Midori Bamboo was founded by two sisters, Denise Harig and Deborah Bussell, who were looking for a new challenge and a way to make a small, eco-friendly difference in the world. As moms (and grandparents) their passion for design, their children’s health, and sustainability lead them to learn about – and fall in love with – the softness and purity of bamboo fiber. The word “midori” in the company’s name comes from the Japanese word for green and Midori Bamboo’s signature symbol comes from Denise and Deborah’s mother’s love for dragonflies.

The goal of Midori Bamboo is to remind consumers to live consciously, buy more wisely and try to make a difference. The company strives to make safe, sustainable and beautiful clothing and blankets from natural materials. Their collections have function, high quality and value and are made with playful colors, and simple, comfortable designs. Midori Bamboo does not create seasonal items and their baby apparel is meant to be worn any time of the year. They want consumers to know they can buy natural clothing without sacrificing style or substance!

Why Bamboo?

Products made from bamboo have gained incredible status as the most environmentally friendly raw material on earth, especially when compared to cotton. Bamboo is used as a resource for many things such as building products, textiles, food and medicine. More importantly, bamboo also works as a highly effective air filter absorbing huge amounts of carbon dioxide while cooling and oxygenating the air. As the most eco-sustainable textile currently on the market, bamboo helps to keep a baby’s footprint virtually carbon-free. As the world demands more energy, products made from bamboo fiber help to offset that demand.  Bamboo is a remarkable, renewable and sustainable resource. Since all of the viscose from bamboo is processed in China and there is such an abundance of bamboo growing in China, Midori Bamboo uses bamboo grown from there.

How Does Bamboo Grow?

Bamboo isn’t farmed in the conventional way. Bamboo grows naturally, without assistance from man. Bamboo thrives naturally without using any pesticides or fertilizers. As the fastest growing plant in the world, bamboo grows to its maximum height in about 3 months and reaches maturity in 3-4 years. Bamboo is actually classified as a grass, not a tree. There are over 1500 species that grow in all different types of climates. Think how long it takes to grow a tree to full maturity. Bamboo does not require replanting because it continually creates new sprouts.  It spreads rapidly across large areas and requires very little water. Because of this, bamboo is known to improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas of land.

How Does Bamboo Compare to Cotton?

As one of the world’s most versatile and environmentally-friendly materials, bamboo has been used as the perfect natural resource for thousands of years. Bamboo requires no fertilizers, pesticides or insecticides to grow so the fabric has no harmful chemical residues to irritate your skin unlike most cotton clothing, which leaves behind damaging chemicals in the fabric. Growing cotton requires the use of fertilizers and insecticides; many are among the most toxic chemicals on earth. It takes 1/3 of a pound of chemical fertilizers to produce just one pound of cotton (basically one t-shirt). The cotton industry is non-sustainable and causes enormous damage to the earth’s air, water and soil. It impacts the health of the people that work in the cotton fields as well as those living in and around the area of the cotton fields. Most consumers are unaware of these facts because cotton is what we all grew up with and we never questioned the process. In comparison, bamboo requires NO fertilizer, pesticides or chemicals to grow. It has no harmful residue left on it compared with the non-sustainable, chemically damaging cultivation that cotton requires. For these reasons bamboo is considered a viable alternative to cotton.

Natural Benefits from Bamboo:

Clothing made from bamboo has particular natural antibacterial functions that remain in the fabric even after multiple washings. Bamboo fabric also inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria that live on human skin, making the wearer and the clothing smell sweeter.

Bamboo fabric and bamboo clothing products do not stick to the skin and unlike any other fabric in the world; in hot weather it feels physically cooler to the touch. Due to the porous nature of the fabric, it traps air to keep the wearer warmer in cold weather. Bamboo fiber is more breathable, comfortable and thermal regulating than cotton, wool or any other synthetic fiber thereby keeping you cooler, drier and more comfortable all day.

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world, mainly because it has extraordinary water absorbency, which helps it grow fast. In fabric it retains this unique, remarkable property. It is 3-4 times more absorbent than cotton. Bamboo fiber ‘wicks’ moisture away from the body and evaporates, keeping you naturally drier and more comfortable.

Bamboo fabric is exceptionally soft and resembles the softness of silk or cashmere. It has less shrinkage than cotton and is resistant to pilling. Bamboo fulfills our need for comfort, softness and durability. It’s an affordable luxury that leaves a low-impact on the environment.

