Jayne Saunders
Whilst searching for an alternative business back in the Summer of 2007, my thoughts turned to the rising tide of awareness of how consumer choice affects the planet we live on.
We had had the ludicrous £1 t-shirt from a particular large scale retailer, and it appeared that we had the ultimate disposable lifestyle with no thought of the consequence of our actions. Cheap = good!... or so we’ve become accustomed to.
I had the idea of trying to bring together a range of eco-friendly clothing, homeware and accessories. To focus on products that offered the workforce responsible for their production a certain quality of life, to place value on their work, and to choose products that used materials that were of benefit to the planet.
After research, I set up online store specialising in a new fibre – bamboo, extending that into an organic skin and hair care range recently.
Bamboo- an interesting choice for a fibre! The reaction of friends and family was – what, clothing made of sticks!? Interesting concept, but no, not exactly!
Bamboo, when made into fibre is on a par to cashmere (one designer has branded her range as “eco-cashmere”) in terms of its softness and as a fabric it is smooth and luxuriously comfortable and is like wearing a second skin.
It also has some unique properties:
*Bamboo Dry
*Bamboo Thermo-control
*Bamboo Fresh
*UV Protective (it cuts out 98% of harmful UV rays)
*Anti-fungal
*Anti-static
*Ideal for sensitive or allergy prone skin
What does this mean?
With bamboo dry, sweat is absorbed and evaporates in a split second, meaning that the clothing doesn’t stick to the skin. This is due to the properties of the plant being retained in the fabric – bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world, mainly because it has extraordinary water absorbency.
Bamboo is remarkably breathable. In the heat, it is naturally cool to the touch and this is maintained in its fabric form. A cross section of the fibre reveals it is filled with various micro-gaps and micro-holes. It has much better moisture absorption and ventilation. Because of the same micro-structure it’s also very warm in cold weather as a base layer, warm air gets trapped next to the skin.
In the wild, bamboo thrives naturally without using any pesticides or fertilisers. It is seldom eaten by pests or infected by pathogens. This is because it has been found to have its own unique anti-bacteria and bacteriostasis bio-agent “bamboo kun”. This substance bonds tightly with bamboo cellulose molecules during the normal process of bamboo fibre growth and this natural feature is retained in fabric form making it anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-static.
Tests by the Japanese Textile Inspection Association found that, even after fifty washes, the fabric still possessed these functions.
The smooth fibre properties of bamboo are non-irritating to the skin, making it ideal for people with skin sensitivities or other allergies.
Environmental Benefits
Bamboo consumes carbon dioxide and, because the forests are so dense, it returns 30% more oxygen to the atmosphere than trees.
It takes much less energy to grow and sustain than other similar trees and plants used for fibre production. Bamboo plantations require very little maintenance. It also requires very little water and can survive drought conditions as well as flooding.
Because of its rapid growth and root structure it can, in a very short time, reclaim land destroyed by overgrazing and over-building and clean the soil of toxins.
Bamboo can be grown without pesticides or chemicals because of its own anti-bacterial agent.
It is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet, making it a highly renewable resource. It can be selectively harvested annually and is capable of complete regeneration without the need to replant.
100% biodegradeable. Unlike synthetic fibres which incorporate petroleum additives, bamboo clothing is safe for municipal disposal programmes, whether by landfill or incineration.
Our suppliers all adhere to environmental standards and have a defined eco-statement, and are committed to making life that little bit better for either the communities who produce the products or the planet in general by their support of environmental groups.
By buying a Bam t-shirt, for example, you help protect an area of rainforest 10sqm in size through the work they do with Rainforest Concern and buying a towel helps a Womens’ Empowerment Group in Nepal. 
As a product, I have found bamboo clothing to be exceptional. It is like wearing a second skin and, while I don’t think it’s perhaps a good idea all the time, as a test, one of my customers wore his for 9 days straight ski-ing … and he was still welcome at the bar! It’s anti-bacterial properties were that good.
My suppliers have the same ethical stance, we are all striving to give people choices. This is not a cheap product, neither do I think it should be; but it is certainly a good, quality product and as they say … by each of us making small changes, together we can make a big difference!
Jayne Saunders
www.bambooandmore.co.uk.
Paul Pender Range
I thought that if there was an alternative to mass produced clothing, there should also be an alternative to the mass produced skin and hair care ranges we see on the High Street .. and there was!
Ok, it’s more expensive, but I’ve found it to be good. Just reading the ingredient list kind of worked for me.
Produced on the Langkawi islands, Malaysia, using a cold-blended process (Conventional mass-produced cosmetics typically utilise heat-processing, with many bioactive ingredients being destroyed above 35 deg.C. 
Paul Penders has developed an exclusive COLD-Blended process whereby products are made in small batches and are not heated above 35 degrees, thus all bio-active ingredients remain at full strength, resulting in a more potent and effective end product.)
Paul Penders natural organic skincare products promise:
· Outstanding anti-ageing benefits and reliability against free radical damage.
· A unique cold-blended, small-batch manufacturing system that maintains bio-active ingredients at optimal quality and full-potency.
· Liposomes to transport scientifically proven anti-ageing ingredients to prime target areas in the skin.
· Organic herbs, exquisite essential oils, vitamins, plant oils and powerful ingredients sources from the oldest rainforest in the world which are holistically, ethically and faithfully produced.
· No compromises. No chemical colours, foam-boosters, emulsifiers or harsh preservatives are used.
The 22 certified organic herbs used in the LevensESSENTIE Gold are: angelica, arnica, calendula, chamomile, elderflower, ginger, ginseng root, honeysuckle, hops, horsetail, juniper, lavender, lemon balm, nettle, pegaga, peppermint, rosemary, sage, st.john's wort, turmeric, witch hazel, yarrow.
