Bamboo facts
Bamboo is environmentally kind and sustainable
Bamboo grows wild without the aid of fertilizers, pesticides or any chemical assistance whatsoever, unlike cotton. Cotton is the world's most environmentally disastrous crop, accounting for a quarter of ALL chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Bamboo requires very little water to grow, and with the worlds water supply becoming an increasing concern this is a very important factor in switching to bamboo. It takes approximately 2000 litres of water to make just one cotton t'shirt.
Bamboo is the world's fastest growing plant, sometimes rising several feet in 24 hours. Bamboo grows to maturity in around 3-4 years and after harvesting, it starts to re grow immediately. Only 10% of the vast bamboo forests are given over to commercial use. Bamboo production is completely sustainable.
In addition, greater interest in bamboo will lead to more bamboo forests, which offers greater greenhouse gas conversion to oxygen.
Bamboo fabric is hypoallergenic, antibacterial, antifungal and antistatic.
This quality keeps bamboo fresher for longer, more hygienic and healthy.
A principal reason for bamboo's success in the wild is that it has natural antibacterial properties, which kill and prevent the spread of bacteria. This property is maintained throughout the process of turning the bamboo into a fibre and is maintained in fabric form.
There have been several experiments made by manufacturers to test the bamboo fabric performance, and even after washing 100 times there is still no drop off in antibacterial quality.
It is ideal for any skin sensitivity or irritations.
Bamboo absorbs water 4 times better than cotton.
Bamboo fabric has a natural moisture wicking agent.
Moisture is taken from the body, on contact, and then instantly evaporates.
Bamboo's ability to absorb water accounts for its capacity for rapid growth, which is also retained in fabric form. For example, a bamboo t'shirt keeps the skin comfortable rather than sticky in warm summer weather.
Bamboo stays 2-3 degrees cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold.
Bamboo can perform in a similar way to merino wool, naturally cooler in summer and warmer in winter. However, unlike any other fabric in the world, bamboo is physically cooler to touch in hot weather, both the plant and the fabric!
In hot weather bamboo fabric will keep the wearer cooler than regular fabrics in the equivalent knit or weave.
Creating clothing from bamboo
There are many varieties of bamboo (around 1500) and we use Moso bamboo. Our bamboo is grown on family owned farms within China and Africa and it is specifically grown and harvested for textile use (we are not taking it away from the Panda's as they eat different types in the wild).
Moso bamboo is a grass, and the leaves and inner pith can be easily pulped and eventually spun into a bamboo fibre that is finer than the average human hair. The round smooth surface makes it perfect for spinning into the bamboo yarn which is then knitted and woven into bamboo fabric.
The result is a super soft fabric, highly durable with superb drapery that can be easily dyed and blended with other fibres to create the super soft feel that only bamboo creates.
Our manufacture
All of our clothing is manufactured in Portugal and we work with a small team that are SKAL regulated. SKAL is a non profit, world renowned and respected body that certifies worldwide organic and sustainable textile production.
Our bamboo suppliers carry the Oeko-Tex standard 100 certification, fulfilling the European legislation regarding the use of azo-dyes.
For more in depth info please feel free to contact us.