Processing Bamboo-The Facts:

There are essentially two ways to produce bamboo fiber, mechanically or chemically. The mechanical process involves crushing the woody parts of the bamboo plant and then steam and boil with natural enzymes and non-toxic additives to break down the bamboo walls into a mushy mass so the natural fibers can be combed out and spun into yarn.  This process is very expensive and rarely used. The fabric isn’t as soft and luxurious as a result from the chemical process. It’s true; most bamboo fabric is made through a chemical process. The process is similar to rayon production. Our bamboo fabric uses a chemical process to turn its cellulosic fibers into fabric. The production of rayon has been in existence since the mid 1800’s. Recently, new processes have been developed which enable plant-based fibers, such as bamboo, to be utilized in the production of fabric. Our manufacturer adopts a physical process in material-refining and produces bamboo fiber without any pollution or chemical elements. With the highest natural degradation of 100% bamboo fiber it is truly the green fiber in terms of environmental protection.

The chemical process, the most highly discussed in the media, uses sodium hydroxide to help soften the
bamboo fiber, which is non-toxic and does not enter the food chain. It is easily neutralized into salt and water. Sodium hydroxide is one of the most widely used chemicals in the world. It is used in food production, soap making, production of paper, and is used on nearly all cotton fabrics including organic cotton, during wet processing. Sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda, is approved for use on textiles, under the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

Midori Bamboo produces bamboo fiber in an advanced system that is called “closed loop” solvent spinning, which has minimal impact on the environment and an economical use of water and energy. The solvent is continually recycled during the production process and emissions into the air from smokestacks and from waste water are significantly lower in comparison to many other man-made fiber operations. The release of byproducts into the environment is negligible. More safety and restrictions are implemented with this process than any placed on producing cotton and polyester. Our manufacturer is certified by Oeko-Tex 100, which means that no harmful chemicals were used in the production of our products and there are no chemicals present in the product that would be harmful to human health, including the health of babies. Look for products from companies whose manufacturers meet strict standards and guidelines and have received certificates to prove it.

Consumer Demand for Organic Products:

Consumer demand is high for ethically made products for themselves and especially for their children. Information shapes our lives in this ever-changing society and consumers want safe, eco-friendly, beautiful clothing and blankets for their babies. Parents also want value and high quality in their products. Comfort and style are no longer the only consideration when shopping for your baby, the impact it leaves on our planet is also a factor.

Bamboo is one of the “hottest” new fibers that meet the demand for sustainable clothing. Soft and cool, it’s often blended with organic cotton for an eco-luxury feel. More and more fashion designers are committed to using bamboo. Bamboo is like a cotton and silk blend. It feels light but has a silky weight to it which drapes beautifully. Bamboo is less expensive than cashmere and silk and far more environmentally friendly. We believe it’s possible to purchase products you love without having a negative impact on the planet. We think it’s important to create alternative choices in the market place for consumers to purchase unique, stylish clothing and blankets that are gentle on the environment and utilizes sustainable business practices.

Unfortunately, the truth is that 99% of all products we consume have some negative environmental impact. It’s important to be informed consumers so we can make necessary choices when weighing the facts about the products we purchase.

Facts to consider about eco-friendly bamboo:

• Bamboo is grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers
• Bamboo is an excellent soil erosion inhibitor
• Bamboo is a critical element in the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
• Bamboo requires no irrigation
• Bamboo produces 35% more oxygen than an equal stand of trees
• Bamboo rarely needs replanting
• Bamboo grows rapidly and can be harvested in 3-5 years. It is the fastest growing plant on earth.
• Bamboo is considered a great environmental alternative to cotton.
• One acre of bamboo yields 10 times more than cotton.
• Anti-static
• Strong and durable
• Super soft and luxurious, drapes like silk, affordable luxury                  

Quality Certificate

Fair Trade Practice:

Our products are not manufactured in a sweatshop. All of the workers are protected by the Labor Contract Law, which stipulates insurance coverage, minimum wages, and maximum work hours. Midori Bamboo reassures you that the products you are buying are benefiting the employees and their families.

Oeko-Tex 100 eco-Certification:

This certification provides information that a Company is environmentally responsible. It is a third party certification such as Oeko-Tex 100.

About Oeko-Tex100:

Developed by several renowned textile institutes in Europe, the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Marketing is a global and reputable environmental certification for ecologically sound products. It comprehensively addresses the Human Ecology component of textile products. It evaluates and screens for any harmful substances present within processed textiles intended to come into contact with consumers. Oeko-Tex100 offers “Confidence in textiles-an international synonym for responsible textile production-from the raw material to the finished product on the store shelves. The Oeko-Tex100 label indicates to the consumer the added benefits of tested safety for skin-friendly clothing and other textiles. The test label provides an important decision-making tool when purchasing textiles”