10 Benefits of Sleeping in Bamboo Fabric

Bamboo is arguably one of the most underrated fabrics. So what is Bamboo? Bamboo is a perennial grass species and is one of the world’s fastest growing plants. To give you an idea of how fast bamboo grows the plant can shoot up close enough to 120cms or more a day and reaches maturity in about 4 years. There are over 1000 species of bamboo growing throughout the world. Most of the bamboo used in the textile trade comes from China. Bamboo is a prolific and resilient pant which doesn’t need fertilisers to boost growth or pesticides since bamboo is naturally pest resistant.

Let’s list some of healthy choices bamboo provides our planet:

• Requires only natural rainfall to grow, no irrigation required
• Pesticide, herbicide, fertiliser and chemical- free growth
• Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide and emits 30% more oxygen than trees
• Improves soil quality and prevents soil erosion
• Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth. It grows naturally without need for agricultural tending

When most people go to buy sheets or pyjamas, they look for traditional cotton. So let’s compare bamboo with cotton. Cotton is very sensitive to pest infestation and drought. Every one kg of cotton lint production requires 10,000-17,000 litres of water. To put this in perspective consider: to produce single cotton T-shirt can use up to 2700 litres of water in the growing process.  Cotton production accounts for 2.4% of total arable land yet accounts for 11% of global use.

New figures show that while insecticide and fungicide use on US Cotton has fallen significantly in the last 20 years (by 78% and 95%, respectively), herbicide use has increased by 54% in the US alone. As a result, total pesticide use – in terms of lb per acre – in US cotton production is broadly similar to that of two decades ago (http://www.pan-uk.org). Approximately 40,000 lives are lost each year due to pesticide/insecticide application. https://www.who.int/whr/2002/en/whr02_en.pdf?ua=1tton.pdf). Approximately 8% of global arale land has been lost due to overharvesting causing ground salinisation due to unsuitable irrigation practices utlilised in cotton production. Each year approximately 67 million birds are killed by pesticides. Then there is the impact on our rivers, lake systems and ground water. You soon realise the impact this has on our planet.

The Benefits of Bamboo Sleepwear

When it comes to sleepwear, bamboo is the best fabric for a number of reasons. Here are ten:

• Soft: There’s no doubt about it: bamboo fabric is some of the softest around. While many praise the smooth texture of cotton, it has nothing on bamboo. The soft texture of bamboo fabric can be attributed to the manufacturing process. But I will go into this later in this article.
• Antibacterial: Bamboo fabric is naturally antibacterial. This means that it naturally repels mould, mildew, and other types of bacteria. Bamboo’s antibacterial properties help it to prevent the spread of disease and keep you feeling and smelling fresh.
• Hypoallergenic: Bamboo sleepwear is a fantastic option for those who have sensitive skin or struggle with allergies. In this day and age, most of us are allergic to one thing or another. For this reason, hypoallergenic fabric is a godsend. It helps to keep allergies at bay. It also prevents rashes or breakouts for those with sensitive skin.
• Breathable: Bamboo is one of the most breathable fabrics on the market. The material is naturally porous, which means that air can flow through it easily.. This is particularly helpful for those who tend to overheat at night or suffer from night sweats or hot flashes.
• Highly adsorbent: Bamboo is also extremely absorbent, but instead of soaking up sweat and holding it, the fabric wicks (draws moisture) away water from the body 3-4 times faster than cotton.
• Eco-friendly: Did you know that bamboo is a renewable resource? It is unlike other synthetic materials that are manufactured using pesticides and chemicals. Bamboo grows so quickly that it is actually considered a weed!
• Durable: Bamboo fabric is incredibly strong and durable. It can withstand pressure and doesn’t rip or tear easily. This means that your bamboo pyjamas could last you years, while your cheap cotton ones may only last one season.
• Odour resistant: Because bamboo is so absorbent, it is able to wick away moisture effectively. This also allows it to be odour resistant. Unlike cotton pyjamas that may get stinky after one hot night, bamboo stays fresh for much longer. This means that you don’t have to wash your bamboo pyjamas as often. They are guaranteed to smell like they just got out of the wash even after a week.
• Easy to launder/antistatic and requires little or no ironing
• 100% biodegradable: This gives conscientious consumers real peace of mind. Once you have no further use of the bamboo product you can rest easy, knowing that it will return to the earth leaving minimal environmental impact.

Making Bamboo Fibre

Our manufacturing factory have adopted the newest technology to chemically manufacture bamboo fibre that is more eco-friendly. The process includes using amino oxides (weak alkalines) that help to break down the bamboo cellulose structure. Using hydrogen peroxide as the stabiliser together with a solution of water and ethanol into a hardening bath causes the viscose bamboo solution to harden into bamboo fibre threads. The regenerated bamboo fibre is spun into yarn for weaving into bamboo fabric. Today, this process is a sustainable common practice amongst responsible factories committed to reducing emissions and recycling waste. The process is substantially healthier and more eco-friendly as chemicals used are non-toxic to humans and the manufacturing process are closed loop so any chemicals used during the process are captured and recycled to use again.

Our factory supplies only the highest quality materials that are OekoTex 100 certified – an industry standard given at the point of the fabric manufacture.

How to Care For Your Bamboo Sleepwear

Bamboo is very easy to care for and with simple care and washing instruction your sleepwear will continue to look great for years to come. Wash in cold or warm wash cycle with your sleepwear garment turned inside out. We always recommend you use the Envy Nightwear provided wash bag to protect your garment. Drying naturally on a clothesline is preferred.  We recommend you hang your garment on a hanger and hang them on the line.

How to Incorporate Bamboo Into Your Bedtime Routine:

• Bamboo mattress: Bamboo mattresses are renowned for their soft, plush texture. This is because they are made using both bamboo fabric and memory foam. These mattresses can help keep you cool at night, while also keeping allergies at bay.
• Bamboo bedding: Bamboo bedding is some of the softest you will find. Like bamboo mattresses, bedding made of this revolutionary fabric is cool, soft, hypoallergenic, and antibacterial. It also doesn’t stain or wrinkle easily, which can keep your bed nice and clean for long periods of time.
• Bamboo sleepwear: While there are many ways to sleep with bamboo fabric, the easiest way is by wearing bamboo pyjama or nightie sets. Bamboo mattresses and bedding are great, but they can be quite expensive. However, bamboo sleepwear is affordable, easily accessible, and has many benefits.

If you want to be cool and comfortable at night, bamboo sleepwear is a must. This fabric can be used to make everything from robes and women’s nighties to button front pyjama sets. There are no cons to sleeping in bamboo fabric, but as you can see, there are many benefits.

At Envy Nightwear, we are committed to making high quality, affordable sleepwear from the best products available. We understand that many women suffer from hot flashes, night sweats, and allergies, which is why we have recently added bamboo sleepwear to our collection. (Available September 2019)

Article from Envy Nightwear: https://www.envynightwear.com.au/benefits-sleeping-bamboo/