What a bamboo fiber t shirt is actually made from
Short answer: A bamboo fiber t shirt is made from viscose, which is extracted from the cellulose of the bamboo plant, then spun into yarn and knitted into fabric. The fiber is not raw bamboo but a converted cellulose fiber that gives a smooth and soft fabric.
From plant to cellulose
Bamboo is a fast growing grass whose stalks contain cellulose, the same building material found in cotton and wood. The stalks are crushed and cleaned so the cellulose can be drawn out. It is the cellulose, not the hard stalk, that becomes the fiber in your tee, which is why the fabric does not feel like wood at all.
How cellulose becomes viscose
The cellulose is dissolved in a chemical process and pressed through fine nozzles to form long, smooth threads. The threads are hardened and rinsed, and the result is viscose. The process is the same whether the cellulose comes from bamboo or other plants, which is why the label calls the fiber viscose.
From fiber to yarn and fabric
The viscose threads are spun into yarn, which is knitted into jersey, the soft knit most t-shirts are made from. The density of the knit and the thickness of the yarn decide whether the fabric is light or heavy. The bamboo fiber gives smoothness and the knit gives stretch, and together they decide how the shirt hangs and feels.
Why viscose feels soft
Viscose threads are long and smooth without the tiny fibers that can prickle the skin, so they feel soft and drape well. The surface is even, so the fabric glides over the body. On the other hand viscose is weaker when wet, so it has to be washed and dried with care if it is to keep its shape.
Bamboo and cotton in the same shirt
Many t-shirts blend viscose from bamboo with cotton, which gives a fabric that is smooth and slightly firmer. The share is on the label and it varies from brand to brand. Always read the composition if you want to know how much bamboo is in the shirt before you buy. See the choice of bamboo T-shirts for men.
What the fiber type means for care
Because the fiber is viscose you should wash gently, turn the shirt inside out and avoid hard wringing and high heat. Air drying is the mildest for the fabric. If you follow the care label the shirt keeps its softness and shape for longer. Do not use fabric softener, which leaves a film on the fibers and takes away some of the smoothness.
What you cannot see in the fabric
You cannot tell from the fabric where the plant grew or how the fiber was made. The label only shows fiber type and percentage. If you want to know more about a brand's production you have to ask the brand itself, because a tee does not tell its own story. A brand such as Boody is one you can look at more closely to compare.
How to use this knowledge to choose better
Once you know that bamboo in clothing is viscose, you can read labels without being confused by names. Choose by composition, cut and fit, and think about care. The same knowledge applies to the rest of the drawer, for example bamboo underpants for men, which are built on the same fiber.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bamboo fiber t shirt made from raw bamboo
No. Bamboo is processed into viscose, a cellulose fiber, then spun and knitted into fabric. That is the fiber named on the label, often as viscose from bamboo.
Is viscose the same as cotton
No, both are cellulose fibers, but viscose is made in a chemical process while cotton is a natural seed fiber. They feel different, and viscose is weaker when wet.
How do I know how much bamboo is in the shirt
Read the composition on the label. It lists each fiber and its share. Only the label gives a reliable answer, and names such as bamboo cotton say nothing about the share.
