Bamboo Shirt – A Guide to a Small Selection

Short answer: A bamboo shirt is soft, breathable and creases less than many cotton shirts, but the range is small. We carry only a few models, so check the current collections, and consider a polo or a long sleeved bamboo T-shirt as an everyday alternative.

What makes a bamboo shirt different

Bamboo viscose has a natural drape and a smooth surface that feels comfortable directly against the skin. The fabric moves moisture away, so you avoid visible perspiration marks on hot days and in meetings. The difference shows after a few hours, not at the moment the shirt goes on.

An honest look at the range

Shirts are not our largest category. See the current selection of bamboo shirts for men and bamboo shirts for women. If there is no model for you, a polo or a long sleeved T-shirt often gives the same well dressed look at a lower price.

The alternatives that come close

A bamboo polo shirt for men has both a collar and buttons and covers most situations where a shirt is too much. A long sleeved bamboo T-shirt for men is the clean, simple alternative when a collar is not needed. Both ask less care than a shirt.

The shirt that works for you

For interviews and long days a moisture moving fabric is a real advantage. A bamboo vest for men under the shirt catches perspiration before it reaches the shirt fabric, and it can be changed at midday. That is cheaper than changing the whole shirt.

Creasing and ironing

Bamboo viscose creases less than pure cotton, but it does crease. Hang the shirt up straight after washing while it is damp, and it smooths itself out most of the way. If it needs ironing, do it on low heat and inside out, because high heat makes the fabric shiny.

The fit of a shirt

A shirt needs room across the shoulders and must not pull when you cross your arms. The collar should close with room for two fingers. If the shirt is tight across the chest, the placket pulls askew, and that shows more clearly in a soft fabric than in a stiff one.

When a shirt is the right choice

A shirt is right when a collar and buttons are expected: meetings, special days and places with a dress code. For everything else a polo and a long sleeve do the same job with less trouble, and they can be washed without needing ironing afterwards.

Washing and storage

Wash at 30 degrees without fabric softener, and unbutton the shirt before washing so the collar does not pull askew. Hang it on a broad shouldered hanger while damp. Do not fold it wet, because the creases set as the fabric dries. See also bamboo and temperature regulation.