Glossary · Fibre
“Bamboo” on the label: what bamboo viscose is
Bamboo is a plant. Fabric sold as “bamboo” is almost always something else – and the label should give it a different name.
Soft "bamboo" pyjamas, socks and sheets are almost always made of viscose. The bamboo in them serves only as a source of cellulose: the plant is dissolved chemically, new fibres are extruded from the solution, and those are spun into yarn. The result is a regenerated cellulose fibre – the same as one made from wood.
What EU law says
Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names allows only the names listed in its Annex I to be used on labels. "Bamboo" is not among them. Viscose is defined there as "regenerated cellulose fibre obtained by the viscose process for filament and discontinuous fibre". A product sold in Slovakia must give its composition in Slovak – for example "100 % viskóza", which in English is "100% viscose".
The regulation is equally strict about the words "100%" or "pure": they may be used only for a product made of a single fibre.
What the FTC says
The US Federal Trade Commission has dealt with the subject for many years. Its guidance for businesses states that textiles made from bamboo viscose should be labelled with the generic fibre name, for example "rayon made from bamboo", and that "no trace of the original plant" remains in the finished fibre. Antibacterial claims made for bamboo do not automatically carry over to viscose and must be substantiated separately. The FTC has repeatedly fined companies for mislabelling bamboo textiles.
How viscose behaves
Viscose is pleasant to wear: smooth, fluid, cool and absorbent. When wet, though, it is weaker, stretches and shrinks easily, and needs gentler washing than cotton. In our fabric comparison you will find it next to lyocell, which is made by a different, solvent-based process and is stronger when wet.
How to read the label
| On the label | What it means |
|---|---|
| 100% viscose (from bamboo) | correct: regenerated cellulose, made from bamboo |
| 100% bamboo | an incorrect fibre name under the EU regulation |
| Bamboo fibre, antibacterial | a claim that needs substantiating; not to be assumed for viscose |
| Lyocell / modal | other regenerated cellulose fibres, which can also be made from bamboo |
Fabric passport
Bamboo viscose
- Origin
- Cellulose from bamboo, chemically processed into viscose
- Fibre
- Viscose – regenerated cellulose; none of the original plant’s properties remain in it
- Type
- regenerated cellulose fibre
- Feel
- Very smooth, fluid and cool
- Breathability
- High
- Durability
- Lower – the fibre is weaker when wet
- Best for
- Pyjamas, underwear, drapey jersey
- Care
- Gentle wash at a lower temperature; easily loses its shape and shrinks
Relative tendencies how we rate
In the EU the label should say “viscose”. Antibacterial claims made for bamboo do not carry over to viscose.
Lyocell
- Origin
- Cellulose (most often from wood), processed with a solvent
- Fibre
- Regenerated cellulose fibre made by a solvent-spinning process
- Type
- regenerated cellulose fibre
- Feel
- Smooth and soft, with a gentle lustre
- Breathability
- High
- Durability
- Medium – stronger than viscose, especially when wet
- Best for
- Shirts, dresses, bed linen, blends with cotton
- Care
- Gentle wash; rough handling can make it fibrillate (develop a fuzzy, pilled surface)
Relative tendencies how we rate
Lyocell is not a natural fibre in the way cotton or linen are – its raw material is natural cellulose, but the fibre itself is made in a factory.
Compared
| Property | Bamboo viscose | Lyocell | Regular cotton | Egyptian cotton | Polyester |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Softness | 5/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Breathability | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Warmth | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Drying speed | 2/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Durability | 2/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy care | 2/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Tendency to crease | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 1/5 |
Care
- Wash viscose gently at a lower temperature; it is weaker when wet and stretches easily.
- Do not tumble dry unless the label expressly allows it – viscose shrinks.
The label on the individual product always takes precedence.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names – Articles 5, 7 and 16 and Annex I (in Slovak)
- FTC – How to Avoid Bamboozling Your Customers
- SGS SafeGuardS 063/22: US FTC fines companies for false labeling on so-called bamboo textiles (19 May 2022)
Last checked . First published 12 October 2026. Editorial policy · Report an error