The bamboo plant as a raw material

Short answer: Bamboo is a grass, not a tree. It grows quickly, is cut down and shoots up again from the same root system, which makes it well suited as a raw material for cellulose that can later become the fibre used in soft everyday clothing.

A grass that grows fast

Bamboo belongs to the grass family, even though the stem becomes hard and woody. Some species can grow tall in a single season, and the plant can be cut without dying. The root system stays in the ground and sends up new shoots year after year. That sets bamboo apart from a tree, which must be felled and replanted.

Why the root system matters

Because the roots stay in the ground after harvest, the field is not left bare between two harvests. New shoots come up on their own, and the plant keeps growing from the same base. That makes bamboo a raw material that can be harvested again and again from the same place, without starting over with new plants each time.

Only the stem is used

The stem is what contains the cellulose. Leaves and small shoots are left in the field. The stems are cut close to the ground once they have reached the right age and hardness. This is the raw material that eventually becomes the soft fabrics in bamboo sweatshirts for women and the rest of the range.

What cellulose is

Cellulose is the substance that gives plants their structure. It is found in wood, cotton and grasses, and it is what makes a stem stiff. When the cellulose is extracted from the bamboo stem and treated, it can be formed into long, smooth fibres. Those fibres are later spun into yarn and turned into fabric.

From field to factory

After harvest, the stems are dried and chipped into small pieces before being sent on to be dissolved. There, the cellulose is separated from the rest of the plant material. From there it moves on to the fibre in bamboo underwear for men and other items. Each step changes the material and shapes the fabric.

The raw material is not the whole story

Even though bamboo is a fast growing plant, the raw material alone does not decide how the finished fabric feels. Processing, yarn thickness and knit density matter just as much. Two fabrics from the same raw material can therefore behave differently. That is worth remembering when you compare bamboo clothing.

What it means for your clothes

For you as a wearer, the raw material matters mostly through the fibre it becomes. Bamboo viscose is usually soft, smooth and good at moving moisture. How long the clothing lasts, though, depends mainly on how it is cared for. Wash at 40 degrees, skip the tumble dryer and let it air dry to keep the softness.

A material with several names

The label usually says viscose rather than bamboo, because the rules require the fibre type to be named. Bamboo may appear in the product name or description as the raw material. It can seem confusing, but it is the same material. The plant's journey from field to fabric is simply longer than many imagine.

Frequently asked questions

How fast does bamboo grow

Some species grow very quickly during the growing season, but reaching harvest maturity usually takes several years, because the stem has to reach the right hardness before it is suitable as a raw material.

Is bamboo a tree

No. It is a grass, even though the stem becomes woody and hard. That is also why the plant can shoot up again from its root system after harvest.

Does the plant need replanting after harvest

Usually not. The root system stays in place and sends up new shoots. See the finished items in the men's collection, where the raw material has become soft everyday clothing.