• Bamboo fabrics are durable, porous and soft.bamboo image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
  
  Bamboo fabric is actually made from bamboo, the natural plant grown in many areas throughout eastern Asia. The bamboo plant, which is technically a grass, is cut down and shredded into small fibers. These fibers are wound around and bonded to each other in a process similar to making paper. The threads are then spun into yarn, which is used to make a variety of fabric materials.
  
  

Texture

• Bamboo fabric is known for being soft. When spun correctly, it can approach or exceed the softness of other fabric materials like cotton and silk. This makes bamboo fabric ideal for applications where it comes in contact with the skin, such as towels or clothes.
  
  

Hypoallergenic

• The bamboo plant has natural compounds in its stem that fight bacteria, fungi and other encroachers. In some chemical manufacturing processes, the fibers are stripped down to their basic elements, which makes it difficult to know how much of these compounds are left when the bamboo is made into a fabric, but most distributors still claim that bamboo is hypoallergenic or anti-bacterial.
  
  

Wicking Properties

• Bamboo fabric has excellent wicking properties; it is porous and naturally draws moisture from the skin so that it can evaporate in the open air. This breathability makes it an ideal fabric for summer weather, or for clothes that may see a lot of sweat or wet weather. Bamboo cloth also absorbs moisture easily, which makes it a good choice for towels as well.
  
  

Environmental Benefit

• Bamboo fabric is also considered to be an environmentally friendly fabric. Chemicals may be used in its stripping process, but bamboo itself is a highly renewable resource that can be replenished more quickly than most other fabric options. This eco-friendliness allows users to make a statement about their environmental beliefs.