I think it’s safe to say that 2020 is the year of comfy basics. I’m talking soft underwear, relaxed loungewear, and cosy knitwear. To that end, I’ve been enjoying bamboo basics the most, with my Boody underwear sets doubling as both lounge attire and underwear!
I first tried Boody in 2016, and have been wearing my soft bras and pants from them ever since. In fact, that same set I featured then is still in excellent shape! It’s lasted weekly wears for over four years and counting.
So, it’s great to be working with Boody today to showcase a few more of my favourite items from their range, as well as explore both their bamboo fabric, and ethical manufacture in closer detail…
How Sustainable Is Bamboo Yarn?
Bamboo yarn is sustainable in a number of ways:
- It’s grown organically
- It can be harvested in a way that enables continued growth and carbon capture
- It saves on water usage compared to cotton, and
- As a fabric it’s soft and long-lasting.
However, as with all the fabrics listed in my guide to sustainable fabrics, it’s quite difficult to simply say something is ‘sustainable’.
In the guide, I listed bamboo alongside similar tree-based fabrics. It’s made in a similar way as these: the process involves harvesting brittle fibres, drying them out, and using chemicals to reach soft, supple thread.
However, the beauty of bamboo is that it’s not a tree, it’s a grass, and it comes with a whole host of other eco-friendly benefits too. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass, which is naturally antibacterial and doesn’t require any pesticides to grow.
Once harvested, bamboo is dried out, and turned into pulp. This is then re-hydrated using chemicals to form a soft, cotton-like material.
Of course, wherever chemicals are involved, pollution can occur. That’s why Boody works with two responsible factories, one in China and one in Vietnam, that are both accredited Gold by the Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (or WRAP) as well as having a number of other ethical standards.
(However, in the worldwide production of bamboo yarn, only 50% of the solution is treated properly according to Ecouterre, so it’s really important to choose responsible brands and factories.)
Finally, the soft material is then extruded and spun into a viscose yarn that makes up all of Boody’s garments. By using just bamboo in their underwear, they can also reduce on waste – up to 20% less than traditional cut and sew garment manufacturing.
And voilà! Soft, long-lasting bamboo basics are ready for us to wear.
My Favourite Bamboo Basics from Boody
So, onto my favourite bamboo basics! Boody has expanded their range since I first encountered them in 2016, and to my delight, their garments now come in a range of colours and styles.
Of course, being the serial minimalist, I love everything in black, grey, white, but also there’s navy, beige, olive, and navy to choose from across many of their lines.
The two sets I’m wearing here are:
I paired these with my favourite fluffy cardigan, and nightgown, which is pretty much how I lived through Lockdown 2.0! That said, I may just stay like this – it’s comfier and far easier than pulling together a whole outfit…
