7 Reasons To Go Bamboo

By now you know what Lollie Tots is about: making the world a better place by offering sustainable, eco-friendly clothing options for our youngsters. We have focused on organic cotton since the opening of our store last August, and remain committed to bringing in a few new brands this year.

Now, we’re expanding our scope to offer additional sustainable options for our shoppers and supporters. We’re excited to announce that we’ll soon introduce bamboo wear. Bamboo is an eco-friendly fabric that has been growing in popularity and claiming a sizable section of the fashion industry.

Few people are aware of bamboo’s key characteristics, so I’d like to share them with you.

1. Bamboo grows quickly.

Bamboo is actually a type of grass, and not a tree, and it’s one of the fastest growing plants on Earth. That makes sense when you think about the way weeds grow in your backyard. The natural renewal through this rapid growth makes bamboo a tremendous sustainable replacement for a number of materials.

2. Bamboo is naturally antibacterial.

Bamboo has powerful antibacterial properties that are vital to ensuring its longevity in nature. When bacteria tries to grow on the fibers, a natural agent “bamboo kun” provides natural resistance by fighting the bacteria—keeping the fiber sterile and fresh. That helps bamboo products hold up well over time. Personally, I feel the most significant benefit is the prevention of skin irritations and rashes that I can get from chemical-based alternatives.

3. Bamboo helps regulate your body temperature.

Bamboo fabric has micro-gaps, which helps with ventilation. They can trap cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter, helping us to regulate our body temperature. This is especially beneficial for women’s underwear, as well as baby and toddler clothing.

4. Bamboo releases oxygen.

Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide and releases 35% more oxygen into the atmosphere than hardwood trees. This is one of the most important reasons we should all use bamboo fabrics—and really, anything made of bamboo. In Asian countries, bamboo has been used for thousands of years to make furniture and other household items like chopsticks. You can even find bamboo houses in the Far East. Now that we become more environmentally conscious, Bamboo has become increasingly popular with modern fashion in the West as well.

5. Bamboo whisks away moisture.

Bamboo is also known to whisk moisture away from your skin, leaving you dry, clean, and comfortable all day. Cotton is known for absorbing moisture, but bamboo is three to four times more absorbent. Just imagine how comfortable that would be!

6. Bamboo is extremely soft.

My husband and I recently purchased new bed sheets made from bamboo, and we are loving them! I would compare the feel to Egyptian cotton—which is a popular type of cotton for luxurious comfort. It only took one night between those sheets, and bamboo won me over. It feels softer and cooler than our Egyptian cotton sheets. These new sheets have been keeping me just warm enough for cold winter nights—while also keeping my body cool enough—so I don’t wake up from overheating. I strongly encourage everyone who wants better sleep to give them a try.

7. Bamboo is biodegradable

Bamboo fabrics are also biodegradable—which usually comes with a high price tag. However, bamboo fabric costs less than cashmere or silk—even though it’s known to feel nearly as soft and gentle.

There are so many benefits to bamboo that I can’t possibly list them all, but I encourage you to do some research on pure bamboo fabric and blended bamboo fabric if you’re still on the fence.

As someone who is highly sensitive to many kinds of fabric, bamboo is definitely one of my top choices for trouble-free skin. I’m glad it’s growing in popularity, so it will become more readily available to meet demand. Then it will be easier to protect the soft and flawless skin of our little ones with an all-natural, antimicrobial, and luxuriously smooth option.

Once you start adding bamboo to your kids’ closet, why stop there? You can add bamboo clothing to your own wardrobe. I think you’ll love it!