How bamboo becomes viscose

Short answer: The bamboo is chipped, dissolved into a thick mass and pressed through fine nozzles into threads. It is a chemical process, not a mechanical one.

From plant to cellulose

The bamboo stems are chipped and cooked so everything but the cellulose is removed. What remains is a pure cellulose mass that looks like cardboard. That is the same starting point as viscose from wood, only with bamboo as the raw material.

From mass to thread

The cellulose is dissolved with chemicals into a syrupy liquid. The liquid is pressed through a nozzle with thousands of holes into a bath where the threads solidify. They are then washed, stretched and dried into yarn. See bamboo clothing for women.

Why it is called regenerated

The fibre is neither synthetic nor untreated nature. The cellulose comes from a plant, but it has been dissolved and formed anew. That is why it is called regenerated cellulose. See bamboo underwear for women and OEKO-TEX certified items.

Frequently asked questions

Is any chemistry left in the finished fabric

The fibre is washed after production. OEKO-TEX certification tests the finished fabric for harmful substances.

Is bamboo viscose the same as bamboo fibre

No. Untreated bamboo fibre exists, but it is coarse and rarely used for clothing.

Where does the bamboo come from

Most is grown in Asia, where the plant grows quickly without irrigation.