed at low temperatures making it energy efficient. It is preferable to line dry it, but if you do need to use a tumble drier, it must be dried at low temperatures.
Bamboo cutlery and crockery are increasingly available and using baby products made from bamboo means no harmful and toxic chemicals when the little ones start chewing their cutlery. This also applies to bamboo toys.
Bamboo is the most eco-friendly fabric on the planet – help save our planet and choose bamboo fiber products for yourself and your home.
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Hi Line,
I love the Versatility of Bamboo, we can build too many beautiful products using every part of tree. We have compiled an infographic that lists eye-opening trends related to sustainable clothing.
Hi Stacey, bamboo is indeed very versatile and can be used for clothing, housing, flooring, eating utensils and so much more. I will add your infographic to a post on sustainable clothing. Kind regards, Liné
Hi,
Thank you for sharing, I don’t know bamboo is this useful to the society at large, I do think bamboo is only for support in building house or use to make furnitures, this is interesting to know bamboo is made for fabric clothing, there are lots of natural benefits from bamboo fabric products.
Aluko.
Bamboo is a very versatile and environmentally friendly fiber that is soft on the skin, so is perfect for baby and infant products, as well as the whole range of garments from underwear to outerwear. It is a natural fiber and is grown without any chemicals and harmful pesticides.
Nice Article ??? ??
Thank you
I absolutely love that bamboo is such an eco-friendly product! I have very sensitive skin so it’s wonderful to know that bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic. I will usually always go this route when it comes to any bedding in my home, blankets, or even clothing. Thank you for sharing the importance of bamboo fiber products as well as spreading awareness about how it can help save our planet!
Hi Lindsey, Bamboo products are great for anybody that has sensitive skin, but is also a sustainable and eco friendly crop that has amazing applications in not only the clothing industry, but also for housing.
As someone who is now using bamboo based toilet paper, I am even more intrigued to see how the clothing is. I am very pleased with my toilet paper, which I am very particular about what I use. I currently work at Lowes and we sell bamboo-based floor that looks amazing and I have heard only great reviews from customers about how much easier it is to care for than traditional hardwood. The post is exceptionally thorough and definitely piqued my interest in looking at bamboo clothing. As a very large man, I tend to have issues with sweating and staying cool especially now during the summer months.
It is awesome that you are using bamboo toilet paper. Bamboo floors are indeed beautiful and very easy to care for. I am sure you will benefit from wearing bamboo clothing. All the best, Liné
I have heard that bamboo plants are great to keep in the home and now I see why. The fact that it can improve oxygen supply in the home is amazing. The history and details on how to make things like bamboo fibers is interesting.
This is a very informative article. Thanks.
Hi Toni, thank you for your kind comment. Bamboo plants and products have many benefits and it is good to find that it is being used on a more widespread basis. Liné
I wasn’t aware bamboo was so easily renewable and that it could be used to manufacture all these different types of products. I had never heard of clothes or home furniture made of bamboo fiber. You never stop learning new things I guess. I also had a look at the online shop and I have to say that many of these clothes look gorgeous. I’ll consider shopping there next time I have to shop for clothes or give somebody a present.
Hi there, bamboo indeed have many uses and benefits and I am sure you will enjoy wearing bamboo clothes. Liné
This is an awesome article. I have discover more use of bamboo. But I would have loved to see the process of production. Can you add a video on how to realize one of the many items you presented?
And when using it to build a house, should we be concerned that it could be destroyed by insects? Just like wood. If yes, how can it be prevented? Or treated.
Thanks
Bamboo can be attacked by insects and fungi because of the starch and sugar. It can be treated and I’ll cover that in a different blog as there is too much to go into detail here.
What a really fascinating post. I’m sure like many other people I have heard about Bamboo but had not totally realized its full range of use.
It is always cool to read about something that is natural that could replace stuff that is not as sustainable. I might have to do some more research and see what I can incorporate into my life.
Thanks
Kevin Deaney
Hi Kevin, I love wearing bamboo and specially next to my skin. With the range available, from socks and underwear, to t-shirts and other garments, it is easy to find bamboo clothing. And it is more sustainable than synthetic fibers.
I did not know that bamboo had so many uses. You’re giving me a lot of reasons to order some bamboo fabric clothing because bamboo seems to be one of the materials that is growing in popularity for all of the natural benefits that it provides. I also want to get some bamboo toilet paper because it’s a more natural product.
Hi Jon, Bamboo is growing in popularity and with applications from clothing to household products and even building applications. It is a great sustainable fiber with many benefits to our planet.
I absolutely love bamboo bed sheets and linen! So super comfortable and luxurious! I can’t wait to get some cutlery and crockery. I must admit it has never occurred to me to use bamboo in flooring throughout the house, but I can only imagine how amazing the house would look, and the beautiful, homely feel it would give.
Hi Josie, I love bamboo products and the bed linen and towels are beautifully soft. Bamboo flooring is very sustainable and durable and you can explore the beauty of bamboo floors more in this post