The Unstoppable Rise of Bamboo Fabric: From Ancient Civilizations to Your Pyjama Drawer
Bamboo fabric dates back to the ancient times where there are records of garments made from bamboo fibres being worn by the noble and uber-elite back in the Ming dynasty, but it seems to have not caught on in the western world until the mid 1600's when a fella by the name of Philipp Lichtenstadt in the U.S figured that if bamboo was good enough to use as a base for paper, weapons, corset ribs, homewares and more.. then why not turn it into fabric, too? So he did.
Philipp patented his idea but how far he went with the use is undocumented and not much else is on record until 2001 when Beijing University became accredited as the first institution to successfully transform bamboo into cloth. And there we have it - from that day bamboo has grown rapidly as the fabric of choice for so many items - including pyjamas, sleepwear & loungewear.
Bamboo fabric has moisture-wicking properties and durability that have made it a go-to material for everyday wear. But the boom in bamboo fashion wouldn't have been possible without a major technological breakthrough. In the 2000s, engineers found a way to extract the pulp from bamboo using a closed loop process. This allowed for the creation of bamboo viscose and sped up the production process.
But why choose bamboo over other sustainable materials? For starters, bamboo requires much less water to grow compared to cotton. It's also one of the fastest growing plants in the world and doesn't require any pesticides or fertilizers. This makes it a more environmentally friendly option.
In addition to its eco-friendliness, bamboo fabric is also incredibly soft and comfortable - and absolutely the most perfect material for a pair of cosy bamboo pyjamas. It's ideal for people with sensitive skin as it's hypoallergenic and moisture-wicking - reducing itching and overheating during the night, whilst allowing the skin to breathe and your body to regulate it's temperature.
But for us, there are a whole myriad of reasons we love to use bamboo to make your sleepwear including:
- Bamboo fabric is extremely soft (almost like silk)
- Bamboo fabric is a clean and green alternative to cotton
- Bamboo fabric is highly breathable thanks to the micro gaps in the fiber
- Bamboo fabric is hypoallergenic as the round and smooth bamboo fibers minimize friction with the skin
- Bamboo fabric is antimicrobial as it contains an organic bio-agent known as “Bamboo Kun”, which enables the bamboo plant to grow without any fertilizers or pesticides
- Bamboo fabric is a lot cooler than cotton (almost 3 degrees) and is also temperature regulating
Bamboo fabric has come a long way from being a structural material to becoming a leading sustainable fashion option. Its unique qualities make it a great choice for a pair of pyjamas or loungewear and thanks to innovations in production, it's now more accessible than ever. The future of fashion is sustainable and bamboo fabric is leading the charge. So why not give a pair of bamboo pyjamas a try? You'll be doing your part for the environment and getting a good night's sleep, too!