Bamboo Menswear
Bamboo and Organic Cotton Mix Tee Shirts and Polo Shirts
Reviewed by Jo on 16 July 2008
Rating: 
Bamboo tee shirts and polo shirts provide an eco friendly alternative to cotton. Bamboo fabric is naturally cooler than cotton, naturally moisture wicking, anti-bacterial and odour resistant and is also very soft against the skin. The classic styles means that the tops can be worn for work, casual or sports providing comfort and style whatever you are doing.
 | Made from recycled materials |
 | Minimises the use of pesticides / fertilizers |
| Fairtrade |
| Aussie made |
| Sustainable |
| Minimises chemical use |
| Lifecycle impacts considered |
Options - 70% bamboo, 30% organic cotton polo shirts and 95% bamboo and 5% spandex tee shirts are available in a range of sizes and colours. For details of the latest range visit the Bamboo Body website.
Cost – Tee shirts AU$39.95 , Polo shirts AU$59.95
Where to buy
Bamboo Body clothing can be purchased online. As such is available in all States of Australia. Purchases can be made through the Bamboo Body website.
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Raw material - Bamboo used for clothing comes from Moso Bamboo Phyllostachys edulis. The Moso bamboo species is not the species eaten by the endangered panda, and the bamboo is not taken from natural forests or panda habitats. Bamboo, like hemp, grows without the use of pesticides or herbicides. Bamboo also sequesters five times more CO2 than an equivalent stand of trees and requires much less water than cotton. The extensive shallow root system of bamboo has a role in preventing soil erosion and assists with nitrogen fixation.
The bamboo is sourced from a
plantation in While bamboo is grown naturally without the use of pesticides, fertilisers and chemicals and does not involve Genetically Modified Organisms it is not certified organic as the process of converting bamboo to yard does not meet the strict criteria for organic certification. |
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Manufacturing - There are several different manufacturing processes used for extracting the bamboo fibres. One using mechanical processes which tends to be more expensive or chemical processes using sodium hydroxide (NaOH- also known as caustic soda) to ‘cook’ the fibre into a form of regenerated cellulose pulp and the thin fibres can then be extracted and spun. Caustic soda does have potential environmental impacts if handled incorrectly. This fabric is manufactured using the chemical process. Sodium hydroxide is converted to salt and water once the woody stems have been pulverised.Further information on the bamboo manufacturing process is provided in National Geographics’ GreenGuide or eartheasy site. The fabric is dyed using azo-free dyestuffs. The bamboo fabric is certified by oeko-tex 100 standard which confirms that dyes used are non allergenic and does not include any harmful chemicals in the production. The factory producing the fabrics does not employ staff under the age of 18 and is committed to reducing emissions and recycling waste. |
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Distribution
– Products are shipped from their point of manufacture in |
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Product use – The items within the collection are designed so that they will not go out of fashion and can be worn year round, thus increasing their life. Garments can be washed at low temperatures and require no fabric softener. Dry cleaning is not recommended for bamboo fabric. |
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Waste management - Bamboo fabric is biodegradable. Bamboo body garments are not excessively packaged and packaging used can be reused and recycled. |
Information courtesy of Bamboo Body.