Why bamboo fabric

As a result, it is able to keep the wearer almost two degrees cooler in the heat and noticeably warmer in the cold. Bamboo fabric is also anti-static and UV protective as it cuts out 98 per cent of harmful UV rays providing the wearer with another beneficial quality from bamboo made clothing. Like your average garment, bamboo fabric can be washed. For the best maintenance of bamboo clothing, it should be washed using the gentle cycle, cold or lukewarm water, where line dried is preferred.

It is best to refrain from machine drying even on low heat as it may cause the garment to loose its shape sooner than if you line dried only. If necessary, it should be ironed on low heat and never with a steamer.

The most enticing aspect of bamboo fabric is that it is the most eco-friendly fabric on the planet. Bamboo, a type of tropical grass, has an extensive rooting system that grows on average four to six new shoots a year, naturally replenishing itself.

It is also per cent biodegradable, the most renewable resource on our planet, and provides an abundance of usable oxygen making it a crucial element in the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As bamboo fabric is gaining popularity in the fashion industry, there will naturally be an increase in growth and demand for more bamboo plants.

This could ultimately lead to an increased amount of photosynthesis and result in another alternative to combating greenhouse gases. Comparison between Bamboo and Cotton:. Strong Abrasion Resistance. Both are very abrasion resistant. Both are strong. Both fabrics are hypoallergenic. Bamboo will retain it's structural integrity after multiple washings. Not recommended for Bamboo. Bamboo is very resilient. Bamboo is naturally lustrous. Bamboo has much more elasticity than cotton.

Pesticide-free crop. This beneficial quality of the plant remains in its textile form, killing all bacteria keeping the wearer feeling fresher and odor free for longer, making the garment healthier and more hygienic. The cross-section of the bamboo fiber is covered with micro-gaps giving the fabric better moisture absorption and ventilation. As a result, it is able to keep the wearer almost two degrees cooler in the heat and noticeably warmer in the cold. Bamboo Culottes made of organic bamboo fiber, the best solution for extreme performance in sports and life.

Culottes made of organic bamboo fiber, the best solution for extreme performance in sports and life. The properties of BambooSmarTec fabric will keep your skin fresh, its silk-like softness will make you feel incredibly comfortable. Your email address will not be published. From construction to homewares to fabrics, bamboo is having its moment in the limelight. But given that some claims associated with bamboo have been disputed, such as its sustainability, UV protection, and antibacterial properties, is it really the miracle crop many are claiming it to be?

Is bamboo fabric sustainable? It starts out looking good. When compared to cotton cultivation , which requires large amounts of water, pesticides, and labour, the advantages are pretty clear. But wait! Before you run off to restock your wardrobe, there are a few things to consider. The majority of bamboo is grown in China, and there is limited information regarding how intensively bamboo is being harvested, or what sort of land clearing might be underway in order to make way for the bamboo.

However, in the last few years the Chinese government has cracked down on these more intensive processes and it is now considered extremely bad practice in the industry, which is great progress. Okay, you think, so bamboo might have some issues, but it still uses way less chemicals, and is more environmentally friendly than cotton, right?

There are several ways to turn bamboo into a fabric. The first process involves combing out the bamboo fibres and spinning these into thread. The textile and fashion industry embraces these properties. Also, it is often a go-to fabric for people looking for a cruelty-free alternative to silk. While bamboo is natural, the fabrics we get from it are semi-synthetic due to the processing methods. This is especially true for viscose rayon and lyocell-type fabric.

As mentioned earlier, the different types of bamboo fabric go through various processes before becoming a textile for clothing. It is important to note that the most common bamboo fabric is bamboo viscose.

This textile is significantly cheaper to manufacture and uses the rayon production method. This viscose rayon fiber requires a significant amount of chemicals in its manufacturing process. The lyocell fabric, on the other hand, uses less toxic chemicals. The best and most sustainable is the natural type, which requires mechanical processing.

Even though bamboo is used to make this fabric, the process can be toxic to the planet. Some of these chemicals are also harmful to workers. To acquire this fabric, manufacturers apply the conventional viscose rayon production process.

As a result, bamboo viscose requires a lengthy process. After planting and harvesting the bamboo plant, the workers extract bamboo cellulose from the wood pulp.

This involves breaking down wood into small chunks and exposing it to a chemical solvent. Through this, the bamboo cellulose is acquired. The process then goes as follows:. This process involves the heavy usage of harmful chemicals such as carbon disulfide and sulfuric acid. Another manufacturing process to acquire bamboo fabric and fibers is using a closed-loop method. The closed-loop process, therefore, creates a fabric that is natural and organic.

Also, factories dispose of the solvents used to make bamboo rayon in the viscose rayon process. It is classified as waste. On the other hand, they can use solvents in this closed-loop process over again. This leads to a better environmentally-friendly impact. This method is the most friendly to the environment. Rather, it requires mechanical processing. To acquire these bamboo fibers, you mechanically crush the plants. Afterward, you add natural enzymes to the crushed wood fibers.

You then wash these fibers and spin them into bamboo yarn. The resulting bamboo fabrics are quite costly, and the process is labor-intensive.

As a result, it is limited in the market. Producers utilize bamboo to make a variety of products. For instance, the paper industry uses it in paper production. However, bamboo fibers for clothes came about in the 20th century. It is important to note that there had been attempts over the years to generate fiber to be turned into apparel. We can trace the origins of bamboo fabric to Asia. We can further trace the development of the first modern process of attaining bamboo textile to Beijing University 1.

They released the results of usable bamboo apparel in the early s. Around this time, some other manufacturers and organizations were working to create bamboo apparel by using similar methods.

This successful extraction was developed, and modern bleaching methods were used to turn the fabric white. It then became commercially available and successful in the American market. Over the years, experts have developed methods of generating the fabric.

As a raw material, bamboo is a natural and highly sustainable plant. It has a minimal environmental impact compared with many crops. The crop has many sustainable benefits. These include:. Read more here: All About Bamboo and Sustainability.