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by David Gordon from Bam Bamboo Clothing
Bamboo clothing has made a dramatic appearence on the ethical clothing scene in the last couple of months. There are many routes to market, but my company Bam, the first brand to appear, has chosen to go as green and ethically positive as possible; we have also pledged to buy land and plant a tree for every single item we sell.
So what's all the big fuss about? In essence, it's an eco friendly, ethically made product that also happens to offer some remarkable characteristics at the same time, so much so, it's destined to become a mainsteam favourite in the future. the key points are:
Bamboo is 100% naturally grown, without assistance from man and because it thrives naturally without using any pesticides or fertilizers, this won't change. As the fastest growing plant in the world, bamboo grows to its maximum height in about 3 months and reaches maturity in 3-4 years. It spreads rapidly across large areas. Because of this, bamboo is known to improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas of land. bamboo also offers a lot more photosynthesis than any other clothing option.
Bamboo fabric is incredibly soft, smooth and luxuriously comfortable. That's just the way it is, naturally.
 At a microscopic level, bamboo fibre has a round and smooth surface. Because of this, it?s very smooth and sits next perfectly next to the skin. Man made, petrol-based fabrics can sometimes irritate the skin and they also start to smell really quickly!
Bamboo is 3-4 times more absorbent than cotton. It is the fastest growing plant in the world, mainly because it has extraordinary water absorbency which helps it to grow fast. In fabric form it retains this unique, remarkable property. It?s 3-4 times more absorbent than cotton, so it has the effect of wicking away moisture from your body, keeping you more comfortable.
Bamboo fabric is 2-3 degrees cooler in warm weather and also is the best base layer you could want for winter. I recently took part in a month long expedition to walk across Greenland, and I can honestly say my bamboo long sleeved tops out performed every other thermal I had!
Bamboo is remarkably breathable. In the heat, bamboo is naturally cool to the touch and this property is maintained in it's fabric form. This is because the cross-section of the bamboo fiber is filled with various micro-gaps and micro-holes. It has much better moisture absorption and ventilation. With this unparalleled micro-structure, unless you are sweating very heavily, bamboo clothing can absorb and evaporate human sweat in a split second. As such, bamboo clothing makes people feel cooler and more comfortable in hot weather. It never sticks to the skin - this is helped by it's anti-static properties.
 Bamboo is also antibacterial and antifungal. In the wild, bamboo thrives naturally without using any pesticides or fertilisers. It is seldom eaten by pests or infected by pathogens. Why? Scientists found that bamboo owns a unique anti-bacteria and bacteriostasis bio-agent named "bamboo kun". This substance bonds tightly with bamboo cellulose molecules during the normal process of bamboo fibre growth. This natural feature is retained in fabric form.
Test results show over 70% death rate after bacteria was incubated on bamboo fibre fabric, even after 50 washes. As a result, bamboo clothing is healthier and more hygienic. This natural anti-bacteria function differs greatly from that of man-made chemical antimicrobial fabrics, which often tend to cause skin problems.
So the environmental benefits of bamboo are matched by the practical benefits for the user. Whether you're buying bamboo activewear or just casualwear, the first thing you'll find about bamboo is how unbelievably soft it is.
We've been amazed at the number of requests for bedwear from women, so we'll be launching exactly that for the christmas season.
It looks like the future is bright for bamboo, which is good news for all environmentally aware buyers.
David Gordon.
© Ethical Earth Limited / Bam 1st September 2006
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