Bamboo clothes?  You might imagine spear-like skirts and tops; no one would dare wear the ensemble unless it’s a costume party.  When referring to bamboo clothes, it’s about the bamboo pulp content in the cloth.

The Green in Green Fashion

Green fashion is fast making a statement, thanks to an imperiled environment.  But as green is green is, there is a violent reaction to bamboo clothes.  True, the bamboo plant is not difficult to grow.  It is a natural pesticide and does not need too much water.  It can replicate fast and grow up to several feet.  The descriptions sounds good, but wait until you know what goes into processing the bamboo pulp to create bamboo fabric.

In truth bamboo is a cheap and safer alternative to expensive textiles and chemically treated fabrics.  But the processing can send shivers down your spine if you know what goes on when treating bamboo pulp to create bamboo fabric.  Manufacturing cost is also high and as a consequence, those passed off as bamboo fabric feel like rayon to the touch.  Rayon is not an entirely synthetic fiber; it is derived from plant cellulose but mixed with chemicals to soften it and color it.

Clothes passed off as 100% bamboo pulp created some doubts.  Bamboo fabrics manufacturers also claimed that their products are organically grown, eco-friendly, and had natural occurring antibacterial properties, had UV ray protection and was biodegradable.  The bamboo is indeed organically grown and eco friendly.  It is also biodegradable but manufacturers couldn’t bolster their claims about the antibacterial and UV protection of bamboo clothing.

If you investigate the factories making bamboo fabrics, you end up aghast at the waste products’ impact on nearby water sources.  The bamboo leaves and shoots are soaked in strong chemicals such as caustic lye and other bleaching agents and these are washed off to the water sources.  These chemicals can cause serious health problems and as proof, the waterways near the factories have tested positive in toxins.  Lastly, too much potable water is used to clean the bamboo

This brouhaha over bamboo clothing may have its positive results, too.  Manufacturers will be encouraged to find safer ways to process the bamboo, processes that won’t impact negatively on the water sources and other environmental concerns.  If this is so, people can look forward to bamboo and its future in green fashion.

What Now?

If you are a fan of bamboo clothing because of its silky feel and its ability not to retain odors, the “bamboo scare” can be a downer.  Also, if you have been using bamboo clothing for your baby, think about the chemicals used to process the bamboo.  Your baby is better with organic fabrics and so are you.  Until the processing is made safer for workers, end-users, and the environment, it will be a long wait before bamboo takes to the green fashion - 100% safe bamboo fabrics.  But technology will find a way; if man landed on the moon, man can solve the problem soon.