Bamboo is quickly becoming one of the most popular fabrics and with good reason! It’ssuper soft, breathable, hypoallergenic and durable, not to mention highly sustainable. It keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter better than most natural fabrics including wool, cotton, and hemp.
But not all bamboo is created equal. Bamboo fabrics are sold under different names which can be confusing. The most common ones you’ll see are labeled rayon, viscose or 100% bamboo.
So, what do all these labels mean? How are they different from each other and which one is the best for you?
It all comes down to how they are made!
Here’s a handy guide to help you choose the best bamboo the next time you shop online.
Bamboo rayon
Bamboo cellulose is broken down by a solvent to produce a pulpy viscous substance which is then spun into fibers to create bamboo rayon.
The fabric resembles cotton and linen but has the texture and feel of silk. It has all the wonderful properties we associate with bamboo including thermal regulation, high absorbency, hypoallergenic, and antimicrobial.
Bamboo Viscose
Bamboo rayon and viscose are often used interchangeably but they are not identical.While bamboo rayon is made from cellulose, bamboo viscose is made from pulp.They’re both manufactured in a similar process but involve different solvents.
Bamboo viscose feels a lot like cotton, but it looks a lot like silk and drapes beautifully. It’s also breathable, anti-static, hypoallergenic and bacteria resisting.
100% Bamboo
If the labels reads 100% bamboo, that means the product is made from 100% bamboo rayon or viscose and is not blended with other materials such as cotton or microfiber.
Bamboo Lyocell
Lyocell is also the plant-based fiber, the same as rayon or viscose. Yet, the process of manufacturing is slightly different. The modern methods of Lyocell making requires less energy and the chemicals for its production have lower toxicity and are recycled in a closed-loop process. which breaks down the bamboo pulp. Using this technique, almost 99% of the solvent and water consumed are recovered and reused during the next stock of the manufacturing process thus reducing water consumption drastically. Leftover waste is minimal and harmless to the environment.
Lyocell is also sometimes called as ‘the third generation cellulose fabric’
Bamboo Lyocell is made with pure organic bamboo pulp; it is crushed, washed, and spun into yarns. Lyocell from bamboo is silky, smooth, and very soft, yet it isn’t silk.
Bamboo Lyocell has the same natural feel and required properties, as bamboo rayon and bamboo viscose. However, it is more uniform, thus improving its absorbing properties.
Which One is Better?
Bamboo rayon and viscose fabrics are so similar in terms of how they wear, feel and perform that their differences are almost negligible.
Make sure to check your labels to ensure that you’re purchasing high quality bamboo in order to enjoy all the great benefits.
BambooYou products are made from 95% organically grown bamboo fiber and 5% spandex. They feel buttery smooth and are gentle to the most sensitive skin.
They’ve been certified under the Oeko-tex standard 100 certification which guarantees that they’re free from more than 100 substances known to be harmful to human health.
Feel free to browse our amazing catalogue to get high quality ethically-produced bamboo apparel for women, men and babies as well as home textiles!
| Fabric | Production | Properties and features |
|---|
| Bamboo Rayon | ● Made of bamboo cellulose
● Chemical processes involved
● Not so eco-friendly | ● Silky to the touch
● Resembles cotton and linen
● Thermal regulating
● Hypoallergenic
● Highly absorbent
● Antimicrobial |
| Bamboo Viscose | ● Made of bamboo viscose
● Chemical processes involved
● Not so eco-friendly | ● Silky to the touch
● Looks like cotton
● Drapes well
● Cheap
● Hypoallergenic
● Highly absorbent
● Antimicrobial |
| Bamboo Lyocell | ● Made of bamboo pulp
● Less chemicals and water are used
● Eco-friendly | ● Silky to the touch
● Lightweight
● Non-creasing
● Hypoallergenic
● Highly absorbent
● Cooling
● Antimicrobial |
FAQs
Lyocell is also the plant-based fiber, the same as rayon or viscose. Yet, the process of manufacturing is slightly different. The modern methods of Lyocell making requires less energy and the chemicals for its production have lower toxicity and are recycled in a closed-loop process. which breaks down the bamboo pulp.
Is bamboo rayon or bamboo viscose better? ›
To recap, bamboo viscose and bamboo rayon are essentially the same thing. Both are fabrics made from bamboo cellulose as a less-expensive, eco-friendly alternative to silk that's soft and smooth. But both can also be blended with other materials to make a cheaper, lower-quality fabric.
