BS: Bamboo Clothes

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: bobad
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 07:48 AM

Peace
Buddy of mine has a patch of hemp growing in his basement, does well there, tall too.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: dianavan
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 02:23 AM

Hemp practically built America. George Washington was a hemp farmer. Sails and ropes were made from hemp. Levis were made from hemp. The constitution was written on hemp. Hemp is easy to grow and requires no pesticides or chemicals. Its versatile and environmentally friendly.

Good link, Metchosin.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: Metchosin
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 12:24 AM

Quite a few varieties of bamboo grow well here in BC too, but hemp does better.

China is the largest producer of hemp for textiles and paper. More on the industrial uses for hemp worldwide here

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: Peace
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 12:00 AM

Buddy of mine has a patch of bamboo near San Francisco, California. It does well there in his back yard. Tall, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: Peace
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 11:56 PM

My sense of the ridiculous gets me in trouble at times. While working at a maximum security institution as a teacher, I gave in to the urge to draw up a course outline for something called "Escape 101". The chapter titles included

Ladders and How to Build Them from Common Materials
Locks and the Novice
How to Make Your Own Hot Air Balloon Using Things You Find
Tunnels and Their Construction
The Use of a Compass While Underground

and others I now forget. The closing line was "And if you are not here to write the final exam, you will be considered to have passed with Honours."

The head of the institution was NOT amused. Not even a little. Sorry for the thread drift.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: number 6
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 11:44 PM

kewl

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: open mike
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 10:37 PM

i have some clothes from Tencel, but was not sure of the source
this fiber..


Tencel is made from cellulose in wood pulp, which is harvested from tree-farmed trees. Cellulose is the natural polymer that makes up the living cells of all vegetation. The tree farms have been established on land unsuitable for food crops or grazing.


i was surprised to find in Sweden a hand made paper making factory
that used coton fiber exclusively for the paper...not wood pulp.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: bobad
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 10:30 PM

From the FAQ at the aforelinked site.

        

bamboo textile

Frequently Asked Questions
Click on any topic below to find out more

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
• Species used for bamboo fiber
• Geographical location
• Renewability / Sustainability
• Harvest Practices/ Land quality & use
• Use of pesticides and fertilizer
PROCESSING AND MANUFACTURING
• How is bamboo fiber made?
• Use of toxic chemicals
• Waste from factory
• Labor and sweatshop issues
GENERAL
• History of bamboo clothing
• Learn about bamboo



RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Species used for bamboo fiber

Phyllostachys heterocycla pubescens, commonly known as Moso bamboo.

This is the largest of the temperate zone bamboo species and is the most economically important bamboo species in China. It is most commonly used for construction purposes and edible bamboo shoots.


Geographical location

Moso bamboo is prevalent throughout China. Bamboo Textile's factory however, owns and maintains its own plantations on a large mountainside located in Zhejiang Province, which is south of the factory in Suzhou.


Renewability

Bamboo is known to be the fastest growing plant on earth, making it naturally highly renewable. In fact, bamboo grows to its maximum height in approximately 3 months and matures in 3-5 years for harvest.


Sustainability
Harvest Practices

Like all plants grown and managed for commercial purposes, harvesting practices must be exercised. Crop rotation and intercropping with bamboo is not unheard of, but they are not common practices integrated with bamboo plantation management. Our factory in China is utilizing the best harvesting practices to ensure a long-term supply of bamboo fiber.



Land quality and land use

Bamboo's growth characteristics enable it to spread rapidly across large areas. Because of its growth characteristics and ability to spread, bamboo is known to improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas of land.


Use of pesticides and fertilizer

Bamboo's natural growth habits allow it to reproduce in abundance without the use of fertilizers and without the need for pesticides.


Return to top of page


PROCESSING AND MANUFACTURING

How is bamboo fiber made?

The process to make bamboo fiber and yarn is similar to the process used to make rayon. Stalks of bamboo are essentially crushed and pulped to separate the natural fibers. The fibers are then mixed with chemicals such as caustic soda to convert the plant fiber into textile quality fiber.


Use of toxic chemicals

As with many textiles, the process to make bamboo into fiber uses caustic soda. There are, however, alternatives that are more environmentally friendly.


Waste from factory

We are currently researching the answer to this question. Please stay tuned.


Labor and sweatshop issues
Our factory has established labor practices that are based on SA8000 principles (Social Accountability International 8000) and plans are underway to receive full-fledged SA8000 certification. For more information about SA8000, go to www.sa8000.org.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: CarolC
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 10:22 PM

I tend to suspect that they use the cellulose or some other substance like that, and they process it out chemically in some way. That is how they do it with rayon. Rayon (from trees) was a precursor to synthetics. Tencel is also made from trees.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: bobad
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 10:01 PM

LOL Bruce.

No sense of humour there.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: Peace
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 09:59 PM

I lived in an area where a farmer grew hemp for the oil. I may be wrong on this figure, but the word I got from an RCMP officer is that if the THC content of the hemp was greater than a percent, the whole crop was destroyed--by burning. I wrote a tongue-in-cheek SOP for the fire department there. I don't remember it all.

