Bamboo as a Clothing Material
An increasing amount of conscious consumers are now looking for environmentally friendly alternative materials for clothing. Two of the most common materials used to make clothing are polyester and cotton. Polyester is a plastic-derived material that won’t biodegrade; the factories that create polyester also produce large amounts of toxic wastewater that’s often released into the atmosphere without being cleaned. Cotton is a natural material. Despite this, it still harms the environment. Cotton requires large amounts of water and pesticides for it to grow effectively. However, there are environmentally friendly alternatives, such as bamboo. In this article, we take a look at the benefits of bamboo as a clothing material and how it can help to reduce the environmental impact of fashion.
Heat regulation
One property that’s important in clothing is the ability to regulate heat. Some items, such as winter clothing, need to be able to keep the wearer warm and comfortable in cold conditions. Other items of clothing, such as workout clothes, need to wick moisture away from the body to keep the wearer cool and comfortable. Bamboo is a great fabric for keeping you warm and removing moisture from the body. Bamboo fibres are hollow and narrow, which creates several pockets in the fabric that fill with air. This air is kept close to your body, keeping your body warm when things get cold.
In addition, bamboo has great moisture-wicking properties and is quick to dry. This makes it ideal for gym wear. The bamboo fabric will absorb the sweat instead of leaving your body feeling sweaty and clammy. The fabric's quick-drying properties mean the sweat will soon dry, and you can continue your workout without feeling sticky and uncomfortable.
Softness
Bamboo is a very soft fabric; the fibres of bamboo are smooth and round with no sharp edges. This naturally makes bamboo very soft and comfortable for a variety of items of clothing. Bamboo underwear is very comfortable as it feels soft against your skin. Leggings, jumpers, loungewear, sleepwear and socks are also commonly made from bamboo because the material is soft to wear and feels great next to your skin.
Hypoallergenic
Another great reason to choose bamboo trainer socks, bamboo underwear and other bamboo clotting products is their hypoallergenic properties. Bamboo doesn’t cause a skin reaction, unlike many other materials. This makes it ideal for people with very sensitive skin and those that suffer from allergies. Bamboo is also great for babies; its hypoallergenic properties are perfect for the skin of eczema-prone babies.
No need to iron
Bamboo is functionally great; you rarely need to iron items made from bamboo fibres. This makes it perfect for busy parents and those who don’t enjoy ironing. The fabric holds its shape well and will very rarely develop creases. Bamboo clothing is unlikely to develop wrinkles even when it's not folded.
Environmentally friendly
As mentioned at the start of the article, bamboo is an environmentally friendly alternative to many other fibres. Bamboo grows rapidly, and it can regenerate itself easily after being harvested. In addition, it is resistant to pests and diseases, meaning there is no need to use pesticides which pollute the environment. Bamboo also requires very little water to grow and releases more oxygen into the atmosphere than trees of the same size. However, forests and other natural habitats mustn’t be destroyed to make way for growing more bamboo. It should be grown on land that currently doesn’t positively impact the environment. There are some issues with the processing of bamboo to make fabrics that also contain artificial chemical fibres such as viscose or rayon. For the most sustainable and environmentally friendly bamboo clothing, choose items with a high percentage of bamboo and a small percentage of artificial fibres.
UV protection
Bamboo is a good choice for your clothing if you’re walking outdoors or spending a lot of time in the sun. It provides natural UV protection, protecting your skin from harmful UV rays. The UV protection combined with bamboo's breathability, moisture-wicking properties and soft feel makes it perfect for active clothing. Bamboo workout clothes can help athletes doing extreme sports in hot weather stay safe and comfortable during long training sessions or events.