Bamboo Production - Plant to Fabric

Bamboo - The Plant

Bamboo is one of the most sustainable resources in the world. Why do we use bamboo?

• Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on Earth - it holds a Guinness World Record! It grows up to a metre a day with some species growing up to 30metres tall. Check out this 24 hour time lapse shown on BBCs Wild China

• It is grown organically without the use of pesticides, insecticides or fertilisers. There is no genetic modification and no irrigration required

• There are over 1,400 species of bamboo

• Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide and emits 30% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees

• Bamboo is one of the few plants that can keep up with deforestation - bamboo only takes 5 years to mature compared to 30-40 years for trees

• When bamboo is havested it will continue to grow new shoots from its extensive root system

• Bamboo roots prevent soil erosion

• Bamboo is used as a food source, shelter, building material...  the list goes on

Bamboo - The Yarn

How do you get from the woody bamboo stalks to soft bamboo yarn?

Bamboo yarn is produced by pulverising the bamboo stalks and then regenerating the cellulose from the bamboo into a smooth yarn.  

Are chemicals used?

This process does involve the use of some chemical solvents (sodium hydroxide and carbon disulphide), which are broken down into salt and water at the end of processing. When used responsibly it has minimal effect on the environment and workers' health. Once the fibre is made, the water and solvents are contained within the factory. The factory is committed to capturing and reusing waste so that these substances do not enter the environment. To ensure workers are safe during the entire process, the appropriate protective clothing is worn when handling the solvents.

Our fibre is OEKO-Tex100 certified which means that there are no traces of harmful chemicals in the end product. It has also been approved by ECOCERT and the Global Textile Standards (GOTS), a certification that limits the use of toxic bleaches, dyes and other chemical inputs during the production process. 

Is bamboo fabric perfect?

No! And nothing is! But we think it is a pretty great alternative to the other options out there - especially compared to cotton and polyester.  

We believe reducing consumption is the key. That is why our garments are designed to be versatile and able to be worn time and time again.