WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE BAMBOO FABRICS?
Bamboo absorbs quite a lot of water, it dries very quickly, even much faster than cotton does. In warm, humid weather, bamboo clothing keeps you drier, cooler and more comfortable. This is why the fibre is great for making sportswear clothing, Bamboo is an extremely resilient and durable fibre; being soft. If you were to compare it to cotton it is much stronger and biodegradable.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF USING BAMBOO FABRICS IN YOUR COLLECTION? Minimal Crop Losses: Bamboo has always been grown without pesticides where somenon-organic cotton requires 1/3 pounds of fertilizer per pound. Stronger than Cotton: Viscose from bamboo is one of the strongest and most affordable fabrics to wear. Bamboo will outlast cotton in keeping shape, strength, and durability three times over. Dyes easier: Bamboo fibres require less dye than cotton for coloration, and are noted to keep their bright colors longer. Bamboo is Absorbent and Breathable: Bamboo is 40% more absorbent than even the finest organic cotton. Bamboo can take in three times more water than its weight which once made into a fabric, which means that it also is able to get rid of moisture faster. WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF USING BAMBOO FABRICS IN YOUR COLLECTION? Mechanical Production: Bamboo is crushed and mixed with natural enzymes to aid in the breakdown and then drawn into fibres. This method is eco-friendly but it is more expensive due to the labor involved. Chemical Production: It is mixed in a cocktail of Chemicals and heated. This gives out harmful fumes. As a result, the environment-friendliness of bamboo clothing is mainly dependent on the process involved in the making of Bamboo fibre. WHAT IS BAMBOO CLOTHING? We’ve seen bamboo be used for all sorts in the past, from looking pretty and feeding panda’s, to being used to make baskets and bags. Bamboo is an environmentally friendly material however it still requires a bit of work to make the manufacturing process as eco-friendly as possible. Despite needing a little bit of tweaking to make it a bit greener, bamboo is one of the best plants for the environment. Bamboo forests are extremely dense and at the rate they consume carbon dioxide, they can produce up to 30% more oxygen to go back into the environment. They also don’t need as much energy and water as other plants that go through the fibre production process, since a bamboo plant can survive extreme weather conditions from droughts to flooding. Bamboo also grows back quickly when it is cut, meaning it is much easier to harvest it sustainably since it can be selectively harvested and can regrow itself, it also doesn’t need pesticides to help it grow, since it has its own antibacterial agent. This sustainability also means it is biodegradable. In more recent years, bamboo has been popping up in fashion in a range of clothing. It is used in everyday clothes, but because of its unique antimicrobial, it is perfect for athleisure and clothes you would exercise in. However, when you are making clothes that have bamboo in them, in most cases those clothes are blended with 30% cotton, it adds extra structure and comfort to the garments. Bamboo is also making its way into interior design, especially in bedding, the smooth fibre you get from bamboo feels like satin, they also have the ability to feel warmer during the winter months but cooler during summer. Regardless of whether we are talking about clothes or bedsheets, bamboo has proven to be non-irritating to the skin in all forms it could be made into, making it perfect for someone with allergies or sensitive skin or even dermatitis; however each brand has a different manufacturing process so some people’s skin could potentially react. As mentioned before bamboo is a breathable and antibacterial fibre but the micro-holes found in bamboo allow it to absorb moisture, bamboo fibre is four times more absorbent than cotton. Bamboo can naturally protect itself from UV rays, so being antibacterial and UV resistant makes it perfect for workout clothes. Depending on the manufacturing process, there are different ways to process the bamboo, all at a different cost. Mechanical methods, where bamboo is crushed to a pulp, is the least harmful method however, it is the most expensive. When corners are cut to make it much cheaper, usually involve being chemically processed and can be dangerous to both the environment and workers in the factories. The chemical process involves solvents cooking the bamboo, the fibres are then taken, the most common method is called hydrolysis alkalization with multi-phase bleaching. However, there is a misconception now that is something says it is soft bamboo, it is always made with harsh solvents, when in reality it is probably rayon. So, would you try working bamboo into your next collection?