Daphne's knit turquise tank is by Carilyn Vaile and made of bamboo (carilynvaile.com). Her white trousers are by "Under the Canopy" and made from organic linen, which is made from flax ($138 greenrohini.com)
Daphne's knit turquoise and white striped sweater is made of bamboo by Carilyn Vaile (carilynvaile.com)
Rhonda's black top is by "Sworn Virgin" and made of bamboo ($82). Her jeans are by "James Jeans" dyed with organic vegetable dyes and dry aged in the sun. ($180 greenrohini.com)
Jacquie's hooded cream tunic is by "Protect the Element" aand made of bamboo (greenrohini.com).
HOPPING ON THE
BAMBOO BANDWAGON
Photos by Steven James May
When you think of bamboo you probably think of Panda Bears, Chinese food, flutes, or fly fishing rods. You may even know that bamboo is strong like steel, and can used to make furniture, flooring and even to build bridges. But what may surprise you is that Bamboo can be harvested and spun into one of the softest, sexiest fabrics available. It is commonly referred to as "cashmere from plants". Besides feeling so amazing, there are other good reasons to wear clothing made from Bamboo: the fabric has natural antibacterial properties, and will naturally block harmful rays of the sun. Also, bamboo clothing dries quickly and comes back to shape when it does. It is incredibly breathable, meaning your skin can breathe through it and it the fabric won't hold on to odor (if you do perspire). Once you feel bamboo against your skin you will feel so sensuous that you'll want to wear bamboo underwear and buy bamboo "date" shirts!
If you need any anymore reasons to get excited about wearing bamboo, there are plenty! It is arguably nature's most sustainable resource. Bamboo grows rapidly (up to 3 to 4 feet a day) without pesticides or fertilizers. It survives drought and floods, and prevents soil erosion. Bamboo is in the grass family. It's a long, strong fiber with natural sheen. A fascinating bamboo fact is that it releases up to 35 % more oxygen into the air than trees, absorbing carbon dioxide (the primary cause of global warming).
Bamboo has been around since prehistoric times, but there is a resurgence of the use of bamboo lately, now that the world is concerned with our impact on the environment. Besides bamboo being aesthetically pleasing to look at, you will look more aesthetically pleasing as well, by implementing bamboo into your wardrobe and even into your grooming routine. Conair and Scunci have come out with beautiful "green" elastics, headbands, hairbrushes and combs. You can also find amazing bamboo makeup brushes by EcoTools at Amazon.com. This isn't to say you should throw out you old plastic brushes, which would be un-eco! Next time you find yourself needing new products, hop on the bamboo bandwagon...it's an exciting ride.
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