Bamboo clothing for starting university and hall life
Short answer: When you move away from home, your wardrobe has to manage with few washes and little space. A few pieces in the same material and calm colours go furthest, and they are easy to keep track of in a busy week.
Few pieces, many combinations
A room in student housing rarely has much wardrobe space, so every piece should work in several ways. If you pick colours that go together, almost everything can be combined and you need fewer pieces. Black, grey, white and one calm colour cover most needs. Read more in how to build a capsule wardrobe in bamboo.
Underwear and socks first
Underwear and socks are worn every day, and they decide how often you need to do laundry. That is why it makes sense to start here before buying anything else. Soft pieces that do not itch and keep their shape after many washes get worn the most. See bamboo underwear for men and all bamboo socks for women.
A week between washes
With seven sets of underwear and seven pairs of socks, you can get by with one wash a week. That is practical when the washing machine is shared and has to be booked, and it is cheaper because you run full loads.
Loungewear you can wear outside
Much of student life happens in your room, the kitchen or the common room. A set that is comfortable for reading but also works for a quick trip to the supermarket becomes the most worn item you own. Choose a calm colour so it matches the rest. See bamboo tracksuit for men.
Drying without a dryer
Bamboo viscose should not go in the tumble dryer anyway, because the heat wears on the fibres and the elastic. That suits a small room where a drying rack by the window is the usual solution. Hang clothes up right after washing so they dry smooth.
Budget
As a student, money is often tight, and it is tempting to buy many cheap pieces. But items that need replacing after six months often end up costing more. Buy a few pieces of good quality instead and add to them when you can afford it. Read more in students on a budget.
Washing
The rules are simple: wash at 40 degrees with a mild detergent, skip the fabric softener and let clothes air dry. Fabric softener leaves a film on the fibres that makes them absorb moisture less well. All the details are in the washing guide.
The shared laundry room
In many student buildings the laundry room is shared, and the machines often run other programmes than you are used to. Always check the temperature before you start and bring your own detergent. Take the clothes out as soon as the machine is done. A mesh bag for socks helps keep the pairs together.
Space in the wardrobe
Soft pieces can be rolled instead of folded, so they take up less space in a drawer or a box under the bed. It also gives a better overview, because you can see every piece at once. Put the things you wear most at the front and keep the rest further back.
When the semester starts
The first weeks are busy, and there is a lot of new things to figure out. With a small, fixed wardrobe and one laundry day a week, there is one thing less to think about. Start with what you wear daily and see after a few months what you actually miss before buying more.
Frequently asked questions
How many clothes should I bring to student housing?
Start with enough underwear and socks for a week, a couple of loungewear sets and the pieces you wear outside. You can buy the rest later, once you know what daily life actually requires.
Can bamboo clothing handle a shared laundry room?
Yes, as long as you wash at 40 degrees and skip the tumble dryer. Check the programme before you start and take the clothes out as soon as the machine has finished.
How do I dry clothes in a small room?
Use a drying rack by the window and hang the clothes up right after washing. Thin bamboo viscose pieces dry fairly quickly, and a little fresh air through the room helps a lot.
See our range of Copenhagen Bamboo.
