Bamboo clothing

I had the pleasure of touching some bamboo clothing at the Muddy Boot festival this past weekend. I'm not sure what I expected, but I was surprised at how soft the fabric is. I had read about bamboo towels and fabric. I figured that with bamboo being a grass, it would be coarse and stiff. Not so. Milwaukie-based Buchic was the company with bamboo clothing on display that kindly allowed me to fondle their wares. I had to force myself not to buy anything (I'm in a personal non-spending zone), as I was greatly tempted to add to my wardrobe on the spot.

I was aware that cotton is a terribly labor and pesticide intensive crop, accounting for a quarter of the world's fertilizer and chemical use. Yikes! Bamboo, on the other hand, uses no fertilizers or chemicals. Bamboo clothing is hypoallergenic, and contains a natural anti-bacterial that wicks moisture from the body and keeps the fabric odor free. I cannot say the same about the one organic cotton t-shirt I own. It seems to absorb every single armpit odor my body has ever emitted, and hangs onto them even after washing! Sorry, TMI.

Although I'm very dedicated to reusing clothing and buying second-hand where possible, I realize that not every item can be acquired this way. So I am pre-sold on the idea of bamboo for my next purchase of that type.

I hear bamboo towels also dry nice and soft on a clothesline (something cotton towels can't compete with).

Do you wear bamboo?