Bamboo Clothes by Amazing Tees and More

Does Cotton Pollute Our Water?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:14:34 +0000

Did you know that “only 2.4% of the world’s cropland is planted with cotton, it accounts for 24% of the world’s insecticide market and 11% of sale of global pesticides. 73% of global cotton harvest comes from areas under irrigation.”

Pesticide Cans

“It can take more than 20,000 litres of water to produce 1kg of cotton; equivalent to a single T-shirt and pair of jeans. 73% of global cotton harvest comes from irrigated land (as documented in the WWF report The Impact of Cotton on Freshwater Resources and Ecosystems).”

: Pesticide Cans

“Agriculture is the largest source of pollution in most countries. 2.4% of the world’s crop land is planted with cotton and yet it accounts for 24% and 11% of the global sales of insecticide and pesticides respectively. Unsafe use of agricultural chemicals has severe health impacts on workers in the field and on ecosystems that receive excess doses that run-off from farms.”

(Source: World Wildlife Fund) I wonder why WWF isn’t supporting bamboo fiber as a replacement for cotton? Bamboo needs very little water and no chemicals…

Bamboo Fiber Safe for Baby’s Skin?

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:15:05 +0000

New Mom decides that only safe and natural products can be next to her baby’s skin and so she starts her own business selling safe and natural products:

“We got the idea of starting Alloit when I started reading the ingredients of the products I was buying for my baby, and my whole family, and realized that most commercial personal and baby products have ingredients such as parabens, aluminum, synthetic fragrances and many others that are not healthy for our bodies. So, I decided to only buy natural/organic items. However I was spending a lot of time looking for and purchasing baby merchandise in one place, personal care in another, and home items in a different store, which was consuming a lot of my time. So, I decided to open a web store, where consumers can find natural products for home, baby, personal and even pet needs in one place….We carry a wide range of items. Our personal care section includes natural shampoos, soap, lotions, sunscreen; our baby section has bamboo blankets, bamboo feeding accessories, natural baby bath items, green toys, and many more; in our home section, we carry bamboo bedding, bamboo towels, natural candles, natural cleaning supplies, bamboo kitchen utensils, etc. And, for pets we offer natural odor removing candles, pet wash, even natural dog/cat treats!”

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/02/14/3013271/meet-the-mompreneur-alloit-natural.html#storylink=cpy

Do You Look Good When You Work Out?

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:14:36 +0000

There are some great examples of bamboo clothing from Asquith London that look great on you while you work out at this link. It’s interesting to see how bamboo clothing has really taken off in Great Britain.

Bamboo Saves Water, Avoids Chemicals and is Sustainable

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:25:05 +0000

From Weaving magic with bamboo yarn: Widely touted for its strength, soft texture and unrivalled moisture wicking capabilities, bamboo fabrics have become the latest trend in sustainable fashion the world over. In Sri Lanka, Kandygs have initiated and brought in the concept of sustainable fashion, through the introduction of bamboo fabrics.
Stepping into Kandygs last week on a gloomy evening, I was instantly cheered by the vibrant colours that greeted me, and I must admit, there is no better feeling in the world than to wrap yourself in a luxurious bamboo fabric that breathes with your skin.
The bamboo fabrics, known for its luxurious feeling on the skin, is soft like cashmere and shines like silk, and is perfect for our climate as it is permeable and breathes actively thereby cooling the body. What’s more amazing about this fabric is the fact that it does not stick to the body, but holds its shape well.
This week we speak to Anuradha Yahampath of Kandygs about the recently concluded exhibition featuring bamboo fabrics, and Kandygs involvement in bringing bamboo fabrics to the local market and the rural weavers. Anuradha Yahampath, qualified in Textile Design from University of Leeds, works as a designer at Kandygs which was started off by her parents Sita and Felix Yahampath 40 years ago.
“My parents started with just 10 handlooms, and now we work with around 300 people,” she says adding that they now export to many countries the world over. Speaking about the designs and the vibrant colours that are being used at Kandygs for their handlooms, she explains, “We work on the colours for the yarn we use for weaving, the structures and the colour co-ordinations for the fabric, also the end product and the shapes.”
It is clear that a lot of work go into their designs especially when it is intended for the export market as they have to research on colour forecasts and market requirements. “Today the handloom products have to fit into a niche market, therefore the design aspect is very important.”

For the remainder of the blog

Does Your Child Tear His Labels Out?

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:11:28 +0000

When my son was little, all kids t-shirts had stiff cotton/polyester labels on the inside back of the neck. So — before I could stop him — RIP! Every t-shirt had a split seam in the back collar! So when I was designing the bamboo t-shirts I made sure that the label information was screen printed.

