Bamboo Slip – Why It Feels Like Silk

Short answer: A bamboo slip feels silky, because the fibres of bamboo viscose are smooth and round and have a natural drape reminiscent of silk. You get silk's smooth feel and handsome drape, but in a material that tolerates ordinary washing and breathes against the skin.

What makes bamboo viscose so smooth

Bamboo viscose is made by converting bamboo chemically into even, smooth fibres without the small scales and irregularities found in wool and cotton. The smooth surface gives the soft, cool handle that many people compare to silk. See the range of bamboo slip dresses.

The drape is the other half

Silk is praised as much for how it falls as for how it feels. Bamboo viscose has a soft drape with weight in it, so the fabric hangs downwards rather than standing away from the body. That is exactly the quality a slip needs, because it has to create a smooth surface under the dress.

A silk feel without silk's trouble

Real silk needs gentle hand washing or dry cleaning, does not cope well with sweat and stains easily. Bamboo viscose can be machine washed at 30 to 40 degrees and worn every day without costing anything. That is the difference between a garment for special occasions and one you actually use.

The cool feel against the skin

Both silk and bamboo viscose feel cool when you put them on, because smooth fibres conduct heat away from the skin faster than rough fibres do. It is a physical effect rather than an impression, and it is part of why both materials are used in summer clothing.

Bamboo breathes better than silk

Here the two differ. Bamboo viscose absorbs moisture into the fibre itself and releases it to the air, while silk is more sensitive to sweat and can take marks from it. For a layer lying directly against the skin all day, that is a real advantage.

Strength is the material's weak point

Bamboo viscose is weaker wet than dry, and that is the property to allow for. Hang the item to dry rather than using the tumble dryer, and use a wash bag for models with thin straps. Then the drawback is out of the picture in practice.

What to look for

Look for an evenly knitted fabric with weight in it, flat seams and adjustable straps. A very thin fabric does not drape well, however smooth it is. See the whole range of bamboo underwear for women and compare how the fabrics fall in the product photo.

Washing that preserves the smoothness

Wash at 30 to 40 degrees without fabric softener, because softener lays a film on the fibres that makes the surface less smooth and closes off the moisture transport. Hang the item to dry. Those two habits decide whether it still feels the way it did when you bought it. See also the whole truth about bamboo textiles, washing guide for bamboo clothing and bamboo and temperature regulation.