Bamboo onboard

by Jeni Bone on 21 Jun 2010 Bamboo is the fastest growing timber plant on earth, with many applications as a wood substitute. Bamboo has been used in China for thousands of years to make all kinds of everyday products, including textiles, building materials, and home wares. There are over 1,000 documented uses for bamboo, and now, boat owners are able to get their hands on a range of practical, beautiful linen and towels that reduce mildew and mold.

Previously thought of as the poor man’s timber, bamboo has emerged in the West as a much sought after timber for industrial applications and environmental enhancement. It is a multipurpose plant with numerous uses. In particular bamboo is useful for combating erosion and for rapidly greening barren land areas.

According to interior designer, Cindy Maurice from Marine Interior Design based on the Gold Coast, fabrics made from bamboo create a range of luxurious products, ideal for marine uses.

'As a relatively new textile, bamboo is ideal for use on boats. It comes from nature and ultimately returns to nature with minimal impact on our environment. The majority of bamboo products come from protected, non-polluted bamboo plantations in the Sichuan Province in China. It is grown spun and dyed with minimal chemicals and environmentally-damaging dyes.

What makes this textile so amazing, explains Cindy, is that after high-tech processing the bamboo fibre is thinner than hair and once woven with other fibres, like cotton, hemp or silk, it retains its natural anti-bacterial functions and its strength, making the finished product long lasting and extremely resilient. The spun fibre is a monofilament which means there are no short strands to pill or break!

The other special factor to do with the actual fibre itself is the shape and hollow core of each strand. 'The finished fabric actually draws moisture away from the body,' says Cindy. 'The towels are four times more absorbent than 100% cotton and dry very quickly in the sun (or dryer). The texture of both sheets and towels made from a bamboo/cotton blend are so soft and silky, it’s hard to believe that these products are made from a plant that is so tough!'

Bamboo plants have a natural innate anti bacterial element called 'bamboo kun' which is not lost in the processing of these products so the linen and towels are mold resistant, stay fresher for longer, don’t retain odours and are more hygienic than traditional products.

'On a boat where mold, mildew and dank smells are a problem this can only help. The majority of the dank smells come from fabrics and foams which have been attacked by mildew.'

This natural fibre is also hypoallergenic, meaning it has a decreased tendency to cause allergies.

During the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Cindy exhibited the range of Bamboo Towels by Baksana. 'When explaining to clients the benefits of bamboo in marine applications, they were expecting the towels to be expensive, since there are so many advantages over cotton. But the Bath Towels are $50 each and come in 17 designer colours with all the usual pieces: bath sheets, bath mats, face cloths and hand towels.'

She continues: 'Marine Interior Design offers custom made sheet sets in 100% bamboo in a Pearl colour (its natural unbleached colour) for clients wanting luxury and practical textiles with an environmentally friendly aspect. Prices start from $265 for a queen size. You can also get doona sets in a selection of colours.'

Also on display at the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show was the Marco Fabrics’ range of bamboo/silk/linen curtains. 'The drape and texture of this particular fabric are stunning! They are quite costly, but ultimately the strength and antifungal properties make this a wise investment and quite literally, ‘the fabric of the future’ in a world trying to find ways to lessen environmental impact.'

More at www.marineinteriordesign.com.au