Kids, especially those with any disabilities or with sensory integration issues, are difficult enough to dress in clothes that they will willingly put on. Bamboo t-shirts made of 70% sustainable bamboo and 30% organic cotton are extremely soft and very gentle on sensitive skin. On top of that, there are no itchy labels. Right now, all Amazing Tee’s bamboo shirts are 50% off in order to make way for new inventory. Supplies are going fast! So check them out now.

Soft Natural Classic T-Shirt

North American Jaguar Sighted in Southern Arizona!

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:03:20 +0000

A healthy male jaguar has been spotted in southern Arizona! This is the first sighting of a North American Jaguar in 2 years. He was treed by hunting dogs, and then photographed by the hunter. Hopefully the photos and video will be released to the public soon. The Fish and Game went back to the site and found claw marks on the tree and hairs.

As explained in this article about the jaguar, it would be good to see a female. Until then, we have to assume that the male jaguars are traveling greater distances from Sonora, Mexico and that there is not a breeding population here in the United States.

Two years ago in 2009, an elderly male jaguar was captured, collared and then euthanized. Amazing Tee’s designed and produced a bamboo t-shirt in honor of him and the North American Jaguar population.

Jaguar T-Shirt

Some will want to capture this Jaguar and collar him in order to track his movements. I say, “NO!” That is what led to the death of Macho B in 2009. To traumatize this magnificent and endangered animal is not acceptable.

NBC Weather Lady Loves Sustainable Bamboo!

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 03:25:07 +0000

And while her job at NBC downright requires her to think sustainably, she’s always leaned toward socially responsible and environmentally friendly habits like shopping consignment and researching the businesses she purchases from. She can’t stand the cheap, throwaway clothes and jewelry from stores featuring mass-produced accessories.

“If you just take the time to look up the company on the Internet, it’s easy to find people with a sustainability initiative,” she says. “If I find a company who cares a little bit and is making some sort of effort, I feel better about it.”

Zee favors Lara Miller because Miller designs most of her clothing in a bamboo fabric. “She does a lot of reversibles, too,” she says. “There’s this jacket of hers that turns into a scarf that I love.” She also frequents a fair trade store in Chicago called Greenheart Shop, which she says does an excellent job of bringing in socially responsible products that don’t harm the environment.

Read more: http://www.nwitimes.com/niche/shore/fashion-and-style/article_87bfd283-5883-53f9-b72d-a5969c17b837.html#ixzz1YMewe7w3

Benefits of Bamboo Garments Getting More and More Press!

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 00:17:28 +0000

Almost every day I’m seeing articles and posts about the benefits of bamboo clothing. It’s softness, thermal regulating properties, anti-microbial, sun protection factor, and more, are all being talked. These publications are mainly outside of the U.S. because the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in all of its “wisdom” has prohibited sellers from making these claims. O-o-o-kay!

The latest article is from England and posted by a website that sells baby clothes made from organic cotton and bamboo. Check out the article for a great summary of the benefits of bamboo garments.

Scientific Proof of Bamboo’s Anti-Microbial Properties

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:57:23 +0000

It has long been known by those that work with Bamboo that it has anti-microbial properties. Many customers in the medical community have asked me for to provide scrubs made from bamboo. However, about two years ago the FTC prohibited sellers from making that claim. As the owner of Amazing Tee’s, I have wanted to get testing done but the cost has been prohibitive for a small business such as mine. Now comes some interesting studies that are written about in: Keep Germs at Bay with Bamboo Sheets. The l “bamboo kun” that protects the shoots and leaves growing in nature are present in the spun bamboo fibers used for fabric.

“The Japan Textile Inspection Association (JTIA) completed one of the most well-known studies in recent memory. Bamboo sheets made from 100% bamboo underwent 50 industrial washings before incubation with the powerful MRSA Staphylococcus bacteria for a 24-hour period. This was followed by a count of live bacteria on each sample. After 50 industrial washes, the bamboo sheets showed a 70% effectiveness of antibacterial properties.

The China Industrial Testing Center completed a similar study, without the 50 industrial washes. Their results showed that the 100% bamboo fabric destroyed 99.8% of bacteria present.”
WOW! But the Federal Trade Commission won’t let us say this!

The anti-microbial property also means that bamboo fabric doesn’t mildew and doesn’t take on body odor — contrary to cotton!

Study Encourages Bamboo Fiber for Textiles

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:28:29 +0000

A recent scientific study in Thailand affirmed the value of bamboo fibers use as a textile, and encouraged that further studies be done.

The Journal of Social Sciences concludes in the abstract:

In terms of the use of thick bamboo fiber for producing and developing Thai textiles, it revealed that using thick bamboo fiber gave us a lot of benefits; for example reducing pollutants were harmful to environment, reducing the importation of weaving materials and encouraging economic and income growth of community. Conclusion/Recommendation: The persons involved should apply these research results to develop their textile production and to search for the ways to use thick bamboo fiber for other advanced purposes.