Bamboo and Textiles
Bamboo fibers
Howell (2009) states, “Bamboo has also found a place in the fashion world” (p. 227). Bamboo is now being processed and made into natural fabric fibers that is woven into material similar to cotton (Howell, 2009; Waite, 2009). One may think bamboo fabric is a new era but in fact the earliest bamboo used to make fabric dates back to the 1860’s along with the cotton industry (Waite, 2009). The process of making this bamboo material is simply taking the bamboo stalks or culms and crushing the stalk to separate out the natural fibers, which are then woven together (Howell, 2009). Bamboo fabric has some very important advantages over other popular textile fibers (Howell, 2009). The material is softer than other natural fibers and has moisture wicking and anti-static capabilities (Howell, 2009; Waite, 2009). Clothes made out of bamboo fibers have also been found to stay cooler in the summer and hold heat in the winter, which is similar to wool (Waite, 2009). Along with these advantages, bamboo material dries quicker, has ultraviolet protection, and has an antimicrobial nature, which protects against microorganisms like bacteria and viruses (Waite, 2009). There are two main types of textile processing of bamboo, which are chemical and mechanical manufacturing (Waite, 2009). The chemical process follows the same as making rayon fabric, which provides a softer feel to the fabric, while the mechanical process bamboo product is a more natural or original fiber because it doesn’t use synthetics or chemicals (Waite, 2009). Another reason why bamboo fabric is becoming so popular is because of its environmentally friendly properties (Howell, 2009; Waite, 2009).