EcoZeal

Pandas have been munching on the evergreen plant for centuries, but bamboo is now making its way into the fashion world.
Bamboo and organic cotton are exploding among this fall’s fashion lines, with companies such as 7 For All Mankind and C & C California jumping on the green bandwagon.

According to Jeff Fulmer of Bamboo U, a new company that creates trendy bamboo shirts for college-aged women, organic cotton emerged as the front-runner of Earth-friendly fashion. He says:

“Regular cotton uses heavy amounts of pesticides and chemical fertilizers that leak into streams, rivers and oceans. The nitrogen-heavy chemicals in pesticides and fertilizers can cause dead zones in oceans that remove oxygen and kill aquatic life.

One-third of a pound of chemical fertilizer goes into the making of one conventional cotton T-shirt. Cotton is often considered one of the dirtiest crops to farm.”

While organic cotton started the eco-friendly clothing trend, bamboo is becoming a rising star in the fashion world.

Bamboo is 100-percent biodegradable and, like organic cotton, is grown without the use of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Bamboo is reported to grow one foot each day in some places and is “super hardy” in that it’s environmentally sustainable.

The plant contains an anti-microbial agent that keeps bacteria from growing in or on the plant. This agent also helps to eliminate odor when worn as clothing.

Bamboo fabric is also more comfortable and much softer than regular cotton; more like the feeling of silk.

Bamboo U’s T-shirts are made of 70 percent bamboo and 30 percent organic cotton. The company uses water-based inks to make shirts as environmentally friendly as possible.

The shirts are priced around $30.

Source: China Daily