Moso Bamboo – The Giant Grass Behind Your Clothes

Short answer: Moso bamboo is the world's most important textile bamboo. It is actually a grass, it can grow more than 20 metres tall, it grows without pesticides and it shoots up again after harvest. Moso bamboo is the source of the bamboo viscose your soft underwear, your socks and your bedding are made from.

A grass in giant format

Botanically, moso belongs to the grasses, not the trees. That explains its wild growth: in season a shoot can grow up to a metre a day. Because the plant shoots up again from the root network, nothing has to be replanted after harvest, and the soil is never left bare. That is one of the reasons bamboo often comes up in conversations about more responsible textiles, which you can read more about in our honest guide to bamboo and the environment.

From giant grass to soft fabric

The stem is as hard as wood, so it cannot be used directly for clothing. Instead the cellulose is dissolved chemically and spun into bamboo viscose, a smooth and soft fibre. The process comes in several versions, and the difference matters for the environment; read more in bamboo lyocell vs. bamboo rayon.

Where you meet moso in everyday life

When you pull on a soft undershirt or climb into cool bedding, what you feel is most likely moso bamboo. Have a look at the range of bamboo clothing for men, bamboo clothing for women and bamboo bedding.

Frequently asked questions

What is moso bamboo?

Moso is a giant bamboo, botanically a grass, that can grow more than 20 metres tall. It is the species used for by far the most bamboo textiles.

How fast does moso bamboo grow?

During the growing season moso can grow up to a metre a day and is ready to harvest after a few years, far faster than the trees used for other types of viscose.

Does moso bamboo have to be replanted after harvest?

No. The plant shoots up again from its root network, so the plantation renews itself and the soil stays covered year after year.