Bamboo Textiles

bamboo/organic cotton blend denim skirt from Undesigned.

Bamboo is an amazing natural resource, as many of us know, it can grow feet in one day. It belongs to the family of grasses and canes, comes in many sizes and colors, and can grow in hot tropical regions or in the cold (down to -20 degrees). Different varieties are native to almost every continent. Not only is bamboo a highly renewable raw material, it also requires few pesticides because of its natural defenses to ward off pests.

Here is the rub for the savvy consumer. Because bamboo is not yet certified organic, the textiles are chemically processed in order to be spun into yarn. The bamboo must be crushed and broken down by chemical solvents like Sodium Hydroxide (lye) and Carbon Disulfide, or N-Methylmorpholine-N-Oxide until it liquefies into a paste. The paste is turned into fibers and spun into yarn to create the textiles. According to the makers of bamboo fabric, the chemicals used are recycled back into the production process making little byproduct or waste. The end product however, your cute bamboo cami or dress, is 100% biodegradable.

So here is the compromise we must consider. Bamboo is a sustainable resource that takes few pesticides, little water, land and labor to extract the raw material. But we need chemicals to turn it into clothing. Considering the large quantity of pesticides used for cotton crops and the chemicals used to make synthetic fabrics, bamboo still comes out ahead in most cases. Plus, bamboo clothing is extremely durable, requires less laundering and you won’t need to wear deodorant because it’s an anti-microbial (so it doesn’t absorb odors). With so many positive traits, choosing bamboo is an easy alternative.