Bamboo as a clothing fabric, plant or chemistry

Short answer: Clothing made of bamboo starts as a plant but becomes fabric through a chemical process. The cellulose of the bamboo plant is dissolved and shaped into new fibres, which are called viscose. Here is a sober explanation of what that means for the clothes you wear.

Clothing made of bamboo starts as a plant

Bamboo is a fast-growing grass, and it is the cellulose in the stems that is used for clothing. The stems cannot be spun directly into thread the way cotton can. So the cellulose has to be extracted and converted before it can become yarn, and this is where chemistry comes in.

How cellulose becomes viscose

The cellulose is dissolved in a liquid and then pressed through tiny holes so that it forms long fibres, which are spun into yarn. The result is called viscose. It is a regenerated cellulose fibre, meaning a fibre made from the plant's material but reshaped by people. It is what most clothing made of bamboo is made from.

So is the clothing bamboo or chemistry

Both are true. The raw material is a plant, and the fibre is produced industrially. That is not a contradiction but a description of two steps. If you read the label in your range for women, it therefore says viscose, even though the starting point is bamboo.

Why bamboo viscose and bamboo linen differ

There is also bamboo linen, which is made mechanically by softening the stems and extracting fibres. It is rare in ordinary clothing because it is laborious and gives a coarse fabric. Almost all soft clothing made of bamboo that you can buy today is viscose.

What it means for how the fabric feels

Viscose is smooth, soft and drapes calmly. Many people find the fabric pleasant against the skin, and it takes up moisture. On the other hand it is more sensitive to heat and hard washing than cotton, for example, which is worth remembering when you look after it.

How to look after clothing made of bamboo

Wash at a low temperature with a mild detergent and skip fabric softener, which can make the fibres limp. Let the clothes air dry and always follow the care label. With that kind of care you can get many years out of socks for women and other pieces used every day.

What the word bamboo promises and what it does not

The word tells you about the raw material, not about quality. Two pieces of clothing made of bamboo can differ greatly in knit, thickness and sewing. That is why it is wise to look at the garment itself rather than settle for the word, and to ask questions of those who sell it.

When you choose clothing made of bamboo

Choose by what you actually need: something soft for everyday, a T-shirt to wear under a jumper, socks for your shoes. Pick up bamboo T-shirts for women if you want to feel the fabric in a simple model. Then you quickly know whether it suits you.

Frequently asked questions

Is clothing made of bamboo natural?

The raw material is a plant, but the fibre is made industrially. The bamboo is dissolved and shaped into viscose, so the clothing is not natural in the same sense as cotton, for example. The label will usually call the fabric viscose.

What is the difference between bamboo viscose and bamboo linen?

Bamboo viscose is made from dissolved cellulose and is soft and smooth. Bamboo linen is made mechanically from the plant's own fibres and is coarse. Almost all soft clothing made of bamboo is viscose.

Does clothing made of bamboo need special care?

Yes. Wash at a low temperature, use a mild detergent, skip fabric softener and let the clothes air dry. Viscose is more sensitive to heat and hard washing than many other fabrics, so follow the care label.