Alternative fibers

[rjsphd]

I have noticed a few jackets online that have either bamboo or abaca as their primary fiber. What is your experience with these materials vis-a-vis wool, linen or silk? How do they hold their shape, wrinkle, clean, feel, etc.?

 

[gj555]

Same question here.

I was at my tailor today getting fitted for a MTM suit and he had on display a jacket he made for himself in bamboo. Nice texture and pattern and it seemed light weight but no idea how it would hold up and wear.

 

[Icehawk]

Originally Posted by gj555

Same question here.

I was at my tailor today getting fitted for a MTM suit and he had on display a jacket he made for himself in bamboo. Nice texture and pattern and it seemed light weight but no idea how it would hold up and wear.

From what I understand most "bamboo" isn't actually bamboo fiber the way we think of it but instead is poly made from bamboo materials. A search on bamboo fiber will probably turn up a couple of good threads/posts. I have a hemp safari jacket/SC and love that material, was kinda surprised when I saw what it was made of as I assumed it was just a really soft cotton.

 

[jackdaw]

Yoox has a number of Boglioli S/S blazers listed in abaca and abaca/wool blends. All I could find out is that abaca is also called Manila hemp and that it's fine fibers from a banana species grown for fiber used in Manila rope. Jackets looked nice, but you can't tell much from Yoox photography.

 

[tgt465]

Originally Posted by Icehawk

From what I understand most "bamboo" isn't actually bamboo fiber the way we think of it but instead is poly made from bamboo materials.

Actually bamboo gets turned into rayon, not polyester. I don't own anything rayon, except some jackets with rayon (Bemberg) linings, which I feel are rather good quality, soft and seem to breathe well.

 

[Icehawk]

Originally Posted by tgt465

Actually bamboo gets turned into rayon, not polyester. I don't own anything rayon, except some jackets with rayon (Bemberg) linings, which I feel are rather good quality, soft and seem to breathe well.

Thanks - I knew it was a synthetic at least

 

[Ianiceman]

I had a pair of levis dockers made from some sort of coconut fibre. They were like polyester. Held a crease very well, didn't wrinkle and were washable and didn't shrink but were shiny, sweaty and didn't last well. I don't see them for sale any more so I suspect they were a failed experiment.

 

[dieworkwear]

Bamboo has the character of cotton, but feels lighter - almost more so than linen. The material is good at wicking sweat away from your body, which makes it nice for hot days.

You sometimes also see it added to linen in order to reduce its tendency to hold sharp wrinkles.

 

[Sanguis Mortuum]

Originally Posted by Icehawk

Thanks - I knew it was a synthetic at least

Rayon is a man-made (artificial) fibre, but it isn't synthetic.