Bamboo-Cotton And Its Anti-Bacterial Assessment

Bamboo fabric refers to the types of clothes or fabrics obtained from the bamboo plant. The fabric was discovered years ago in East Asia, particularly in India and China. However, it is only recently that making this hard and fast-growing grass into fabric has been perfected. 

Any type of fabric that is obtained from the bamboo plant is very eco-friendly as they are completely biodegradable, can be grown in almost all types of conditions, and does not require any kind of pesticides or fertilisers. Hence, they do not have any negative impact on the environment. Out of the several fabrics obtained from the bamboo plant, bamboo cotton is the most famous among environmentalists and fashion geeks, mostly because of its anti-bacterial properties.

What is Bamboo Cotton?

Bamboo cotton is the most important fabric woven from bamboo fibres. It has several medicinal properties that include anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and hypoallergenic properties. In addition, bamboo cotton is wrinkle-free, static-fee, durable, and has a hard crease and odourless fabric. Due to all these properties, bamboo cotton has become a preferable choice of fabric used for clothes, sheets and accessories. 

Also, bamboo cotton is the most eco-friendly fabric on the planet and is very breathable because of the bamboo mash. Currently, bamboo cotton is produced in China, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, with China being the largest exporter.

Bamboo cotton is made by a simple method that includes mashing a bamboo stem into a pulp. The pulp is used to create bamboo fibre, and the fibre is woven to make anti-bacterial fabrics. The process is somewhat similar to that of the manufacture of cotton fabric and other plant-based fabrics as they also require the creation of yarn first, and then it is woven to form a fabric.

Cotton fabric made from bamboo has extraordinary benefits. The softness level is almost similar to silk, and the fabric is naturally rounder and plusher. Due to these reasons, people find it extremely comfortable to wear.

Bamboo has a bacteriostatic and anti-bacteria biochemical called Bamboo Kun. This agent provides immunity against bacteria and enables a bamboo plant to grow and flourish naturally in the wild. 

We sweat during hot weather, and no one likes the bad odour of the sweat. But the sweat does not have any odour. Instead, the bacteria on our skin start acting on the sweat and produces a bad odour. So, bamboo cotton having anti-bacterial properties makes the fabric and other products odourless and long-lasting. This unique feature cannot be expected from conventional fabrics like cotton.

Furthermore, bamboo cotton is exceptionally breathable, and this property of bamboo cotton maintains the coolness level of your clothes, socks, and other accessories. The bamboo cotton fabric aids in better moisture absorption and ventilation.

Breathability and ventilation make bamboo cotton two degrees cooler in hot weather conditions and the opposite in cooler conditions. Due to this cooling effect, bamboo cotton is even better than the highest quality cotton and linen.

The extraordinary benefits of bamboo cotton are not limited to its anti-bacterial and odourless properties. It can block harmful UV rays up to ninety-eight per cent. So it is a highlighting feature for people living in tropical zones.

Benefits of Bamboo Cotton over normal Cotton

Most people prefer cotton because of its breathable and comfortable properties. However, bamboo cotton tops the list undefeated in both these qualities. Studies have shown bamboo cotton to be forty per cent more absorbent than cotton fabrics. 

Bamboo cotton can absorb the moisture from your skin faster than any other naturally occurring fabric. These extraordinary benefits of bamboo cotton are due to absorbing three times more water than the fabric’s weight. Therefore, wearers can get rid of any moisture readily and easily.

It is more skin-friendly and comfortable than organic cotton. With it, you will never feel itchy or oily and will stay dry even on the hottest summer days.

Apart from absorbing moisture from your skin, bamboo cotton also evaporates the moisture quickly. Thus, making your clothes dry faster and stay light. Another benefit of bamboo cotton fabric is its softness. Since bamboo cotton has a porous structure, it can absorb many substances easily.

