What Is Bamboo Viscose? All About the Fabric in Your Clothes

Short answer: Bamboo viscose is a textile made from cellulose taken from the bamboo plant. The cellulose is dissolved chemically and spun into soft, smooth fibres. The result is a fabric that is as soft as silk, moves moisture better than cotton and feels comfortable straight against the skin.

How bamboo becomes bamboo viscose

The hard stems of bamboo cannot be used for clothing as they are. Instead the cellulose is extracted from the plant, dissolved in a chemical process and pressed through fine nozzles into threads. It is worth being honest about: the process is chemical, not mechanical. We go through the environmental side in detail in the honest guide to bamboo viscose and the environment.

Why the fabric is so popular

Bamboo viscose is soft, breathable and good at moving moisture away from the skin – which is why it is used above all for bamboo underwear for men, bamboo underwear for women and socks. The material also regulates temperature, as we explain in our post on bamboo and temperature regulation.

Bamboo viscose, rayon and lyocell

You will often see the words viscose, rayon and lyocell used interchangeably. Rayon is simply the American word for viscose, while lyocell is a newer and more closed production method. Get the full explanation in bamboo lyocell vs. bamboo rayon.

Frequently asked questions

Is bamboo viscose a natural material?

Yes and no. The raw material is natural bamboo, but the fibre is made through a chemical process. That is why it is called a regenerated cellulose material.

Why is bamboo viscose used for underwear?

Because the fabric is very soft, breathable and moisture-wicking, so it feels dry and comfortable straight against the skin all day.

Are bamboo viscose and bamboo rayon the same thing?

Yes. Rayon is the American term for viscose – it covers the same type of fibre and the same process.