What is bamboo fabric?
The history of bamboo fabric
In Asia, bamboo was historically used for production of paper, weapons, and household articles. Bamboo fabrics only entered into commercial markets in the early 2000s, but the concept is not exactly new. The experimentation and refinement of this invention has been around for more than 100 years.
The earliest record of U.S. patents involving bamboo was made by Philipp Lichtenstadt in 1864. His original idea was to create a “new and useful process for disintegrating the fibre of bamboo so that it may be used in manufacturing cordage, cloth, mats, or pulp for paper.” However, his patent never materialised into popular goods, probably due to low demand for bamboo and high transport costs from Asia.
In 2001, Beijing University became accredited as the first institution to successfully transform bamboo into cloth. During this time, many other organisations also attempted the same process, so it was plausible that any of them could have achieved the same feat. Production involved using new-age solvents to dissolve bamboo pulp, followed by a special dying process to turn the fabric white.
Why now?
From 2004 and onwards, the growth of bamboo cloth grew at an exponential rate — some say by as much as 5000 percent. There are a number of reasons behind this. Armed with newfound technology, the market was able to provide quality bamboo fabric at affordable prices. Due to its silky texture and unique properties (antimicrobial, moisture-wicking), bamboo fabric went beyond the basics and became used in a plethora of products — including hygiene brands, medical textiles, and more. It is also worth noting that the push for more green and sustainable textiles is a relatively new trend. This may be one of the reasons why it took a while to develop commercially viable bamboo fabrics. (The cotton industry does not want you to know about bamboo…)
The manufacturing process
The journey from stem to cloth starts with the soft inner pith of the bamboo trunk bring crushed into smaller pieces and then left to soak for 12–24 hours. Bamboo fabric is then made by pulping the solution until it separates into thin threads of fibre, which is then spun and dyed for weaving. The result is silky soft bamboo fabric that feels smooth and delicate on your skin.
Why should I choose bamboo?
- As mentioned: silky soft!
2. Green & Eco-friendly: bamboo is a grass that uses only one-third of water that cotton needs to grow. Bamboo can grow quickly (as quick as a metre a day!) and 1 acre of bamboo can yield 10 times more fibre than an acre of cotton.
3. Breathable: The cross-section of the bamboo fibre is covered with micro-gaps, which allows for great ventilation as well as moisture absorption.
4. Hypoallergenic: bamboo fibres are naturally smooth and round, which minimises friction with your skin. Perfect for those with skin conditions (i.e. eczema) and individuals who experience irritation with fibres such as wool or hemp.
5. Antimicrobial / anti-bacterial / anti-fungal: bamboo contains a natural bio-agent called “bamboo kun”, which allows it to flourish without the use of pesticides or fertilisers. This beneficial quality of bamboo remains in its textile form, which helps to keep bacteria away. In contrast, while 2.4% of the world’s cropland is planted with cotton, cotton itself accounts for 24% of global sales of insecticides (tsk, tsk).
6. Cooler than cotton: we don’t mean that it is trendier than cotton (although it is!). We were referring to the fabric — which is 3 degrees cooler than cotton. That’s why it is slightly cool to the touch. You have to try it to believe it.
Want to try our bamboo bedsheets?
We will be launching our bamboo lyocell bedsheets on Kickstarter in Nov 2017 (we’ll talk about what lyocell means in our next blog post — follow us on Medium to keep posted).
Sign up on www.shaylinens.com to stay updated with our campaign!
P.S. Share this with anyone who might be interested in upgrading their sleep by switching from cotton to bamboo bedsheets!