Due to its exceptional properties, bamboo cotton requires some extra care. Wash it either by hand with a gentle cycle in the machine. It is recommended to avoid machine drying since it might impact the product's longevity. 

Low heat or temperature is recommended as streamers can damage the fabrics when it comes to ironing. Bamboo cotton does not get wrinkled, so ironing is not always necessary. Following these steps will boost the durability of the material.

Benefits of Bamboo Cotton

Bamboo has become one of the most popular materials due to its breathability and moisture-wicking ability but let’s not forget its durability. Here are some key benefits of bamboo cotton.

• Absorbs Sweat

Bamboo cotton can suck moisture from your skin and evaporate it quickly. Its moisture-absorbing property will keep you dry during the whole day and ventilate your skin. Bamboo cotton is beneficial for people living in high humidity areas, especially in tropical countries. The sweat-absorbing and breathable properties will not feel sweaty and sticky.

• Luxurious Appearance

Bamboo cotton garments look distinct from other natural fabrics and will offer you a sophisticated and luxurious appearance. You can look different and unique, adding a wow factor to your personality without spending much money.

• Odour Free

Fabrics like natural cotton are great at absorbing sweat, but they do not evaporate sweat quickly, making you a bit smelly. However, you will never have this experience while using bamboo cotton as it is highly ventilated, and its anti-bacterial properties make it odourless. The Bamboo Kun, an anti-bacterial agent in bamboo cotton, maintains the freshness and hygiene of the fabric for a long time.

• UV Protection

Bamboo cotton blocks the UV rays significantly; thus, it protects you from harmful UV rays. With regular use of Bamboo cotton, one can substantially minimise the risk of skin cancer. Besides, bamboo cotton also checks the amount of infrared (IR) reaching your skin.

• Skin-friendly

Because of the presence of micropores, bamboo cotton is highly breathable and skin-friendly. This fabric is super soft and comfortable as silk. Also, since the fabric is produced naturally from the pulp of bamboo stem, it does not contain any chemicals. The natural bamboo cotton feels nice and soft on your skin. Due to its anti-bacterial and antifungal properties, the chances of skin irritations and other discomforts are negligible. People who are allergic to plant fibres can also consider this fabric due to its extraordinary abilities.

• Proper Insulation

Bamboo cotton is the best choice for people looking for a fabric to feel comfortable both in cool and hot weather conditions. It can decrease or increase the body temperature by two degrees in both summer and winter climates. The fabric offers enhanced insulation due to the presence of micro-gaps covering cross-sections. The covering helps with better ventilation and absorption of sweat.

• Less Maintenance

Bamboo cotton requires minimal care and washing as compared to cotton fabric. Moreover, it does not necessarily require ironing as it is wrinkle-free and retains the original crease over time. This fabric does not shade or lose shine even after hundreds of laundry cycles.

Bamboo cotton vs other bamboo fabrics

There are several other bamboo fabrics apart from cotton, such as bamboo viscose. But they are not as comfortable as bamboo cotton and are less environmentally friendly. Cheaper bamboo viscose is an upgraded version of rayon and is processed under the influence of carbon disulfide, a neurotoxin that is very harmful to the environment. So, it is highly recommended to look for the type of bamboo fabric before buying your clothes, as not all bamboo fabrics are equally beneficial.

Wrapping Up

Bamboo cotton is an extraordinary fabric with great implications in the textile industry. This fabric is highly breathable and comfortable for your skin. One can check out Fashinza for bamboo cotton apparel, a  B2B apparel manufacturing platform. They help the clothing brands to manufacture their collections by connecting them with suppliers. The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties make it more potent as one of the best natural fabrics available on the market.

Moreover, it is the most eco-friendly fibre on the planet as it does not require any chemicals to grow and is 100% biodegradable. A typical bamboo tree grows about three feet a day, spreads itself, and does not require any tractor or mechanical plough to propagate. Thus, making it the most eco-friendly fibre to grow and produce.