Bamboo fibre in clothes, from plant to fabric

Short answer: Bamboo fibre in clothes usually comes from the bamboo plant, which is turned into pulp and spun into threads that are knitted into fabric. The result is viscose from bamboo, a soft and smooth material. Here is the journey from stalk to garment in plain language.

The plant and its cellulose

Bamboo is a fast-growing grass whose stalks contain cellulose, the building material of the plant. It is the cellulose that is used for the fibres. So the original form of the plant is not what you wear, but a fabric made from the basic material the plant is built of.

From stalk to pulp

The stalks are chopped and treated so the cellulose can be drawn out as a pulp. What should not be included is removed along the way. The pulp is the raw material for the fibres and looks like neither the plant nor the finished fabric. From this point it is no longer a plant but a cellulose pulp.

From pulp to thread

The pulp is dissolved and pressed through small holes, forming thin threads that harden. This is the process called the viscose process. The threads are even and smooth, and that is one reason the fabric feels soft on the skin and falls well on the body.

From thread to yarn

The threads are gathered and spun into yarn, where the thickness is set. The yarn can be used alone or blended with other fibres. This is where the material blend is decided, and it later appears on the label. The thickness matters a lot for how thin or heavy the finished garment becomes.

From yarn to knit

The yarn is knitted into fabric, and the fabric is cut and sewn into garments. The density and pattern of the knit affect how the fabric feels and falls. The same yarn can become a light fabric or a heavy one, depending on the knit. That explains why two bamboo garments can feel different.

What the fibre can and cannot do

Bamboo fibres are soft and smooth and take up moisture, but they are not indestructible and need gentle care. Nor are they an insulating fibre like wool. Expect a comfortable everyday fabric and not a miracle. That gives the most realistic picture of what you get.

What you can see on the label

The label shows which fibre and which blend the garment is made of. If it says viscose or bamboo viscose, it is the fibre from the process above. If it also says elastane or cotton, it is a blend. Always read the label, because the product name does not tell the whole story.

Where you can feel it yourself

The best answer comes from feeling the fabric yourself. Try for example bamboo tops for women, and look at bamboo clothing for women and the range for women, so you can compare with your current clothes. A week of wear tells you more than any description.

Frequently asked questions

Are bamboo fibres natural

They come from a plant but are turned into fibre in a factory process. That is why the material is often called regenerated cellulose and not a raw plant fibre.

Why do bamboo fibres feel soft

The fibres become even and smooth in the process, and the knit is often fine. That gives a fabric that drapes easily and feels soft on the skin.

Does it always say bamboo on the label

Often it says viscose or bamboo viscose. Read the fibre content and you will know what the garment consists of.

You can find the full range at Copenhagen Bamboo.