Bamboo fibre

Bamboo fibre is a textile fibre fabricated from natural bamboo and other additives and is made from the pulp of bamboo plants. It is softer than cotton, has inherent antibacterial propertiesFact|date=June 2008, bamboo clothing has become popular in some fashion circles. [ [http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/textile-industry-articles/properties-of-bamboo-fibre/properties-of-bamboo-fibre1.asp Properties Of Bamboo Fibre – Free Textile Industry Articles – Fibre2fashion.com ] ]

Bamboo has gained significant popularity as a "green" fibre. Manufacturers tout the fact that bamboo can be cultivated relatively quickly, can be used as a cash crop to develop impoverished regions of the third world, and is a natural fiber (as opposed to popular synthetics like polyester) whose cultivation results in a decrease in greenhouse gases. [ [http://planetgreen.discovery.com/fashion-beauty/bamboo-clothing-ask-summer-rayne.html Is Bamboo Fiber Sustainable? Musings on the great bamboo debate. Planet Green. 22 Apr 2008.] ] Still, significant questions have been raised concerning the environmental problems associated with the cultivation of land expressly for bamboo [ [http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/7-10-2006-101758.asp Is bamboo really an environmentally friendly alternative to wood for making paper? buzzle.com, editorial] ] and the use of harsh chemicals to turn bamboo into usable fiber for clothing. [ [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121158336716218711.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Shades of Green: Decoding Eco Fashion's Claims. The Wall Street Journal. 24 May 2008] ]

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