Bamboo vs Cotton: The Truth About Bamboo Clothing (And Why We Use It)
19/03/26 09:42
Bamboo vs Cotton: The Truth About Bamboo Clothing (And Why We Use It)
Everyone's heard of bamboo clothing and lots of brands talk about it. But what does it actually mean, why does it perform better than cotton, and how do you know you're getting the real deal?
We use bamboo as the primary fabric in our tees, rash shirts, hoodies and casual wear. Here's the full story — the good, the science, and the honest caveats too.
What Is Bamboo Fabric, Actually?
Bamboo fabric is made from the pulp of bamboo grass — one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth. Bamboo can grow up to a metre a day, requires no pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers and regenerates from its own root system without replanting. It uses significantly less water than conventional cotton and can grow on land not suitable for food crops.
The bamboo shredded pulp is processed into a cellulose fibre, which is then spun into yarn and woven into fabric. The end result is one of the softest, most breathable textiles you can buy — and it carries some remarkable natural properties.
Why Bamboo Beats Cotton for Active Wear
Cotton is comfortable, sure. But for active use — Surf, training, the gym, hot Queensland summers — bamboo wins on almost every metric:
1. Anti-Odour Properties
Bamboo has natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. In practical terms, this means bamboo clothing doesn't hold onto body odour the way synthetic or even cotton fabrics can. You can wear a bamboo tee for a full day (or even a few) in the Queensland heat and still smell like a person at the end of it. This is one of the biggest reasons our customers keep coming back — no more ending your day with a shirt that smells like a footy changing room.
2. Temperature Regulation
Bamboo fabric is highly breathable and has natural thermo-regulating properties — it keeps you cooler in the heat and warmer in the cold. For Australians who go from an air-conditioned car to a 35-degree beach, that adaptability matters.
3. Softness
Bamboo fabric is exceptionally soft — often compared to cashmere. Our 95% bamboo tees are so soft that customers regularly tell us they sleep in them. NRL legend Billy Moore called them the most comfortable shirts he's ever worn in his life. That's not a marketing line — it's a direct quote from a bloke who's worn a fair few jerseys in his time.
4. Moisture Wicking
Bamboo pulls moisture away from the skin and evaporates it quickly. For active training and gym use, this means you're not sitting in a smelly shirt after your session. You simply feel fresher.
5. UV Protection
Bamboo fabric offers natural UV protection — important for us Australians spending time outdoors. Our rash shirts and long-sleeve bamboo tees provide an extra layer of sun protection without the stiffness of traditional rash vests.
The Environmental Case for Bamboo
Compared to conventional cotton:
You do the math.
The Honest Caveat: Processing Matters
We believe in being straight with our customers. Not all bamboo fabric is created equal.
The most common way people describe bamboo fabric is viscose from bamboo (also called rayon from bamboo). The manufacturing process to convert bamboo pulp into viscose can involve chemical solvents — some of which, in less responsible facilities, can be harmful if not properly managed.
The better alternative is bamboo lyocell (or Tencel™ from bamboo), which uses a closed-loop process that recaptures and reuses solvents. We use the highest quality bamboo fabric available and are continuously working toward closed-loop processing where possible.
The bottom line: bamboo is significantly better than conventional cotton environmentally, but sourcing from responsible suppliers is essential. We take that responsibility seriously.
Our Bamboo Range
Our bamboo fabric (95% bamboo, 5% spandex) goes into:
Cotton vs Bamboo: Quick Comparison
Water usage: Cotton = massive. Bamboo = minimal.
Odour resistance: Cotton = absorbs and holds. Bamboo = naturally anti-bacterial.
Softness: Cotton = standard. Bamboo = next level.
Breathability: Cotton = moderate. Bamboo = superior.
Durability: Cotton = wears out. Bamboo = lasts for years.
Pesticides: Cotton = one of the highest-use crops. Bamboo = none required.
The Bottom Line
Bamboo clothing isn't a gimmick or a greenwashing exercise. When sourced responsibly, it's genuinely one of the best fabric options for active, outdoors-loving Australians who also care about where their clothes come from.
We chose bamboo because it performs — and because it lets us make clothing that's better for the people wearing it and better for the country we live in.
Come try a bamboo tee and see what the fuss is about. We're pretty confident it'll be the last regular cotton shirt you buy.
Shop bamboo clothing at notsponsored.com.au | Free shipping over $120 🌿
Everyone's heard of bamboo clothing and lots of brands talk about it. But what does it actually mean, why does it perform better than cotton, and how do you know you're getting the real deal?
