Fiber Friday - Bamboo

Bamboo has been a very trendy textile since its introduction. It has also been a subject of controversy, inspiring debates about whether or not it is truly as 'green' a fiber as promoted. Because bamboo is processed into fiber using same processes that create rayon and lyocell (brand name: Tencel), it does require mechanization to grind it into pulp and chemicals to dissolve it into the goo (called dope) that is then extruded through spinnerettes to create fiber. It is also said to possess natural antibacterial properties and UV protection, although this scientific article released this spring says that this is untrue. I've read several arguments back and forth - for instance, the lyocell process is fairly clean due to recycling of the processing liquids - and I think that needs to be left up to the individual to decide for themselves.

This month in Sew Fun we are highlighting some new products which are being touted as environmentally friendly. Some are using materials that have been recycled (quilt batting made 100% from plastic bottles), and some, like the bamboo, are new materials which are being created to appeal to the eco-conscious buyer.

Bamboo, whatever is said of its degree of 'greenness', is a lovely fiber to touch. It's very soft and drapable in a knit form, and in both knit and woven forms it has a beautiful, soft sheen. My teaching partner, Ann, made some adorable garments from bamboo textiles. One was a darling cropped swing-style jacket from a Simplicity Project Runway pattern made from a bamboo herringbone weave, and another was a child's dress made from a plain-woven printed bamboo that was similar to a cotton sateen or fine mercerized shirting. There was a also a denim-style jacket that was a linen/bamboo blend. She noted that there was very little shrinkage, but one of the fabrics did acquire a 'distressed' type look, which worked well for the project. There was some dye loss on the denim-style jacket.

I tested the fabric swatches manually for wrinkle resistance and I did not find them to be wrinkle resistant by that test. That being said, I do not find the garments made from bamboo to be wrinkle prone. I would expect any cellulose fiber to wrinkle, especially one that comes from such a rigid fiber such as bamboo.

I'm very frustrated at present by the apparent lack of good textile science information on bamboo fiber. I find a lot of 'hype' by either the factories or stores which are producing and/or selling bamboo products, but very little impartial data coming from a textile lab. It must be out there; I just haven't found it yet. I'm hoping that the newer textile science textbooks will have more information. But meanwhile, I think that regardless of the publicity it's a great addition to our textile choices and deserves some further exploration.