Bamboo: a special raw material for boxers & socks
Worth knowing about bamboo viscose
Bamboo viscose is a very special material. Due to the resource-saving production, it is not only sustainable, but also offers unique wearing properties. Boxer shorts , undershirts or socks made from bamboo viscose are velvety soft, very supple and breathable. In this article we would like to explain to you the benefits of extraction that have a positive impact on global environmental problems such as water scarcity, deforestation and global warming. We would like to help you to make a more conscious decision when buying boxers or socks made of bamboo.
Bamboo - a type of wood or not?
For many consumers, bamboo is a type of wood because the material is very tough and durable. These properties are deceptive because bamboo is actually a type of grass. Like other plants, bamboo has a root. However, the bamboo cane has a typically round shape and is hollow, which gives the material special properties. In the cavity of the trunk there are thin partitions at irregular intervals, which you can see on the outside as thick ringlets. The transverse partitions make bamboo permeable to air and water.
Bamboo: sustainable through rapid growth
Bamboo is much more sustainable than cotton. When producing bamboo, it only needs sunlight and rainwater. Expensive artificial irrigation is not necessary with bamboo. Very environmentally friendly: Pesticides, insecticides or fertilizers are also not necessary when harvesting bamboo. Bamboo is also a rapidly renewable raw material. When harvesting, the root remains in the ground, so a new bamboo stem can grow back quickly.
This is how bamboo becomes supple viscose
Many steps are necessary to obtain viscose from the cellulose fibers of the bamboo trunk, which makes boxer shorts and socks so supple. Shredder technology is very popular. In this process, the tiny bamboo parts are extracted from bamboo canes. But first, of course, is the harvest of bamboo.
4-pack bamboo boxers blue & black
Harvesting Bamboo
Bamboo is mainly grown in China or Japan. When harvesting, the bamboo stems are cut off above the surface of the earth. The root remains in the ground, which allows bamboo to grow back quickly after harvest, making the raw material particularly sustainable. Due to the rapid growth rate, bamboo can be harvested four to six times for the production of textiles.
Crushing of bamboo
After harvesting, the bamboo canes are crushed into the smallest parts. This enables rotating cutting systems (shredders). In further processing, the smaller elements (bamboo fibers) are used. These fibers are ultimately used to produce boxers, socks and other textiles.
Viscose process
In the viscose process, the small bamboo shavings are boiled in caustic soda and carbon disulfide. A few years ago, this process was a burden on the environment. Environmental pollution is minimized through improvements and through the use of waste materials. In the viscose process, the chopped bamboo is turned into a mushy mass, which is also known as bamboo pulp.
extraction of bamboo yarn
The bamboo pulp obtained is dried for a few days before finally being pressed through small holes in a sulfuric acid bath. This creates fine threads that harden into a yarn. In this way, bamboo yarn can be obtained in different sizes.
Wash, bleach & dry
The processed bamboo can now be called bamboo viscose. In the final step, the yarn is washed, bleached and dried. The yarn is now combined with other materials.
Production of textiles
The bamboo viscose is combined with other materials such as elastane or polyamide. This makes the fabric more elastic, lighter or more breathable. Textiles such as boxer shorts or socks can now be produced from the special yarn.
