The History of Bamboo Clothing – From Asia to the Nordics
Short answer: Bamboo has been used in Asia for thousands of years for everything from houses to paper, but bamboo clothing is surprisingly new. Only around the year 2000 did it become possible to produce bamboo viscose on a large scale, and since then the material has spread from Asia to the Nordics, where it is now one of the most popular materials for underwear, socks and nightwear.
Bamboo before clothing
In China and the rest of Asia, bamboo has been an all-purpose material for centuries: construction, tools, paper and food. But the stem is hard and the fibres short, so it could not be made into clothing. That required modern viscose technology, where the cellulose is dissolved and spun into new, soft fibres, as we explain in the post about how bamboo textiles are made.
The breakthrough around the turn of the millennium
Around the year 2000 the process was industrialised, and bamboo viscose hit the market. The material caught on quickly, because it combines softness with good moisture transport, properties explained in more detail in the post about bamboo and temperature regulation.
Bamboo in the Nordics today
In Scandinavia, Danish and Nordic brands embraced the material, especially for basics worn close to the skin. Today you will find bamboo at brands such as JBS of Denmark, Resteröds and our own label Copenhagen Bamboo. The range runs from bamboo underwear for men to bamboo nightwear for women.
Frequently asked questions
How old is bamboo clothing?
As an industrial product, bamboo clothing is only just over 20 years old. The bamboo plant itself has been used for other purposes in Asia for thousands of years.
Why did bamboo clothing arrive so late?
Because the bamboo stem cannot be spun directly. Only when modern viscose technology was applied to bamboo did it become possible to make soft fibres from the plant.
Why has bamboo clothing become so popular in the Nordics?
Because the material suits Nordic needs: it is soft, warm in winter, cool in summer and kind to skin, which many people find sensitive in the changeable climate.