What is the difference between bamboo viscose and lyocell? ›
Chemical use—Bamboo lyocell uses non-toxic solvents, whereas bamboo viscose uses chemicals in the creation process. The lyocell method also uses a closed-loop process, meaning solvents won't be released into the environment.
Which is better rayon or viscose? ›
Sleepers who want to avoid shrinking or wrinkling their sheets. Viscose and rayon both wrinkle and shrink easily, but viscose will stay wrinkle-free for longer. Those who want a slightly more durable sheet set. Rayon is still delicate, but it is a little stronger than Viscose.
Is bamboo viscose 100% bamboo? ›
But 100% Bamboo isn't entirely correct either. 100% Bamboo is a synonym of sorts for Bamboo Rayon or Bamboo Viscose, which are, in the case of bamboo bedding, the same thing. Rayon suggests a semi-synthetic fiber, where “viscose rayon” is what is typically used to describe the threads created from Bamboo.
What are the disadvantages of bamboo viscose? ›
Bamboo viscose and bamboo lyocell are produced with methods that can be damaging to the environment. The wood is broken down into chunks, which are then treated with chemical solvents such as carbon disulfide. These chemicals are harmful to those handling the process and also heavily impair the environment.
What is 100% rayon from bamboo? ›
Bamboo rayon is made from the cellulose fibers of the bamboo plant. The woody stalks of the bamboo plant contain something called bast fibers which have a rough texture. In order to make it the soft and supple bamboo that we know so well, these fibers have to go through a manufacturing process.
Are 100% viscose from bamboo sheets good? ›
Sheets made of 100% bamboo viscose are known for being incredibly soft to the touch, naturally hypoallergenic, and thermoregulating.
What is 100% bamboo lyocell? ›
' This is the most eco-friendly version of bamboo fabric, made from the pulp of bamboo plants using a closed-loop lyocell process. It is more sustainable than other forms of bamboo fabric, which are incredibly eco-friendly as they are, thanks to the process used to make it.
Which is softer viscose or lyocell? ›
If modal is the silkiest and lyocell is the "cotton-iest," then viscose rayon would be somewhere in the middle. It has a soft and smooth feel but isn't as lustrous as the modal.
Someone said that rayon is just the American way to call viscose(they are actually the same thing). This is not correct. If you do the composition test, yes, they both have the same raw ingredient, however, structure wise, the viscose fibre has a long fibre structure, while rayon is a short fiber structure.
What are the disadvantages of viscose fabric? ›
Disadvantages of Viscose
- Shrinks easily: When washed in hot water, viscose is prone to shrink. ...
- Weak when wet: When wet, the viscose fibres become weak. ...
- Bagging: The fabric is prone to bagging after multiple uses. ...
- Fading: When exposed to light and heat, viscose fabric starts to fade and deteriorate.
However, rayon offers slightly better breathability than viscose. We recommend choosing a sustainable rayon option, such as Tencel rayon or rayon bamboo, when purchasing summer garments.
Is lyocell better than bamboo? ›
Bamboo offers a luxurious feel and is ideal for those with allergies or sensitive skin. On the other hand, Lyocell has the most eco-friendly production process and offers superior moisture-wicking properties.
Does bamboo viscose feel like cotton? ›
The benefits of Bamboo viscose include it being as soft as cotton and is also moisture-wicking, but it has the added benefits of being hypoallergenic, thermoregulating, and having that natural stretch to it. When it comes to sustainability, both fabrics have their pros and cons too.
Does bamboo viscose wrinkle easily? ›
It's no secret that clothes made with viscose fibers tend to wrinkle and crease. But why does viscose fabric wrinkle? Viscose can wrinkle because it's woven or knitted from the delicate, pulped fibers of woody plants like: Bamboo.
Are bamboo viscose sheets good? ›
Bamboo sheets are woven from fibres derived from the bamboo plant. They're strong and are one of the more eco-friendly options on the market. They're also deliciously soft and draw moisture away from your skin to help you stay clean and cool.
Does bamboo viscose last? ›
Bamboo viscose outperforms other fabrics in many ways, and one noticeable difference is the longevity of the material. Bamboo viscose fabric can last a decade, or even longer if it's well taken care of. In comparison, traditional cotton sheets usually only last a year or two before you need to replace them.
What is the best bamboo for textile? ›
Bamboo rayon: a soft and smooth textile that is the most used in clothing. Bamboo viscose: a material that's a bit softer and more durable than rayon. Bamboo lyocell: a satin-like, breathable fabric. Bamboo silk: offers a smooth, delicate texture similar to traditional silk.
