Bamboo Fact Sheet

Bamboo fabric is a natural textile made from the pulp of the bamboo grass. Bamboo fabric has grown in popularity because it has many unique properties and is more sustainable than most textile fibers. Bamboo fabric is light , soft, and strong, has excellent wicking properties, and is antibacterial. The use of bamboo fiber for clothing was a 20th century development, pioneered by several Chinese corporations.

Bamboo fiber resembles cotton in its unspun form: a puffball of light, airy fibers. Bamboo requires little irrigation and virtually no pesticides; however, so it’s much better for wildlife than most textile fibers. Many companies use extensive bleaching processes to turn bamboo fiber white, although companies producing organic bamboo fabric leave the bamboo fiber unbleached. Wagging Green strives to source and use fiber that is organic, unbleached. To make bamboo fiber, bamboo is heavily pulped until it separates into thin component threads of fiber, which can be spun and dyed for weaving into cloth.

Bamboo fabric is very soft and can be worn directly next to the skin. Many people, and pets, who experience allergic reactions to other natural fibers, such as wool or hemp, do not complain of this issue with bamboo – it’s hypoallergenic. The fiber is naturally smooth and round without chemical treatment, meaning that there are no sharp spurs to irritate the skin. Bamboo fiber is extremely absorbent and dries quickly making it odor-resistant and thus ideal for pet products – dog collars and harnesses as well as cat collars.

Bamboo fabric is favored by companies striving to use sustainable textiles, because the bamboo plant, which is essentially a grass, is very quick growing and does not require the use of pesticides and herbicides to thrive. As a result, plantations can easily and quickly replenish stocks. The process of making unbleached bamboo fiber is very light on chemicals that could potentially harm the environment.

In textile form, bamboo retains many of the properties it has as a plant. Bamboo is highly water absorbent, able to take up three times its weight in water. In bamboo fabric, this translates to an excellent wicking ability that will pull moisture away from the skin so that it can evaporate. For this reason, clothing made of bamboo fiber is often worn next to the skin.

Bamboo also has many antibacterial qualities, which bamboo fabric is able to retain, even through multiple washings. This helps to reduce bacteria that thrive on clothing and cause unpleasant odors. It can also kill odor causing bacteria that live on skin, making the wearer and his or her clothing smell better. In addition, bamboo fabric has insulating properties and will keep the wearer cooler in summer and warmer in winter, similar to silk. In addition, the fabric is able to take bright dye colors well, and drape smoothly.

Bamboo is not a tree, but a grass, and is eco friendly. It is easily sustainable as it can handle drought as well as flooding. It keeps soil from eroding and is generally good for the environment. Farming bamboo is not harmful to the environment because it does not require any pesticides or herbicides. In addition, bamboo can be replanted each year. The plant actually adds nutrients to the soil and acre for acre produces more oxygen than comparable forestry, as opposed to cotton crop, which drains the soil of its nutrients. One of its greatest qualities, as far as textile production, is that it is very fast growing. Bamboo can grow 75 feet in 45 to 60 days.

Buyer Beware: We encourage consumers to be aware of the true qualities of Bamboo fabrics. While not all Bamboo fabrics are truly organic, Bamboo remains a superior sustainable resource increasingly important throughout the world. Wagging Green strives to keep abreast of the science and technology involved in Bamboo fabrics, Bamboo growing, harvesting, and production, and will post impartial research in this section as it becomes available to help you, the consumer, decide for yourself.

Wagging Green is and will remain committed to sourcing and using materials that improve the lives of pets and pet owners.