One of the major trends in the green clothing movement is bamboo fabricclothing. Through a process, it is possible to transform bamboo stalks into fabrics that can be used to make a wide variety of products, including bamboo fabric shirts.
Environmental Friendliness of Bamboo Fabric
Bamboo has long been recognized as a preferred material for many things. It is environmentally friendly and is in abundance. It has been used in flooring, furniture and to make other wood products. Now it is being used to make clothing. Right now, there are questions about the "greenness" of the process used to transform bamboo fibers into clothing fibers. Chemicals used in this process may be of a dubious nature, and there are other issues. However, even with these concerns, the Green Guide points out that bamboo is still more environmentally friendly than wholly synthetic fibers or even cotton. This is due to the unique characteristics of bamboo:
- Requires very little water
- Naturally resistant to pests
- Very hardy and requires no fertilizer
- Grows quickly (up to a foot per day)
- Grows in the wild (although some are starting to cultivate it due to its popularity).
There are hopes that the process will become greener, but right now a greener process would mean sacrificing comfort.
Benefits of Wearing Bamboo Fabric Clothing
Toasted bamboo fabrics have benefits to the wearer, beyond the knowledge that he or she is wearing something that is better for the environment. Bamboo fabric provides wicking, which keeps moisture away from the skin. It is antibacterial and absorbent. These qualities mean that bamboo fabric has a high level of comfort and performance. It seems a little odd to be wearing bamboo fabric, but it really is comfortable and environmentally friendly.
In the end, it may not be a bad idea to look into bamboo fabric clothing for your next new clothes purchase.
