Olivia just moved into a new place. She lamented the need for new bedroom furniture, but the reality of a limited budget gave her reason to focus on bedding instead. While the decision to update with bedding is nothing new, the choice in fabric is; bamboo.
Having just learned the attributes of bamboo textiles, I suggested bamboo as an alternative to the familiar choice. Olivia isn’t as ‘green’ conscious as some I know; she’s more of the style and trend conscious segment. She was skeptical, at first.
Bamboo? Like the food of Pandas? Flooring under our feet? You want now that I should “lay me down to sleep” on it?
What about the hand, the feel of the sheets? How can they possibly be comfortable? What do these look like?
product: dreamsack / available http://www.freshandgreen.com/
Let’s be clear. The bamboo grass pulp for textiles is not the same as the Panda food. While Pandas eat over 30 species of bamboo, such as umbrella and sword bamboo, Moso Bamboo, from which the pulp is ground, is not one of them. According to Bamboosa (www.bamboosa.com), the Moso is the tallest of the moderate bamboos and too large for Pandas to eat. However, Moso bark, in its natural state as hard a wood as maple, is used for flooring, furniture, children’s toys, and reportedly, bicycles.
Olivia didn’t want to hear about flooring, furniture, and bicycles in the same breath as her bedding. Nor was she interested in the other outstanding features of bamboo; such as the textile’s ability to biodegrade; that it needs no fertilizers, pesticides, or chemicals; that ‘bamboo-kun’ a substance in the tree is antimicrobial and antifungal.
product: dreamsack / available www.freshandgreen.com
No, Olivia didn’t need to hear that the textile world expects bamboo fabric to surpass cotton, which uses about 25% of the world’s fertilizers and insecticides and 10% of pesticides for only 10% of agriculture land mass, as the fabric of choice in the near future. But, these features have real benefit to Sleeping Beauty, so, I quickly moved on to appeal to her comfort and style interests.
Fresh bed sheets are always desirable, and no one wants static cling between their teddie and sheets, or skin rash caused by fabric related skin irritants. The bamboo-kun, actually aids in the prevention of odors and allergies, with added benefit of an anti-satic. Its bacteria killing properties extend to its user, attacking skin bacteria to prevent unattractive body odors. The bamboo-kun is hypo-allergenic, so unlike other natural products causes no skin irritants.
product: dreamsack / available: http://www.freshandgreen.com/
Second to freshness, sheets must be cool, crisp, and comfortable. Because of natural absorption and insulating properties, bamboo sheets keep the body cool on sultry summer nights and warm on winter nights. Its properties wicks moisture from skin creating the perfect sleep environment. As a side note, bamboo can absorb 3xs its weight in water. But, she really wasn’t interested in water absorption or retention….just cool, crisp, comfortable sheets.
Bamboo bedding is smooth~ like cashmere or silk ~ and you know that was the deal maker for her. The fiber is round and smooth with a natural tendency to luxurious softness. Bamboo fabric retains its shape and natural bacteria killing properties even after multiple machine washings.
product: dreamsack / available: www.freshandgreen.com
The fabric can be bleached to a sharp white, but, takes dye well and can be processed to create a shade for the even the most discriminating Diva. If organic is preferred, bamboo in its natural state resembles unspun cotton.
And, in the unlikely event Olivia pulls a Scarlett and makes a new dress from her home textile accessories, bamboo fabric naturally blocks 91% of UVA and 98% of UVB rays. No parasol required.
She was sold. Bamboo, a sustainable, prolific, versatile plant is on its way to become the most sought after textile of the 21st Century. Olivia’s bedding on it! She has such excellent taste and vision!
For a Bamboo / Cotton blend, visit: http://www.unisonhome.com/
