The Benefits of Bamboo Socks

The Benefits of Bamboo Socks

What are the advantages of bamboo socks? It's a question we get asked a lot and there is a lot of information out there outlining why socks made from bamboo fibres are better than other types of socks. Let us take you through why bamboo socks are so good vs cotton socks.

"Bamboo has a host of environmental, health and comfort benefits compared to cotton."

What are bamboo socks?

First, let's start with a short explanation of what bamboo socks are. Simply put, they are socks that are made from fibres that are extracted from the bamboo plant. They centre of the plant is extracted and then has to go through a few rather technical processes in order for it to be usable as a and then usually blended with other fabrics such as polyamide, which then enables it to be made into clothing such as socks. 

Now let's get into why bamboo socks are so good.

 

1. Bamboo is the more sustainable choice

Having an entirely sustainable fashion production line is challenging, however there are practices you can adopt and choices you can make that are more eco-friendly than others, and choosing bamboo socks over cotton socks is definitely the more sustainable choice. Bamboo requires no fertiliser and self-regenerates from its own roots, so it doesn't need to be replanted. Some cotton harvests require large amounts of water and pesticides, and often needs to be replanted every year. So less farming, water and pesticides vs cotton means that bamboo growth has significantly less impact on the environment.

Furthermore, bamboo takes in greenhouse gases and produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees.

 

Bamboo shoots

2. Bamboo grows fast

Bamboo grows very quickly! In fact, some species of bamboo can grow 36 inches in just 24 hours at a rate 1 inch every 40 minutes making it one of the fastest growing plants on earth and as mentioned, doesn't require replanting which also saves on labour. Bamboo also usually only needs rain water to grow; very little additional water is ever required. Incredibly, bamboo yields the same volume as cotton from 10% of the land area. Our global water consumption continues to be a long-standing challenge for us, and therefore anything that can grow with less manual intervention is a positive.

 

3. Bamboo helps the soil

Bamboos are a group of woody perennial evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae. Since bamboo is a grass, when it is harvested, it is cut and not uprooted. This is one of the main reasons it is good for the soil; it lives to benefit the soil it is grown in.

Bamboo can also grow on slopes where a lot of other crops are unable to grow, meaning it can make use of more spaces that would previously have been difficult to use for crops.

 

4. Bamboo is very soft

When researching the most important thing that people look for in socks, comfort was the number one attribute people look for in a sock. This was one of the main reasons we chose to use bamboo to make our socks. Bamboo is much smoother and softer than cotton, which makes them more comfortable to wear than other kinds of socks.

The reason why bamboo socks are so soft is due to the bamboo fibre that is the heart of how it is made; they are thin and smooth in texture with rounded surfaces.

 

5. Bamboo absorbs moisture

Bamboo absorbs almost double the amount of moisture as cotton. Thanks to tiny gaps in the fibres, bamboo socks help keep your feet dry by removing moisture away from the skin of your feet. A further benefit is that as a result you should get less odour because less moisture means less odour.

A result of this is that bamboo socks are not just for the colder, wintry months of the year but you can wear them on warm summery days and they help to keep your feet dry.

 

6. Bamboo is temperature controlling

We often get asked, does bamboo help to keep your feet warm? Or do bamboo socks keep your feet cool in the summer and help prevent sweating? In short, the answer to both of these questions is yes. Because bamboo is breathable, it offers great temperature control and therefore helps keep your feet warm on cold days and cool on hot days. As mentioned above, this makes them the perfect versatile socks to buy as it means you can confidently wear them all year round.

 

7. Bamboo is great for your skin

Bamboo fibres are more gentle on the skin than many man-made fibres and therefore do not irritate skin, and in particular sensitive skin, in the same way. There are no chemicals in bamboo fibres as they are grown naturally. Also, since bamboo is naturally anti-bacterial, it also reduces the number of bacteria present and helps to keep your feet healthy. They are the perfect choice for people who people who struggle with skin conditions.

 

The Footer...

Bamboo really is an exciting material to use in sock production, and as you can see above has a host of benefits for both your foot health and the environment. It is growing in popularity across a wide range of garment industries as more and more people start to become aware of it's superior qualities.

If you're thinking about making the switch from cotton socks to bamboo, then we're confident that you'll love our range of luxury bamboo socks.

Red socks

 

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