Before I talked about the aspects of bamboo. Now, I want to give you some more information about Bamboo and other products made with bamboo. Although bamboo has some wonderful aspects, there are organic options other than 100% bamboo. Bamboo can be combined with other fibers to create blends. Just as there are polyester and cotton blends, there are also bamboo blends available.

Apparel can be made of a combination of bamboo and one or more of the following: polyester, organic cotton, soy and Spandex. These are also called hybrid products. The great thing about these styles are they are often offered at a lower price point with eco-friendly aspect.

The shirt to the right is a tee shirt that is 57% bamboo/ lyocell/38% cotton/5% spandex ladies’ long sleeve jersey t-shirt. StretchFlex™ technology provides comfort and freedom of movement. Natural inherent properties wick moisture and are naturally anti-bacterial, hypoallergenic and breathable

Some items are 85% bamboo/15% soy which is extremely good for sensitive skin. It refreshes the amino acids on the skin. Loungeware is extremely popular in eco-friendly products. One of these is made of Micro Terry. Micro Terry is a blend of bamboo, polyester, cotton and Spandex, which has the same soft feel and moisture-wicking aspects

Some of the down sides of Bamboo products:
-Everyday care is more difficult
-Some do not like how stretchy the material can be. Stretchiness is determined by the amount of Spandex in the fabric
-It peels easily
-It breaks down sooner than other fabric combinations
-It takes longer to dry
-Material breaks down quicker
-Bamboo also takes longer to dry than other apparel
-Can have greater shrinkage than other fabrics
-Not good for sport jerseys

Recommended Laundering for Bamboo materials:
Use a gentle washing machine cycle with cold or lukewarm water. Line dry instead of putting it in the dryer.