If you are curious about the term ‘conscious fashion‘ you need to think in terms of sustainability, comfort, and eco-friendliness above all. One of the finest eco-friendly materials that have widespread usage in modern manufacturing is bamboo fabric. Bamboo is a tall tropical tree plant with hard hollow stems, considered one of the fastest-growing on the planet. If you have ever travelled to South Asia you have likely noticed the common usage of this material. People use it generally in the construction industry for scaffolding, upright props, and even to build huts and houses.
Fabrics have been made from bamboo for thousands of years now but it’s only in recent years that this process has become perfected. The invention of different technologies has enabled the development of bamboo cotton which allowed this fibre to become used in a wide range of textile and fashion applications.
If you’re wondering how bamboo cotton is different from regular cotton and what makes it one of the most desirable and eco-friendly materials, keep reading.
What Is Bamboo Cotton?
The term “bamboo cotton” refers to a special blend of materials – 70% bamboo fibre and 30% pure cotton. Unlike plastic or other harmful materials, bamboo cotton is a highly sustainable product that does not cause any harm to the environment. Many clothing brands have started using it for producing a wide variety of eco-friendly products, from clothes, sports and recreational equipment, bamboo furniture, bamboo linen bedding, and many household items.
How Is Bamboo Cotton Different Than Regular Cotton?
According to many studies, bamboo cotton is better for the environment than regular cotton. It is very lightweight, and it has a smaller carbon footprint. This plant has many positive features that make it a highly durable, sustainable, and eco-friendly choice. The bamboo plant improves the air quality more so than cotton, being able to absorb more carbon dioxide from the air and release more oxygen back to the environment. Besides, it’s highly absorbent, absorbing 60% more moisture than cotton.
What Are the Benefits of Bamboo Cotton Fabric?
More and more people are becoming environmentally conscious nowadays, as they started to pay more attention when picking out their clothes and household items. And that’s for some good reasons as the bamboo cotton fabric offers a plethora of benefits that other materials don’t.
Sustainable and Eco Friendly
This material is 100% biodegradable, requires no chemicals and little water to grow, which makes it truly planet-friendly material. Although it’s very sturdy, is also very flexible and doesn’t break up easily. There is a wide range of products on the market today made from this raw fabric, ranging from sheets, cotton towels, and blankets to clothing items.
Luxurious Feel
Bamboo cotton material has a natural shine which gives it its luxurious appearance. Plus, since there are no chemicals in this fabric, bamboo is soft and smooth to the skin. If you are familiar with bamboo clothing you’ve probably noticed that this fabric is far more expensive than conventional cotton or polyester. Even though products made from bamboo cotton generally cost a bit more, the comfort and softness they offer are unbeatable.
Highly Absorbent and Breathable
This fabric is extremely breathable, having thermal regulating characteristics that keep you warm in winter and cool during the summer months. Besides this material is highly absorbent, wicking away moisture from the body. For instance, bamboo sheets are naturally mold resistant and super absorbent, drawing the excess moisture from your body allowing you to have a good and comfortable sleep every night. Bambo cotton is also anti-static and UV protective as it prevents 98% of the harmful UV rays.
Anti-Bacterial
Bamboo cotton has hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial properties which is great for people with sensitive skin. This is because bamboo possesses an anti-bacteria and bacteriostatic bio-agent called “Bamboo Kun” allowing it to naturally flourish and grow in the wild without the use of pesticides.
Durable
Bamboo cotton fabric is extremely durable and hard-wearing for such a soft material. It also has a minor amount of waxes, resins and tannins but none of these are toxic. Due to their natural durability, bamboo poles should be treated against potential insect contamination immediately after harvesting. One of the most used and effective measures is to impregnate bamboo fibers with a mixture of borax or boric acid minerals.
