Clothing and bedding sheets are usually made from cotton, right? And the only question you ask is what color and what thread count. Well, now you can buy sheets, pillowcases, garments and more, made using fibers of bamboo plants. It is considered an eco-friendly material and traditionally used to build furniture. Relatively new to the apparel world, it already has its fans.

A growing number of clothing designers, environmentalists, fusionists and just plain regular folks, are going gaga over bamboo fabric. That’s because it’s extremely soft and feels luxurious. It’s becoming a popular alternative fabric ands one of the most talked about trends at recent trade shows.

Bamboo is smooth and soft. It has a natural sheen and feels like cashmere and silk. As one New York designer recently explained, “With bamboo, the luster and drape of the fabric take our clothing to a new level of elegance”. Bamboo linens are so soft they are considered in the luxury category even though they have normal thread counts.

Bamboo has naturally occurring anti microbial and anti-fungal properties, preventing bacteria from growing on it. This benefits remains even when the fibers are made into fabric. In one test, after a 24-hour bacterial incubation period, bamboo fabric displayed a 99.8% kill rate. In another test, it was washed 50 times and then subjected to the 24 hours with live bacteria. The fabric was still 70% effective at eradicating the bacteria.

Additionally, bamboo is breathable and twice as absorbent as cotton fabric. It wicks away moisture from the skin and keeps the wearer dry, cool and comfortable. The fiber is filled with micro-gaps and micro-holes allowing it to be ultra-breathable. Thus it absorbs and evaporates perspiration quickly and keeps the wearer odor free making it ideal for active wear.

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing and prolific plants on the planet making it naturally renewable. Some varieties can grow up to 4 feet a day! When cut, it grows right back every 3 to 4 years. As one of the world’s most versatile and environmentally friendly materials, bamboo has been in use for thousands of years. That makes it the perfect natural resource. It’s plentiful, it’s sustainable, it grows fast, and it can be made into fabrics or wood products.

You can purchase Eco-friendly bamboo fiber garments here: