Bamboo for clothing - isn't that panda food?

Bamboo clothing makes for both comfortable and versatile designs. It performs well in hot and cool climates. Bamboo clothing offers built-in temperature control. Its breathable nature and moisture wicking properties keep you comfortable in hot weather and the structure of the fibers helps trap warm air to keep you warmer in the winter.

Bamboo can have the look and feel of silk or very soft cotton, but it is a durable fabric due to the long fibers produced during manufacturing. Bamboo clothing is also great for athletes because it doesn't hold odor like synthetic fibers during exercise or after laundering.

Bamboo is an eco-friendly fiber. Maturing in only two years, it doesn't require fertilizer or pesticides or even additional water to grow. Bamboo is a beneficial plant for the planet with most of it growing organically because of the nature of the plant. Technically speaking, it is categorized as a grass and might be the world’s most sustainable resource. It is one of the fastest growing grasses and some varieties can grow up to several feet a day. Bamboo reaches maturity quickly. After harvesting, bamboo does not require replanting because of its vast root network. Cut-off at the base, it sprouts new shoots which grow quickly, pulling in sunlight and greenhouse gases, converting them to new green growth and releasing oxygen at the same time.

The down-side, if there is one, is in the conversion of the pulp into a usable fiber. Most bamboo fabric is chemically manufactured by “cooking” the bamboo leaves and woody shoots in chemical solvents such as sodium hydroxide (also known as caustic soda or lye) in a process also known as hydrolysis alkalizing. Chemicals are also applied to the fibers to bleach them.

There are arguments for both sides about how the processing affects the "greenness" and "sustainability" of bamboo. While it greatly reduces the needs for pesticides, fertilizer and even watering, the chemicals used to process it are harsh. The chemicals is does use are able to be centralized, controlled and cleaned up before any disposal. Comparing that to the run-off of fertilizers and pesticides does seem to make it a better choice.