How Green is Bamboo Fabric?

This is a tricky question to answer. Bamboo naturally grows as a stalk unlike cotton which grows as fiber. So when bamboo fibers are made the stalks of bamboo undergo multiple processes to extract bamboo fibres. And depending on the type of process used, it can be determined if it is actually green or just green washing.

How is Bamboo Fabric produced?

There are primarily 3 methods to produce bamboo fabrics.

• Mechanically produced bamboo fabric-
  This is truly authentic bamboo fabric. The process followed is natural. But it is expensive and time consuming.
• Lyocell type bamboo fabric-
  The method used to produce this bamboo fabric is currently the best possible practice because the material produced is similar to viscous but it follows a closed loop system hence 99.5% of the chemicals used in its production are recycled!
  At Suvetah, we use this process to manufacture bamboo fabrics.
• Viscous bamboo fabric-
  Also known as Bamboo Rayon, the procedure used to manufacture this fabric is the most polluting. It is also controversial because of the use of Carbon Disulphide, which is a known neurotoxin.

In order to buy organic bamboo fabric, it is necessary to know how it was grown as well as the process used to manufacture it.

Why is Bamboo Fabric becoming popular?

Since before humans, bamboo has been on earth! And its 1500 varieties grow everywhere except Europe and Antarctica! And while trees take years to reach their full potential, bamboo grows to its full height in a single growing season!
In addition if bamboo roots are left in the soil after harvesting, they regenerate easily because they are from the ‘grass family’.
Most importantly the push to move towards eco-friendly choices gave rise to bamboo clothing. It was in the early 2000s that the production process of Bamboo was successfully designed and it has been practiced since then.

Why should you invest in Bamboo Fabrics?

Bamboo fabric if produced in an ethical and environmentally friendly way has many benefits.

• It is soft, silky and luxurious.
• It is moisture absorbent.
• It is durable and flexible.
• It is breathable.
• It is anti-static and abrasion resistant.

Nowadays it is also available in blends as Bamboo cotton fabric, bamboo hemp fabric etc.
At Suvetah, bamboo woven fabric as well as bamboo knit fabric is available. You can buy Bamboo fabric by yard from us for clothing as well as home décor needs.