Bamboo is the name we all tend to use to describe a family of plants that all grow at a rapid speed and have evergreen perennials, which can be found in Southeast Asia. Whenever we bring bamboo into conversation, we relate it to pandas, hairbrushes, home decor and other things, but most people don't know that bamboo is also used in making clothing. Bamboo has been used by Asians for more than a century now as a fabric, but in the textile world, the use of bamboo has recently come to speed.
As a result, there's a surge in demand for clothes manufactured using bamboo fabric, also called bamboo viscose. See, it is not the green leaves or the stem of the plant that is used in the making of bamboo-based clothing.
Bamboo viscose is being termed as fabric of the future as it is environment friendly and it is a complete renewable resource. Apart from this, there are tons of benefits, and features of bamboo viscose which people are not aware of. As a result, we have come up with this blog to explain the science behind the bamboo viscose, how it is beneficial and where you can use it. So, let's begin!
What is Bamboo Viscose?
Viscose is a form of fabric that is made from the pulp of wood, which is taken from trees such as eucalyptus, bamboo and others. On the other hand, bamboo viscose describes how bamboo is processed and then how it gets turned into workable fabric. There's a proper step-by-step process to make bamboo viscose from bamboo pulp.
How is Bamboo Viscose Made?
Bamboo viscose is made by harvesting bamboo shoots that reach their full height after they are left for maturing for at least 4 years.
After the shoots are harvested, they are taken to mills, where heavy machines are used to crush them.
Once the crushing of the bamboo shoot is done, the shoots are then submerged into a strong solution of sodium hydroxide, which results in the bamboo cellulose dissolving.
In addition to sodium hydroxide, carbon disulfide is also added in the mix to make sure that the regeneration of the fibers does take place.
Once the process of regeneration is complete, the fibers are drawn off, washed, and bleached with a bright white color.
After bleaching the bamboo viscose fabric is left for drying, which is a very long staple and it is also visibly finer in comparison to other fibers.
Now that the fabric is processed from bamboo shoots, manufacturers spin it into yarn like any other textile fiber.
Benefits of Bamboo Viscose Fabric
Now that you know how manufacturers make bamboo viscose, it's time to showcase some of the major benefits of using bamboo viscose fabric in making various clothing items, bedding, and other household textiles.
1. Eco-friendly and sustainable aspects
Bamboo viscose is manufactured using pulp of the bamboo grass, which we are sure you must know is a renewable and biodegradable resource as it is a grass. So, the fabric made from it can be broken down, and then over time, it will naturally degrade on earth without causing any form of harm to nature and polluting the land.
2. Comfort and softness
Fabric made from bamboo is completely organic in nature so it does come in the list of affordable material in the world of fashion. Apart from being affordable, bamboo viscose is extremely smooth and soft to touch, making it great for babies, and for the people who have chronic skin disease.
3. Durability and longevity
Surprisingly, bamboo fabric is pretty easy to care for as it requires simple machine washing with no requirement of special detergent. Furthermore, due to its static resistant qualities a product made from bamboo viscose have static resistant qualities making the products to last longer than usual.
Also, the longer staple of the bamboo viscose and its higher tensile strength is what makes it a great yarn which is not susceptible to wearing and fraying which is something pretty common in other fabrics.
4. Hypoallergenic properties
With hypoallergenic properties bamboo beats up most of the competition it had to face in terms of fabric. Being a hypoallergenic means no bacteria and germs could sustain their living on this fabric, this property of bamboo comes naturally.
5. Moisture-wicking and breathability
Bamboo plants grow in hot, moist climates, as a result the plant has to soak up tons of moisture present in the air to retain its growth. Thus, bamboo viscose also has similar moisture-wicking properties, ensuring that fabric stays dry and comfortable overnight during hot summer months.
