Where is Bamboo Fabric Made?

Bamboo fabric is gaining popularity. In this article, we’ll dive into where it’s made, as well as its sustainability, manufacturing production, impact on the textile industry, and more! Our products are all made from bamboo and we’d love to share with you what we know about this incredible resource.

Bamboo fabric and its popularity

This type of fabric is a breathable, semi-synthetic viscose cellulose extracted from the plant itself – and it also refers to yarn made from the plant fibres, and lyocell-type bamboo fabric. It’s one of the softest fabrics out there, which is why we favour it for our products – it feels smooth and silky on the skin with inherent comfort. The material has naturally antibacterial properties (thanks to an in-built antimicrobial enzyme that repels harmful bacteria) and is one of the most eco-friendly organic products available.

Alongside ensuring you get a fantastic night’s sleep, bamboo fabric is used for yoga clothing, underwear, baby clothes and more: the natural fibres make it an ideal choice. It is hypoallergenic and often said to be as luscious as cashmere.

Sustainable production practices in the bamboo textile industry

Bamboo in itself is very sustainable – the plant regenerates from its roots, and is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world. It is also quite invasive, which is why cutting it down isn’t as damaging as it is with other types of plants.

Turning it into a material is a delicate process: bamboo stalks are cut down in a careful way to promote growth, and chopped up into little chips. These chips are then soaked in liquid until they turn into a pulp which is then dried and flattened into sheets. The sheets are milled and ground up, then spun into fibre. This fibre is spun into a very silky yarn, and voila!

With no harmful chemicals to encourage plant growth and by not using animals during any of the process, along with various other factors, the manufacturing production is both eco-friendly and sustainable.

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Manufacturing locations and global supply chain of bamboo fabric

We know bamboo fabric was first produced in East Asia, and the biggest producing and exporting country is China. Other countries include Pakistan, Indonesia and India as well as some African countries. The USA makes the fabric too, although they do not typically export it.

The plant is grown in forests before being cut down and used; there are forests elsewhere, but the industry is still fairly young. Therefore, the global supply chain can be fairly insecure and unpredictable – while companies who use this material are trying to buy and source it from other countries, it’s not always possible. The market can fluctuate in terms of pricing and availability, so China remains the biggest source.

Comparison of bamboo fabric production to traditional textile manufacturing

Is bamboo fabric production better than traditional textile manufacturing? In many ways, yes. It’s a really sustainable resource, requiring a third less water than cotton, and it also absorbs greenhouse gases while releasing more ‘good chemicals’ into our atmosphere. The areas surrounding production factories are kept relatively clean and healthy!

In contrast, traditional plastic-based textiles use crude oil and around 8,000 other chemicals during the production process. Traditional textile manufacturing contributes 20% of industrial pollution.

Environmental and social impact of bamboo fabric production

That is not to say that it has no impact on the environment or a social impact. When creating rayon, particularly, harmful chemicals can be used – luckily, that’s not the process we use, so you can sleep soundly in the knowledge that your duvet hasn’t contributed to the negative impact sometimes associated with bamboo fabric production. And in some ways, the fabric production is *good* for the environment!

The manufacturing has a social impact, but it is mostly positive; it provides jobs for people in areas where the plant is located, which tend to be fairly rural, as well as in factory locations. An article in BioMed Central says that bamboo fabric is a potential source of climate-smart income generation for communities in bamboo-producing countries.

Future outlook and trends in bamboo fabric manufacturing

What does the future look like? As the fabric continues to grow in popularity, we hope to encourage other brands to embrace and develop their use of it! Sustainability is more than just a buzzword; it’s vital now to ensure a safe planet for future generations. There will, then, be an increased demand for eco-friendly textiles made from natural fibres.

Because this entire industry is said to be climate resilient, future trends might include fabric manufacturers branching out to use the plant and its byproducts in other ways. It is already a huge part of life in Asia, used for furniture, flooring, chopsticks and more. As we continue to adapt, we will likely see a need for it to be used in many other ways. The bamboo clothing market, valued at an estimated 2.2 million US dollars, is set to almost double in the next 10 years.

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Choosing bamboo

Bamboo is a conscientious choice, not just for your new mattress but for many other products; it is environmentally friendly, and the natural fibres are comfortable and have many excellent properties. It is no wonder that it is growing in popularity, something which is definitely aided by the eco-friendly way in which it is grown, harvested and turned into fabric.

While it originates from China, this plant-based material is definitely making a huge global impact – and we can expect that to keep on going and growing! So when it comes to buying new bedding or towels, why not think about bamboo? You’re almost guaranteed to fall in love…