But why bamboo?
Great question!
The popularity of bamboo garments is growing as an eco-friendly and economical alternative to cotton and synthetic materials like polyester (which by the way, can take 200 years to decompose!).
Bamboo is an incredibly sustainable resource due to its rapid regeneration - it is, after all, the fastest growing plant on the planet. Bamboo fabric is biodegradable, when manufactured right, and is far less harmful to the environment than synthetics.
Impressive sustainable characteristics
Most bamboo species grow between 5-20 cm each day, meaning it’s not concerned about being trimmed slightly to create striking apparel.
Bamboo actually absorbs 5X more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere vs. its hardwood tree cousins.
If soaking up all the harmful carbon dioxide wasn’t enough, it actually also releases 35% more oxygen into the environment.
No polluting pesticides are used in the cultivation of bamboo - this determined grass species doesn’t need pesticides to flourish.
Finally, the growing, harvesting, and manufacturing process requires a lot less water vs. cotton textiles.
Bamboo fabric
Not all fibers are made equal, some are simply better. At Kualesa, we’ve made the conscious decision to use Bamboo fabric.
Bamboo is a type of grass and new shoots can reach their maximum height within 8 weeks. This means that in the time it takes for a bamboo shoot to be cut, fabric to be processed, dyed, cut into a top and shipped to you there's already a new shoot standing in its place. Pretty neat huh?
Bamboo fabric attributes
Supreme Softness | Bamboo fabric provides crazy softness vs. other commonly used textiles thanks to the bamboo fiber’s smooth texture.
Crease-resistant | Our pliable yet strong clothing is resistant to creases and holds its carefully designed shape incredibly well.
Temperature Regulating | This wonderful fiber naturally regulates temperature and is extremely breathable, helping keep you warm when it’s cold and pleasantly cool when it’s hot.
Anti-bacterial | Due to a natural component in bamboo known as kun, the fiber used in our garments actively resists fungal and bacterial growth, directly preventing nasty odors.
Hypoallergenic | Bamboo fiber is hypoallergenic (doesn’t cause allergic reactions), making it ideal for allergy sufferers or those with skin sensitivity conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis.
Highest quality standards
Our manufacturing adheres to the strictest qualifications in producing our eco-conscious apparel. Find the list of certifications below:
OEKO-TEX | Certified safe organic material - rigorously tested for harmful substances.
FSC | Strict compliance with responsible forest management and the highest social and environmental standards on the market.
BSCI | Adherence to strict fair labour conditions based on international labour regulations.
Organic 100 (ECOCERT) | Certifies the appropriate use of organic fiber (bamboo pulp) in manufacturing.
ISO-9001 | High level of quality control in processes and production.
ISO-14001 | High level of environmental management systems.
Reinstating Biodiversity
For every order made, we have committed to planting one tree in the Malaysian rainforest, allowing us to offset carbon emissions and
reinstate biodiversity.
Maximizing biodiversity in a replanting area nurtures the genetic diversity vital for rainforest ecosystems to thrive (including wildlife!). That’s why, to mimic the rainforest’s natural default, we strategically plant a variety of tree species.
In addition to our mission of restoring rainforests, Kualesa will be working with the local indigenous people (‘Orang Asli’) and provide them with meaningful work and the means to provide for their families and communities.
Our Packaging
Every year, billions of plastic polybags are produced for the global fashion industry. Most of these bags are made using LDPE plastic which, although technically recyclable, often ends up in landfills and the ink or dyes can contain chemicals that harm the environment.
Kualesa is committed to a completely renewable packaging process. Our biodegradable, compostable mailer bag is made from cornstarch and printed using eco-friendly, water-based inks and our thank you cards and hangtags are also made from 100% recycled paper.