We use bamboo as the primary fabric in our tees, rash shirts, hoodies and casual wear. Here's the full story — the good, the science, and the honest caveats too.
What Is Bamboo Fabric, Actually?
Bamboo fabric is made from the pulp of bamboo grass — one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth. Bamboo can grow up to a metre a day, requires no pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers and regenerates from its own root system without replanting. It uses significantly less water than conventional cotton and can grow on land not suitable for food crops.
The bamboo shredded pulp is processed into a cellulose fibre, which is then spun into yarn and woven into fabric. The end result is one of the softest, most breathable textiles you can buy — and it carries some remarkable natural properties.
Why Bamboo Beats Cotton for Active Wear
Cotton is comfortable, sure. But for active use — Surf, training, the gym, hot Queensland summers — bamboo wins on almost every metric:
1. Anti-Odour Properties
Bamboo has natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. In practical terms, this means bamboo clothing doesn't hold onto body odour the way synthetic or even cotton fabrics can. You can wear a bamboo tee for a full day (or even a few) in the Queensland heat and still smell like a person at the end of it. This is one of the biggest reasons our customers keep coming back — no more ending your day with a shirt that smells like a footy changing room.
2. Temperature Regulation
Bamboo fabric is highly breathable and has natural thermo-regulating properties — it keeps you cooler in the heat and warmer in the cold. For Australians who go from an air-conditioned car to a 35-degree beach, that adaptability matters.
3. Softness
Bamboo fabric is exceptionally soft — often compared to cashmere. Our 95% bamboo tees are so soft that customers regularly tell us they sleep in them. NRL legend Billy Moore called them the most comfortable shirts he's ever worn in his life. That's not a marketing line — it's a direct quote from a bloke who's worn a fair few jerseys in his time.
4. Moisture Wicking
Bamboo pulls moisture away from the skin and evaporates it quickly. For active training and gym use, this means you're not sitting in a smelly shirt after your session. You simply feel fresher.
5. UV Protection
Bamboo fabric offers natural UV protection — important for us Australians spending time outdoors. Our rash shirts and long-sleeve bamboo tees provide an extra layer of sun protection without the stiffness of traditional rash vests.
The Environmental Case for Bamboo
Compared to conventional cotton:
- Bamboo uses up to 200x less water to grow
- Requires no pesticides or fertilisers
- Sequesters carbon as it grows
- Regenerates without replanting — cut it and it just grows back
- Can grow on degraded land not suitable for food production
You do the math.
The Honest Caveat: Processing Matters
We believe in being straight with our customers. Not all bamboo fabric is created equal.
The most common way people describe bamboo fabric is viscose from bamboo (also called rayon from bamboo). The manufacturing process to convert bamboo pulp into viscose can involve chemical solvents — some of which, in less responsible facilities, can be harmful if not properly managed.
The better alternative is bamboo lyocell (or Tencel™ from bamboo), which uses a closed-loop process that recaptures and reuses solvents. We use the highest quality bamboo fabric available and are continuously working toward closed-loop processing where possible.
The bottom line: bamboo is significantly better than conventional cotton environmentally, but sourcing from responsible suppliers is essential. We take that responsibility seriously.
Our Bamboo Range
Our bamboo fabric (95% bamboo, 5% spandex) goes into:
- Bamboo teetankss and t-shirts — the ones you'll wear until they fall apart (they won't)
- Long-sleeve sun shirts — UV protection without the stiff plastic feel
- Hoodies — soft enough to sleep in, warm enough for cool Sunshine Coast mornings
- Bamboo/Tencel/Organic Cotton Blend for our All Day Everything surf Shirts
Cotton vs Bamboo: Quick Comparison
Water usage: Cotton = massive. Bamboo = minimal.
Odour resistance: Cotton = absorbs and holds. Bamboo = naturally anti-bacterial.
Softness: Cotton = standard. Bamboo = next level.
Breathability: Cotton = moderate. Bamboo = superior.
Durability: Cotton = wears out. Bamboo = lasts for years.
Pesticides: Cotton = one of the highest-use crops. Bamboo = none required.
The Bottom Line
Bamboo clothing isn't a gimmick or a greenwashing exercise. When sourced responsibly, it's genuinely one of the best fabric options for active, outdoors-loving Australians who also care about where their clothes come from.
We chose bamboo because it performs — and because it lets us make clothing that's better for the people wearing it and better for the country we live in.
Come try a bamboo tee and see what the fuss is about. We're pretty confident it'll be the last regular cotton shirt you buy.
Shop bamboo clothing at notsponsored.com.au | Free shipping over $120 🌿