Gist of it was that the only firefighter wearing BA (breathing apparatus) would be the one who was going back and forth to the store to get snacks and the fire would be fought from downwind.

The chief gave me a look. I withdrew the proposed SOP (standard operating procedure).

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 09:54 PM

GUEST 4:14, I was wondering about just that, what stage of the plant's growth would be used for textiles. I think you're right: Young and green. Maybe hardly more than shoots.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: bobad
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 06:34 PM

Unfortunately there is still a great deal of resistance to the cultivation of hemp in North America.

Canada requires special licensing which involves intense investigation into one's history.

I'm not sure about the U.S. but I do believe it is even more restrictive if not even outlawed outright.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: dianavan
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 01:43 PM

I agree with Metchosin. Hemp fibre is wonderful. The fibre can be used alone or combined with silk, cotton, linen, whatever. Its extremely durable, too. When I was in Paris, I saw a room with walls made of hemp. It looked like plaster only better.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 04:14 AM

It grows very well here, but it isn't regarded highly by the recycling industry. It can't be chipped economically, so you have to send it to the dump if you cut it down. No, in this area, garden fires are not allowed.
I suspect that it would take some ferocious chemicals to break it down, because it is a very tough grass, and they might be a problem to get rid of the unwanted part. Interesting idea, though. They'd probably use young green bamboo, which is still fibrous, but nothing like as strong.

Afterthought. I've seen an article where a process heated and crushed wheat straw into panels, using no additional chemicals at all. The resin on the straw glued it together. That might work on bamboo, but it would take a lot of grunt to crush it.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: Peace
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 02:35 AM

LOL

Jesse Winchester--"Twigs and Seeds"

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: Metchosin
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 02:20 AM

I don't think there's any problem with getting rid of the leaves, in this neck of the woods, the trouble, more likely, is a useful purpose for the stems. LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: Peace
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 02:11 AM

If you need help getting rid of the leaves . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: Metchosin
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 02:07 AM

Well, in the interest of thinking globally, but acting locally, I'd prefer to wear clothing made of hemp fibres, myself.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: GUEST,Shanghaiceltic
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 12:41 AM

Pandas eat only one type of bamboo which dies off every 4-5 years when it flowers.

Bamboo is used extensively in China. One of the biggest uses is as scaffolding. It is light, flexible and very strong. I have seen many building covered with bamboo scaffolding. It also flexes better when the winds are strong.

I have also seen it used to make large animal baskets for transporting pigs and chickens to market.

Some papermills use it for pulping but from the papermills I have seen and chemicals used I would hardly call it green.

The shoots are edible, yum yum.

And yes I have worn bamboo. The breastplate of my kendo armour is made of 64 interlocked slats of bamboo cover is a laquered leather.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: John O'L
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 12:37 AM

If they use plantation bamboo rather than old growth bamboo it's OK with me, but I can see this heading towards genetically modified bamboo in no time.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 12:18 AM

If this economic use of bamboo is added to what is already there, perhaps the increased production would be good for pandas.

It certainly looks like an idea worth exploring. I've saved the bookmark. Thanks!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 06:30 PM

Speaking from the summit of my immense pile of ignorance on this (as well as other subjects) I'll venture a couple thoughts.

Somehow I wouldn't think it would tend to shrink. Please don't ask me why.

And if some tropical type country can manage to build some sort of a trade and cash engine out of a commodity they are in position to produce, I say, "Go to it!" Especially if the bamboo can be grown with little or no chemicals, etc.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: MarkS
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 06:21 PM

The way this stuff grows in hot climates makes it certain to win the green award for a renewable resource. Anybody know if they wear with comfort or how they shrink in washsing?

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: CarolC
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 06:15 PM

Linen is a plant fiber and so are cotton and bamboo. Wool is an animal fiber. Maybe the injunction applies only to mixing plant and animal fibers. Maybe cotton and bamboo, both being plants, would be ok.

I'm guessing bamboo cloth would feel a bit like rayon (which is made from trees). Sounds interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: John Hardly
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 05:59 PM

If you wear a bamboo shirt will you bend over backwards to go fishing?

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: robomatic
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 05:36 PM

is it for real? has anyone bought one of these bamboo garments? The bible prohibits mixing linen and wool, I wonder what the bamboo situation is...

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 05:35 PM

There's also a plug for a 'Bamboo Tank' - for eco-friendly warfare perhaps?

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 05:00 PM

Bamboo Clothes / Not in the U.K...........

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: open mike
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 02:24 PM

pandas say: 'NO'

Subject: BS: Bamboo Clothes
From: bobad
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 01:07 PM

I came across this Bamboo Clothes on the WWW and thought it worthy of dissemination.

It would appear that bamboo fiber is an ecologically friendly alternative to other materials such as cotton, the cultivation of which uses large amounts of pesticides, or synthetics, which are derived from petroleum products.

Perhaps the Mudcat t-shirt committe may want to consider this as an alternative for the next round of t-shirt orders.