Common Uses of Bamboo Viscose
As a rule, when you are purchasing a product made from bamboo viscose, you need to make sure that it has Oeko-Tex Standard 100 label, this ensures no use of harmful chemicals in the making of the product. Now given below are some of the most common use cases of bamboo viscose which you can find in your lives.
1. Intimate Apparel
The soft feel of the bamboo viscose allows it to be a great fabric for intimate apparel. Some of the examples where bamboo viscose is used as intimate apparel are:
Socks
Underwear
T-shirts
Bathing suits
Bathing suit cover-ups
Bathrobes
Sleepwear
2. Non-Woven Fabric
This is one of the most popular cases of bamboo viscose being used. Here, the viscose is pretty much like rayon and cellophane; it is used for manufacturing more practical items such as:
Sanitary napkins
Face masks (industrial and medical)
Food-grade packaging (like cellophane)
Mattresses
Due to antibacterial properties and bamboo kun of bamboo viscose it is useful in the manufacturing of industrial applications as it is remarkable in keeping diseases and bacteria at bay.
3. Bedroom Uses
Your bedding is the place where you spend 1/3rd of your day sleeping or resting. As a result, you have to use the best of the best fabric to keep your body protected and in comfort during sleep. With bamboo viscose, you get to create the most welcoming atmosphere due to its natural ability to be hypoallergenic, moisture-wicking, soft to the touch, stain-resistant and many more. Here are some of the examples where you will find bamboo viscose in bedding materials:
Sheets
Comforters
Duvet covers
Pillow shams
Pillows
Mattresses
Bed skirts
Table cloths
Mattress pads
Drapes
Blinds
Television covers
Sofa slipcovers
Conclusion
The fashion industry is constantly evolving itself to stay relevant in the fast paced market. With the introduction of bamboo viscose fabric in clothing, manufacturers are able to find a sustainable, eco-friendly, material which has the potential to become a prominent choice for fashion influencers, designers and even consumers who want to make sure they are not causing harm to nature in any way for their personal benefit.
Being a sustainable fabric, bamboo viscose is a great alternative for old-school fabrics like linen, cotton, and silk. As a result, if you are looking to bring a positive change in the world then using bamboo viscose is the way to go to fully blend sustainability with fashion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bamboo viscose fabric?
Bamboo viscose fabric is the material which gets processed through a number of steps before finally getting spun to form the required fabric.
How is bamboo viscose made?
The bamboo wood, which is cut from the plant, is taken into a solution to help them break down their hard structure so they can become pliable. In this process, the bamboo pulp will be shredded, aged, and ripened before it is sent forward to get filtered, washed and then spun. After completing the spinning, the threads can be woven in order to create fabric, which we know as bamboo viscose.
Is bamboo viscose eco-friendly?
In all honesty, the end-of-life for bamboo viscose is pretty much sustainable compared to any other fabric. This is because bamboo viscose is reusable, biodegradable, and compostable as it is made from 100% cellulose, making it one of the best biodegradable materials to exist for making clothing.
Is bamboo viscose hypoallergenic?
Yes, the fabric of bamboo viscose is pretty soft, it is even recommended for newborns and babies as it is thermo-regulating, wicks away moisture, and has antibacterial nature.
What are the disadvantages of bamboo viscose?
There are no disadvantages to using bamboo viscose, but there are very few indirect issues that arise from its making; below, we have listed all of them:
Bamboo as a fabric shrinks more than other fabrics like cotton, silk and linen, so special laundering is required to clean it.
The bamboo plant is invasive, meaning it can easily take over and outcompete all the native species, causing some harm to the native habitat's biology.
Why is bamboo viscose popular in eco-friendly fashion?
The world of fashion is moving towards eco-friendly fashion and becoming a fabric that comes from a plant that grows at a rapid speed. Bamboo viscose is a fabric that is present in infinite forms on earth. On the other hand, when a fabric made from bamboo viscose gets old, one recycles it with ease as it is biodegradable in nature, and in just a few years, it will completely disintegrate and become one with the soil.