What is bamboo clothing?

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to our society. You can see this reflected in various ways. There is also a search for environmentally friendly alternatives for clothing. This has led to clothing made from bamboo becoming increasingly popular. Are you unfamiliar with bamboo clothing? In this blog, GENTS explains what you really need to know about bamboo clothing. What is it made from and how? After reading this blog, thanks to GENTS, you'll be fully informed!

When you hear bamboo, you probably think of Thailand and pandas. Despite the fact that you might not immediately think of clothing, bamboo clothing is indeed on the rise. The reason for this is related to the sustainability of other clothing fibres. Currently, no single fibre for clothing is completely sustainable. That's why the industry is actively searching for a better, environmentally friendly alternative. They seem to have found this in the form of bamboo clothing. To what extent is this justified? What makes bamboo so interesting as a clothing fibre?

The fastest growing grass on earth

Before we explain what bamboo clothing is exactly and how it's made, let's zoom out. The fastest growing grass on earth - that's bamboo. Bamboo can grow as much as 1 metre per day. This property alone makes it an interesting material. On top of that, bamboo doesn't need to be replanted after harvesting. The underground root network simply shoots up new shoots again. Moreover, it needs little water to grow. All these aspects together make bamboo a very sustainable crop.

Bamboo as a clothing fibre

That's why bamboo is increasingly being used as a clothing fibre. What is bamboo clothing? As the name suggests, this is clothing made from bamboo fibres. To do this, a pulp is first made from bamboo chips. Bamboo fibres are then made from this pulp. This can be done in two ways. The first variant involves a process similar to how viscose is created. Chemicals are added, namely. This creates the pulp. Then you add substances again to harden the pulp into fibres with which you make bamboo clothing.

The second way bamboo clothing is created is mechanically. To make a clothing fibre from bamboo, the bamboo chips are first crushed. Using natural enzymes, the chips are softened. Then a machine 'combs' fibres from this pulp. The result is a spun thread, or "bamboo lyocell". Bamboo clothing created this way is also called "linen-like bamboo clothing" because of the process. This method is more labour-intensive, but also more sustainable.

The benefits of bamboo clothing

Although no single clothing fibre can yet be created 100% sustainably, bamboo is certainly a strong contender as you can understand. Of course, the sustainability of the material is not the only reason why bamboo clothing is rising in popularity. There are other interesting properties to mention. GENTS has compiled the most important benefits of bamboo clothing for you:

1. The fabric is silky soft and hypoallergenic. This means the clothing doesn't irritate, even if you have sensitive skin.
2. Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and antifungal. This means you stay fresher longer in bamboo clothing.
3. Clothing made from bamboo is easy to maintain. It can simply go in the dryer and washing machine.
4. Thanks to the unique structure of the fibres, bamboo fibres 'breathe' more. This means bamboo clothing is better at heat regulation compared to hemp, cotton, synthetic fabrics or wool.
5. Bamboo clothing finally absorbs moisture excellently. Compared to cotton, bamboo clothing can absorb moisture up to 4 times faster.