Is bamboo wood or grass explained simply
Short answer: Bamboo is a grass, even though the stalks turn hard and can look like wood. When bamboo is used for clothing, it is usually viscose made from the plant's cellulose, so the fabric is not the wood or the grass itself but a fibre made from it.
Bamboo is a grass, not a tree
Botanically bamboo is a grass in the same family as grain and ordinary lawn grass, but with strong, hollow stalks that turn stiff and hard with age. Many call it woody for that reason, but the plant has no annual rings and grows differently from a tree.
Why bamboo can look like wood
The stiff stalks are used for building, furniture and tools, so many people think of wood when they see them. The hardness comes from the plant storing solid material in the wall, but the plant family is still the grasses, and that matters for how it grows.
From plant to fibre
To make clothing, the cellulose is taken from the plant and processed into a fibre that can be spun into yarn. This is a chemical process, so the finished fabric is not bamboo in its original form, and it is more accurate to speak of bamboo viscose than of raw bamboo.
How the fabric behaves in use
Viscose from bamboo often feels soft and smooth and falls loosely, but that depends on how the yarn is spun and how the fabric is knitted. Two fabrics from the same plant can therefore feel different, so always check the garment itself and not just the name of the plant.
What the plant family means for the fabric
That bamboo is a grass says something about how the plant grows, but not about how the fabric behaves in the wash. What you feel comes from how the fibre is treated, how the yarn is built and how it is knitted, so the plant's name is only part of the story.
How you can tell what clothes are made of
Read the label, where the fibres are listed, and check whether it mentions viscose, bamboo or a blend with other fibres. You can browse the full bamboo range for women and notice how individual products are described.
Brands and how they describe their clothes
Different brands use different words, so read the product description and the label if you want to know exactly what your garment is made of. Among others you can look at the brand JBS of Denmark in the collections and read how each product is described.
Washing and care for bamboo clothing
Wash the clothes by the care label and use a gentle programme if the fabric is thin or soft. Avoid a hard spin and high heat and hang the clothes to dry so they keep their shape, and combine them if you like with a women's long-sleeved bamboo T-shirt under other clothes.
Frequently asked questions
Is bamboo a tree or a grass?
Bamboo is a grass, even though the stalks turn hard and look like wood, and the plant belongs to the same family as grain and ordinary lawn grass.
Is bamboo clothing made of wood?
No, it is usually viscose, where the plant's cellulose is processed into a fibre, so the fabric is not the plant itself but something made from it.
How do I know what my clothes are made of?
Read the label, where the fibres are listed, and check the product description so you can see whether it is viscose, bamboo or a blend.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
