Bamboo Underwear – The Complete Guide to the Softest Basics

Short answer: Underwear is the clothing that touches the skin longest, which is why the material matters most here. Bamboo viscose is softer than cotton, moves moisture away from the skin and smells less. If you change one part of the wardrobe, this is where it pays off most.

Why the material matters most in underwear

A jumper comes off. Underwear stays on for fourteen or sixteen hours at a stretch, close to the skin, all the way round. That is why small things become large: a seam that rubs, a fabric that holds moisture, an edge that cuts in. Bamboo viscose has a smooth fibre surface with no sharp ends, so friction is low, and it moves moisture away from the skin rather than leaving it there. The fabric also has a natural stretch, so it follows the body without pulling, and that is exactly what you ask of underwear.

Briefs and bras

For briefs, moisture transport matters most. A dry fabric gives bacteria poorer conditions, which is why many people find there is less odour and less irritation than in synthetic materials. Pick your normal size: the fabric gives and settles against the body. The range sits under bamboo briefs. For bras, the underband and the edges decide the comfort, and a soft bamboo quality without wiring sits still without pressing. See bamboo bra without underwire, where most styles have wide bands and flat finished edges.

Vests and tank tops

The vest is the layer that decides whether a shirt or a knitted jumper feels comfortable. A thin bamboo layer underneath takes up the moisture so the outer layer stays dry, and that works in summer as well as under a thick jumper in winter. For women the styles sit under bamboo vest for women, and for men under bamboo vest for men. If you prefer it sleeveless, the same quality comes as a bamboo tank top for men, which is easy to wear under a work shirt.

When it should all be one piece

Sometimes the smoothest thing under clothing is a single piece. A bodystocking leaves no edges over the hip or under the bust, which is why many people choose one under close fitting dresses and skirts. In bamboo viscose it drapes softly and breathes, which makes it useful for more than a single evening. See bamboo bodystocking for the styles we carry.

Washing and lifespan

Wash at thirty degrees with a mild liquid detergent and no fabric softener at all. Softener settles as a film around the fibres and closes off the moisture transport, and then the underwear stops doing what you bought it for. Turn the pieces inside out, close hooks, and dry on the line or on the lowest heat. Treated that way, both bamboo underwear for women and bamboo underwear for men last for years without going limp.