Where Is Bamboo Grown and How It Becomes Shirt Fabric
Short answer: Where is bamboo grown? It is a grass that grows quickly in many parts of the world, especially in Asia. But you do not wear the plant itself. Here is the answer to where bamboo grows and how it becomes viscose and shirt fabric.
Where is bamboo grown
Bamboo grows wild and farmed across large parts of Asia, Africa and South America, and only a few species grow naturally in Europe. Many of the species used for fabric come from Asia. The plant is a grass, and some kinds can grow fast under the right conditions.
From stalk to pulp
For clothing, the bamboo stalks are cut and crushed into a pulp that contains cellulose. It is the cellulose that is turned into fibres. The hard stalk of the plant is therefore not what feels soft on your skin, it is the raw material for something quite different.
How the pulp becomes viscose
The cellulose is dissolved in a liquid and pressed through tiny holes, which forms thin threads. The threads are hardened in a bath and become viscose fibres. Bamboo clothing is therefore viscose from bamboo, also called regenerated cellulose, because the cellulose is rebuilt into a new fibre.
From fibre to yarn
The fibres are spun into yarn, often blended with other fibres, so the yarn gets the strength and stretch it needs. The yarn can be fine for light fabrics or thicker for heavier ones. What exactly is in a fabric is always stated in the product's material information.
Knitting and weaving into shirt fabric
The yarn is either knitted or woven. Shirts are most often made from woven fabric, while T-shirts and underwear are often knitted. A bamboo shirt for men can therefore feel different from a T-shirt, even though both are made from viscose from bamboo.
Dyeing and finishing
The fabric is dyed and finished so that it feels soft and keeps its colour. How this is done depends on the factory and the product. If you want to know more about a particular item, read the product page and use the material information as a starting point.
From fabric to shirt
The fabric is cut, sewn together and given buttons, a collar and cuffs. Finally the shirt is pressed, packed and shipped. Many steps in the chain affect how a shirt feels and lasts, so two shirts of the same fibre can behave differently.
What it means for you at home
When you know the path from plant to fabric, you understand why you follow the care label and wash gently. Viscose can lose some strength when wet, so do not wring it. Take a look at bamboo sleepwear for men and bamboo T-shirts for men too.
Frequently asked questions
Where is bamboo grown
Bamboo is grown across large parts of Asia, Africa and South America, and most species used for fabric come from Asia. Bamboo is a grass, and some kinds grow fast under the right conditions.
Is bamboo fabric the same as bamboo
No, bamboo clothing is usually viscose made from the cellulose of bamboo. The cellulose is dissolved and spun into new fibres, so the fabric is not the plant itself but a new fibre made from it.
How do I know what my shirt is made of
Read the material information on the product page and on the care label. It shows which fibres are in the fabric and in what amount, so you know how to wash and look after the shirt.
