Got Bamboo?

I am in love with bamboo jersey. How it feels, it's strength and it's drape. It feels sexy but real. I found some more interesting factoids about bamboo that I wanted to share along with one of many cute dresses by Sworn Virgins made from, what else, bamboo!

Strong: Bamboo is a strong wood with a tensile strength of 28,000 per square inch versus 23,000 for steel. No smelting required.

Rebar: Yes, it's even used as rebar to reinforce concrete beams. Random, but cool.

Anti-erosion: When planted in deforested areas, along river banks and in earthquake zones, bamboo has proven to reduce erosion, water run-off and flooding considerably.

Medicine: powder treatment for asthma and coughs. The roots treat kidney disease. It's sap reduces fever and it's ash will cure prickly heat. Keep some in your pocket.

Food: more bamboo shoots please! It's pulverized bark is a natural food preservative. Taiwan alone consumes 80,000 tons of bamboo shoots per year (... hold the shoots please).