We really love bamboo fabrics for their silky appearance. Bamboo is breathable and regulates moisture. The ideal “keep cool” fabric is great on warm summer days!
From Plant to Fabric
Bamboo grows like weeds. It doesn’t require a lot of water and no pesticide, unlike cotton. As it grows from its own roots and very quickly, bamboo culture is simple and a negligible environmental threat.
We love it for its silkiness, as well as its antibacterial, hypo-allergenic, and UV protection properties.
Bamboo is often found in textiles such as bamboo rayon. To make it, the bamboo fibre is transformed into a viscous material using chemicals and then spun. The process makes the fibre smoother and tougher, thus easier to use to create the fabric.
There are several ongoing researches to find a bamboo processing method that is as eco-friendly as the one used to grow it. Also, no study had confirmed that natural properties of bamboo are preserved after being transformed.
Bamboo can sometimes be combed, such as the linen fibre. This process is done naturally and is therefore not damageable to the environment.
Bamboo culture being very favourable to the creation of a very green fibre, we are very eager to see what the fibre will become in the next few years. All that is missing is finding a more conscientious process to transform it, as are Tencel®, cotton and linen!
OEKO TEX® Certified Bamboo
Many of our bamboo rayon-based fabrics are OEKO TEX certified (e.g. bamboo French knit, jersey bamboo and bamboo terry cloth). This certification guarantees that the production, from fibre to dye, complies with a very strict limited—near zero—use of several hundreds of chemicals harmful to the environment and humans.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to better work with bamboo rayon.
- Bamboo fabrics must be washed in cold water, using the delicate cycle. Try to avoid any rubbing with other textiles to prevent pilling. Hang to dry. Bamboo rayon doesn’t wrinkle easily, but ironing must be done using steam.
- Bamboo is a very smooth fibre, thus very slippery. When sewing, bamboo jersey tends to stretch. We recommend keeping a steady tension and making sure not to stretch the fabric too much not to distort your seams. You should practise on scrap pieces and not be afraid of testing the tension on your machine to find to best adjustment before undertaking a major project.
- To prevent distortion, we recommend stabilizing your shoulder seams with a transparent elastic.
- For a less shiny look, make your right side with the fabric’s wrong side, which has a matter finish.
- Use a stretch needle 75/11 to avoid pulling threads and make your life easier.
This bamboo rayon jersey is one of The Fabric Club’s favourites. Much appreciated for its softness, sheen and flowing effect, it’s perfect for lingerie, loungewear, dresses, even supple tops. With its incredible stretch and resilience, there is no other jersey knit that beats its comfort! Also try our bamboo rib knit, which beautifully blends with our jersey.
You want to add a bit of texture to your wardrobe? The bamboo rib knit is for you! We love it for its medium weight, sheen, flowing effect and incredible softness. It’s perfect for loungewear, dresses, fitted tops or to create nice rib trimming. With its incredible stretch and resilience, there is no other jersey knit that beats its comfort! This rib knit is also perfect to mix with our bamboo jersey.
With superior comfort, this bamboo French terry has the perfect thickness to create lovely cold summer day sweaters. Whether to be worn to yoga class, training or just to relax on the weekend, it definitely offers flexibility and softness. Thanks to its absorbent properties, it will also keep cool and dry in any weather. We also love it for its weight and freshness!
Bamboo inspirations
