Shirts Of Bamboo Blog

Here is an interesting (and LONG) article from the New York Times today… really about the sustainability and the future of agriculture in America.

The concluding paragraph is:

Your sun-food agenda promises to win support across the aisle. It builds on America’s agrarian past, but turns it toward a more sustainable, sophisticated future. It honors the work of American farmers and enlists them in three of the 21st century’s most urgent errands: to move into the post-oil era, to improve the health of the American people and to mitigate climate change. Indeed, it enlists all of us in this great cause by turning food consumers into part-time producers, reconnecting the American people with the American land and demonstrating that we need not choose between the welfare of our families and the health of the environment — that eating less oil and more sunlight will redound to the benefit of both.

Click here for the link to the entire article.

Wow — solar powered wine:

The largest solar installation of any winery in the world is set to be built for Constellation Wines’ Gonzalez winery in Monterrey County, CA by Pacific Power Management. Mitsubishi solar panels will cover 170,000 square feet on the winery warehouse roof, and will generate 1,700,000 kilowatt hours a year—enough to power over 50 percent of the winery’s energy needs.

The article goes on to say that in the summer (when everyone has their air-conditioners on), when grapes aren’t being processed, excess power from the solar array will provide 25% of the power to the town of Gonzalez (1,695 homes). WOW!

Read the whole article here.

Daniel!

 

I’m sorry to bother you, but I just had to tell you that my Be Present bamboo pants arrived today (and very quickly, I might add!) and they are EXACTLY what I was looking for! They fit me PERFECTLY, which is actually quite a feat for me, as I’m petite. I had ordered several pairs of bamboo blend/eco-friendly pants from many different merchants, but alas, the others will be returned, as I finally hit the jackpot with these pants!

 

I’m so glad that Shirts of Bamboo sent me that automated “nudge” e.mail, or I may not have ever reconsidered ordering these pants… so again, THANK YOU!

 

Oh — and thanks for the bamboo towelette sample and the superior customer service on your part. You deserve a raise

 

Your very pleased customer, Cantrice

Glad you like our product and our service. Tell your friends.

From the Pesticide Action Network of North America (www.panna.org)

It can take a pound of chemicals to produce eight pairs of conventional men’s cotton briefs. Each year 275 million pounds of pesticides are used in cotton production. In addition to pesticide residues, bleached undershorts can also contain dioxin, a carcinogen and toxic hormone disruptor. Joanna Ketterer, the head of Luva Huva, a London design shop, has introduced a new line of women’s underwear made from bamboo. London’s The Sun reports these bamboo briefs are “eco-friendly” because bamboo is “quick to grow, does not need pesticides and is biodegradable.” Ketterer told The Sun: “People often have the perception that environmentally-sound clothing lacks style and comfort. With this new range, I have tried to show they can have both.” One of The Sun’s online readers recommended “a fabric made from nettle stalks [that] produce a beautiful silky fabric.” Another reader expressed concern that Luva Huva might be “taking bamboo out of a Panda’s mouth.” (Not to worry: it’s panda-friendly.) And a third reader offered a word of caution: When visiting a zoo, “don’t get too close to the pandas when wearing that ensemble.”

Click here for a link to some of Shirts of Bamboo bamboo undies.

We got a really nice write-up about our popluar Obama line of political tees printed on our 70/30 blend:

Election day is only three months away! There are many companies offering political tees. But why not choose one that is not only fashionable, but eco-friendly, as well.

 

—Check out the great political tees by apparel company, Shirts of Bamboo. Their “Barack’s How I Roll” shirt ($26) is made of 70 percent bamboo and 30 percent cotton. So, not only will you get a nice quality shirt with a luxurious feel, you’re also helping to save the planet.

Click here for the whole article.

Well folks, what we have all known from our own experience has been proved by C. Gomathi (an India based textile scientist) in his paper entitled: Study of Amimicrobial Behavior of Socks from Bamboo Fibers. Here are the excepts from the article (click above it you want the whole thing):

Intro:

Microbial infestation poses danger to both living and nonliving matters. Obnoxious smell from the inner garments such as socks, spread of diseases, staining and degradation of textiles are some of the detrimental effects of bad microbes. Bamboo fiber clothes have actually been showing up in department stores and womens boutiques. Bamboo is now being made into a fiber that has wonderful characteristics. Bamboo fibers are the newest thing to hit the textile arena. An exclusive manufacturing process makes it possible to create heavily breathable, absorbent samples entirely from bamboo fiber.

Bamboo fiber has particular and natural functions of anti-bacteria, bacteriostasis and deodorization. It is validated by Japan Textile Inspection Association that, even after fifty times of washing, bamboo fiber samples still possesses excellent function of anti-bacteria, bacteriostasis. Its test result shows over 70% death rate after bacteria being incubated on bamboo fiber samples. Bamboo fibers natural anti-bacteria function differs greatly from that of chemical anti-microbial. The latter often tend to cause skin allergy when added to apparel.

Conclusion:

Based on the above in-depth analysis, it was observed that bamboo has GOOD antimicrobial properties followed by 50/50% bam/cot, cotton and rayon. The various tests carried out namely, rate of growth, survivability of bacteria and fungi, time course analysis of the inhibitory effect against microbes, normal AATCC procedures like AATCC 30, AATCC 100, AATCC 147 and Soil burial test confirm that the antimicrobial effect of bamboo samples is comparatively of an higher order than 50/50% bam/cot, cotton and rayon. Results also show that there is no appreciable level of antimicrobial activity for cotton samples and it supports the growth of micro-organisms on it. In the highlight of above in-depth study and its findings, it is evident that bamboo samples have got indigenous antimicrobial effect. This indigenous anti microbial property of bamboo makes it more suitable for clothings such as inner wears & foot wears such as socks as compared to cotton.

The Beijing National Stadium, nicknamed “The Bird’s Nest,” has already become an icon in the country of 1.3 billion. But for some farmers close to Hangzhou (located in the southeast of China), the Herzog & de Meuron structure was just too darn far away… so in a fit of DIY ingenuity, they built their own replica out of bamboo. Steel’s apparently kind of hard to get when you’re living on a couple of dollars a day.

Click here for the whole story.

Those of us who pay lip service to green living can now be more genuinely P.C. — with the Dell Studio Hybrid PC, a fashionably curvy computer with special power-saving features.

From the New York Times. Click here for the whole article.

Just wanted to pass along this GREAT review we got from Vegan Beauty Review.

Accent Stitch Bamboo Yoga Pants ($48): These yoga pants have an elastic waist and a drawstring and are extremely comfortable and flattering for any shape and size. My tushy looks mega yummy when I’m sportin’ these bamboo threads. These pants are available in chocolate brown (my fave) and black. They are made of 70% bamboo, 20% cotton and 10% lycra. I wear these pants religiously when I go to the gym and they are quick to absorb sweat and feel so light that it really makes working out a more enjoyable experience. These super cozy pants also double as sleepy time pants for night-night. These coupled with a bamboo tank top and forget about it. You’ll be in comfort heaven.

Check out the whole review here.

You know how we feel about our Pandas here at Shirts of Bamboo. Trolling the web we found this really amusing post on someone else’s blog all about sushi art — and the first picture was of a panda sushi roll:

Click here for the link to the other blog — and many other pictures of sushi.