From Bamboo to Your Body: Fashion’s Eco-friendly Bamboo Fabric

Have you ever considered what materials go into making your favorite tee shirt or coat? It could be Cotton, Rayon, or Wool—but did you know that your clothing can be made from Bamboo too?

As the fashion industry looks to create a more sustainable future, fabrics being made from items you can find in nature—or your refrigerator—have become increasingly more popular. Bamboo specifically has made a name for itself in the industry due to its antifungal and antibacterial properties.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development reveals that Bamboo also “helps avoid fossil fuel use, and reduce deforestation, by offering an alternative, highly renewable source of biomass energy.”

There are tons of eco-friendly brands that only offer clothing that is derived from Bamboo textiles. However, many established companies have begun utilizing this plant as well.

bamboo to you: The fabric-making process

There are two types of fiber that are knitted or woven into fabrics: synthetic and natural. Synthetic fibers are man-made and include Nylon, Acrylic, Polyester, and more; all of which we are sure you’ve seen on clothing labels before.

On the other hand, natural fibers can be made from plants or animals. Some of the most well-known natural fibers include Cotton, Wool, and Hemp. Though natural fibers sound better for the environment, they do require lots of land, water, pesticides, and fertilizers.

Yes, Bamboo is considered a natural fiber. But, considering it is a highly renewable resource, it becomes more of a sustainable fabric as opposed to others. There are two ways to achieve this fabric; it can be made through either a mechanical or chemical process.

The mechanical process “includes crushing the woody part of the plant and then applying natural enzymes to break the bamboo cell walls, creating a mushy mass,” reveals Fairware. “The natural fibers can then be mechanically combed out and spun into yarn. The fabric that results has a similar feel to linen.”

However, the chemical process, or the Viscose Process, is arguably much less labor-intensive and saves a lot of production time.

“Through this process, bamboo leaves and shoots are essentially cooked in strong chemical solvents such as sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide,” reveals Fairware. “Once cooked, the resulting liquid is pushed through tiny holes (a spinnerette) directly into a chemical bath of sulfuric acid where it hardens into fine strands.”

After this begins the washing and bleaching process and then the strands are woven into fabrics that often have a silky, soft-to-the-touch feel. Once the designers source these fabrics, the rest is history. Being that Bamboo fabric is recyclable, this process will continue cyclically.

Companies Selling Bamboo-made Clothing

As we previously mentioned, there are fashion brands that only sell clothing strictly made with Bamboo fabrics, but others that are just dipping their toes into this sustainable practice.

Let’s take a look at a few!

Cozy earth

Cozy Earth is a company that uses Bamboo fabrics for all of its items. They specialize in comfortable styles such as pajamas, dresses, tops, socks, and more. Cozy Earth even has some household staples such as bed sheets and bath towels in their product line.

Ettitude

Ettitude is another company that carries all Bamboo-made products. The brand also makes everything from loungewear to bed and bath essentials. Ettitude’s loungewear has a more sheen, silky look as opposed to the Cotton-like appearance of Cozy Earth’s.

ONNO

ONNO is a t-shirt company that prides itself on using natural fibers such as Hemp, Organic Cotton, and of course, Bamboo. If you are looking for an everyday t-shirt ONNO has it and in multiple colors.

Sivana

Sivana is an eco-friendly company but does not exclusively sell Bamboo-made products. But, they do have a large selection of skirts and dresses that are made from the plant.

Kal Reiman

The New-York-based designer Kal Reiman prides itself on being a sustainably sourced brand. Though the brand sells garments with a wide-range of materials, they do have some items that are a blend of Bamboo and Organic Cotton.

Though there is not one magic fiber that is completely sustainable, the industry is headed in the right direction when it comes to plant-derived fabrics. Coveted designers such as Stella McCartney and Hermès have begun releasing products made from mushrooms, and we hope they don’t stop there.

Bamboo is rapidly becoming a key fabric for eco-friendly brands. Due to its antifungal and antibacterial qualities, it is arguably one of the most sustainable natural fibers. Plants are the future people—don’t forget it!