Have you ever noticed the groves of bamboo growing alongside Highway 85 on the way to Auburn? Maybe you have noticed it along many of the back-roads of southeast Alabama. What you are seeing is an economic boom for bamboo cultivators in the State.

Almost every retail outlet has "wicking" shirts. Most buyers are seeking natural fiber wicking shirt brands like TASC, Free Fly or NxtStop. In the Gulf Shores area these soft, wicking shirts are sold at numerous outlets. They are very popular with boater, surfers and anyone who spends time outdoors. The one thing these brands have in common is they are made from bamboo fiber.

Bamboo is a highly breathable fabric, making it ideal for athletes or activewear and athletic apparel. The hollow structure of bamboo fibers allows air to circulate more freely through the fabric, which helps to regulate body temperature by wicking away moisture and keeping you cool.

Here Are The Top 10 Reason To Own Bamboo Shirts:

10 advantages of bamboo fabric:

1. Bamboo is an ultra-soft fabric

Bamboo fabric is luxuriously soft, so soft that it feels like it lightly floats on your skin. This is due to the smooth round structure of the bamboo fiber, which has no sharp or rough elements that could cause irritation.

2. Bamboo clothing is breathable

Bamboo fabric offers excellent ventilation thanks to microscopic holes in the fiber. This keeps you feeling fresh for longer, meaning you have to wash your clothes less. Ultimately, less washing helps clothes last longer, key to a sustainable wardrobe. 

3. Bamboo is good for hot weather

The thermoregulatory properties of bamboo fabric helps keep you cool when the weather gets hot. The breathable and moisture wicking nature of the material allows for ultimate comfort on hot days. So yes, that bamboo shirt will keep you cooler than a cotton alternative.

4. Powerful insulating

These same thermoregulatory properties of bamboo fabric also helps keep you warmer in winter, making bamboo a performance material for any weather. This is due to its cross sectional fibers which helps keep heat in on colder days, ensuring bamboo is warmer than cotton when the temperature drops.

5. Bamboo fabric is moisture wicking

Bamboo fabric actually helps to keep your skin comfortable and dry by wicking moisture from your skin more quickly. This makes bamboo perfect for sports clothing or more intimate clothing, as it is much more breathable than cotton. In fact, bamboo clothes dry twice as fast as cotton (although can absorb more water, see point 3 from the disadvantages list below).

6. Bamboo is anti-bacterial

Bamboo fabric is supposedly anti-bacterial, meaning that your top will stay fresh for longer as the fibre helps fight odours. As we well know, less washing helps your clothes last longer, making your closet more eco-friendly.

7. Bamboo offers UV protection

Bamboo fabric offers natural protection from the sun’s harmful rays, filtering up to 97.5% of UV radiation. 

8. Bamboo is good for sensitive skin 

Natural bamboo is hypoallergenic, making it perfect for sensitive skin as it does not cause allergic reactions. As a rule of thumb for those prone to sensitive skin, you should always look for the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 label which ensures no trace harmful materials are left in the fabric. 

9. Bamboo fabric prevents wrinkles

An amazing fact about bamboo is that it does not wrinkle easily, even after frequent washing. This makes it perfect for those of us less keen on our iron, plus makes it more sustainable as we need to use less energy to maintain our bamboo clothes. 

10. Bamboo is a sustainably grown crop - and this is where Alabama farmers have been making great strides.

Alabamboo, Inc., an Alabama company that aims to help farmers discover the benefits of growing and selling bamboo as  a crop, has advised many local farmers about the product's cultivation. Director of Sales Cedric Coley said “Bamboo is a $72 billion industry worldwide,” Coley said. “China and other Asian countries have been growing bamboo for thousands of years. Most of their construction and their food is based on bamboo. Most of the world considers it a superfood.”

According to Coley, rich Blackbelt soil is well-suited for growing and maximizing bamboo crops. Alabamboo was founded by farmers who came from a lineage of third and fourth generation farmers who understand potential bamboo growers need information and education about the benefits of bamboo farming. “This is generational wealth,” Coley said. “Once you go through a series of steps, maintaining it like a well-groomed garden, most of your labor is downhill. From there, the bamboo will last for at least 80 years.”

In our coastal community you can find TASC and other bamboo brands at popular locations: Orange Beach Marina, Flora-Bama, COASTAL, The Orange Beach Store and more.