What is the Difference Between Bamboo Rayon, Bamboo Viscose and 100% Bamboo? (2024)

FAQs

What is the Difference Between Bamboo Rayon, Bamboo Viscose and 100% Bamboo? ›

Bamboo rayon is produced from cellulose, while bamboo viscose is made from paper pulp. Although both production processes have similarities, they use different solvents. Bamboo viscose has a cotton-like feel but with a silk-like appearance and good wrinkle resistance.

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 fabric is exceptionally breathable and efficient in venting excess heat and moisture away from the body. This means that even in hot weather little ones are able to naturally regulate their temperature to keep them from overheating.

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.

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.

Bamboo is a plant that grows quickly with little or no pesticides, is known for its strength, and is sometimes used in eco-friendly products. But when it's processed into fabric that's advertised as “soft,” “silky,” or “cool to the touch,” it has likely been turned into rayon or viscose using toxic chemicals.

Bamboo stays about 3 degrees cooler than cotton on average. It's breathable enough to allow your body heat to easily escape. Hypoallergenic. Some organic cotton is hypoallergenic, but all bamboo sheets contain hypoallergenic properties.

While it may be harder to come by, bamboo linen, also known as bast bamboo fiber, uses a chemical-free mechanical process that may appeal more to eco-conscious shoppers. However, the resulting fabric tends to be somewhat coarse and prone to wrinkling.

Bamboo viscose is prone to shrink a little, so we work with our suppliers to ensure fabrics are finished to a high standard and that that any shrinkage is within our acceptable limits (meaning it won't impact the fit of your clothes). The elastane in our fabrics helps to minimise shrinkage too.

Put simply, authentic bamboo sheets feel silky soft and have a distinct cooling feel to touch. These should be highly breathable and do not cause overheating.

What are the disadvantages of viscose fabric? ›

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.

Rayon is a viscose fiber but not all viscose is rayon. Rayon is one type of man made fiber whereas viscose describes a group of man made fibers using different processes but all from cellulose usually wood but it can be from bamboo for instance. Each source giving different characteristics.

However, anything labelled 'bamboo viscose' or 'viscose bamboo' should, in theory, be 100% bamboo. Bamboo viscose bedding is luxurious and soft, just like lyocell, and is of the same quality as silk or Egyptian cotton.

Bamboo Sheets Are More Durable

Bamboo fiber is extremely resilient, which will come as no surprise to anyone who's felt the supple strength of live bamboo. This durable fabric will last for years even with repeated washing. Microfiber sheets aren't as strong. They get their softness from their slim threads.

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.

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.

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.

Does viscose shrink? These are common questions we get on viscose fabric care. To answer them, yes, viscose does shrink if it is not washed properly, but some viscose is washable with the right method. Handwashing this fabric at home will help prevent viscose fabric from shrinking, and keep it long-lasting, too.