Why is PIMALLOW different from other brands?

Finding the right fabric for underwear and basics is not a simple task, but our children’s clothes should be the most comfortable of all.

In this context, PIMALLOW has chosen bamboo for its extraordinary properties. A material usually used in the design of sportswear. The best material for intense activities should also be the best for our children, who are always moving about!

PIMALLOW clothes are designed by parents to make the daily life of parents and children easier. They are practical, comfortable and perfectly safe.

 

Overview of the properties of bamboo

Bamboo viscose is generally used for technical clothing because of its many remarkable properties:

  • Softness
  • Lightness
  • Thermoregulation
  • Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Anti-odour
  • Anti-UV
  • Moisture wicking

 

 

In what way is PIMALLOW textile different?

Because of…

  • Its composition: it is made of 95% bamboo viscose and 5% spandex. Spandex is used to provide the perfect amount of elasticity to clothing.
  • The quality of its fiber and its weaving facility: few materials can withstand multiple machine washings. The types of fiber and weave we have chosen ensure that our garments are comfortable and long lasting. Yet with less pilling. Our fabric is incredibly soft, lightweight and skin-friendly with a beautiful drape.
  • Its stretchability. The garment can be worn longer than others. It adapts to the evolving morphology of the child, and adjusts to his body. It loosens and tightens back and forth without deforming.
  • Its safeness: our material is certified STANDARD 100 by OEKOTEX® class 1. It took us a year to complete the necessary tests for certification. No matter what was required to obtain the certification, we couldn’t afford to overlook the safety issues.

 

Why is the raw material made in China?

China is one of the largest producers of bamboo in the world. Most bamboo fabrics come from China, because the country has the ideal soil and climate for growing bamboo. So we went to find the raw material and the know-how where they are…
 

How do PIMALLOW garments provide the highest level of comfort?

Because they are…

  • Incredibly soft: they are hypoallergenic and do not itch.
  • Thermoregulated: they keep the body cool in summer and warm in winter.
  • Breathable and moisture wicking: because children can sweat a lot! The excellent breathability of a garment is also useful, especially in case of night-time hot flushes. Among the other strengths of PIMALLOW garments, appreciated by parents, one can find…
  • Their easy care quality: no special machine program is required for their wash. PIMALLOW clothing dries quickly and stains are easy to remove
  • Their unisex look Boxers can be worn under skirts, over diapers.
  • Their adaptability: PIMALLOW clothes can be worn indoors or outdoors, day or night, in summer or winter. And they are suitable for both girls and boys.

 

 

Bamboo viscose: a little bit of history

Bamboo fabric, also known as bamboo viscose or bamboo rayon, is made by extracting the fibers from the bamboo pulp. This fiber is then spun before being combed into yarn and fabric.

The origins of bamboo viscose are found in Europe. The continent where the French industrialist Hilaire de Chardonnet (1839-1924) invented the very first viscose fiber, in 1884.

It was marketed as an alternative to silk because of its soft and silky touch. However, its main flaw was its inflammability. Inflammability caused by the blending of materials operated by the industrialist. Because of its dangerousness, bamboo viscose was initially withdrawn from the market. It was not until 1905 that a safe product found its place on the shelves of French homes.

What is bamboo viscose?

Viscose is not a synthetic fiber made from oil like polyester or nylon. Bamboo viscose is not either a natural fiber like cotton, linen, hemp or jute. Viscose is a man-made cellulosic fiber. It is considered a semi-synthetic fabric and is made from regenerated cellulose derived from wood pulp.

Other synthetic fabrics such as lyocell, acetate, modal and cupro are also part of the cellulosic fiber range. These textiles are made from cellulose-based resources such as wood, bamboo, soy or coconut.

Modal is the second generation of viscose rayon. It is a very soft fabric, notably used in the manufacture of linen and underwear. It behaves like cotton.

Lyocell is the third generation technology. It is known to be more environmentally friendly than previous generations. It is soft, lightweight and antibacterial. It remains odorless much longer than cotton and is often used in the design of sportswear, sensitive skin and interior textiles such as bedding. Its main flaw is its price: It is usually quite expensive.

 

 

Spotlight on the manufacturing process of viscose

First, the bamboo stalks are soaked in a solution that helps their structure to break down and soften. The bamboo pulp is then shredded, aged and matured before being filtered, washed and spun. Once spun, the threads can be woven into a fabric : bamboo viscose.

Viscose is the general term used for a regenerated cellulose fiber obtained through the viscose process. The cellulose fiber comes from a plant; it can be eucalyptus, beech, pine or, of course, bamboo.

This means that viscose is a fabric that is not quite natural, but not quite synthetic either, but somewhere in between, a semi-synthetic fiber.
Most bamboo fabrics come from China, because the country has the ideal soil and climate for growing bamboo.

 

Overview of the environmental merits of bamboo viscose

While the chemical treatment of bamboo viscose can damage its environmental reputation, it does, however, tick many boxes elsewhere.

  • Bamboo, one of the most sustainable plants on the planet
  • Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet (it can grow up to 91 cm in a day), which makes it a naturally high-yielding plant.
  • Bamboo can reach full maturity between 1 and 5 years. Hardwood trees may require 30 to 40 years to mature.
  • Bamboo, the source of a highly renewable material

Being a weed, there is no need to replant bamboo, as its superior root system can easily regenerate even after harvesting. This means that fewer industrial resources are needed to grow it.

 

 

Bamboo, for less soil erosion

Bamboo is also incredibly dense, which means that a lot of bamboo can be grown in a smaller area than other crops.

Erosion caused by its culture, as well as soil depletion is less: since bamboo is not uprooted when harvested, the root system is preserved, which helps maintain soil cohesion. Bamboo also helps prevent soil erosion by increasing soil health and restoring soil nutrients.

Less deforestation thanks to bamboo viscose Bamboo viscose allows more native plants to continue to grow, which slows deforestation.

Organically grown bamboo

Bamboo grows without pesticides, insecticides, bactericides, or fertilizers.

No artificial irrigation required for bamboo culture

The growing of bamboo requires very little water. Its growth is generally dependent on rainfall, so no additional irrigation is needed for its development.

Bamboo, to improve the quality of air

The benefits of bamboo go beyond the style and comfort it provides through the clothing that is designed with it. Bamboo plantations produce 30% more oxygen than an equivalent amount of trees. They also absorb more carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases.

 

 

0 waste with bamboo

Once harvested, almost every part of the plant is used to make a wide variety of products.

Bamboo viscose, a biodegradable product 100% viscose fabrics can decompose in about a year, although this depends on several factors such as the weight of the product, its density and the environment. This is a short time period compared to other fabrics such as wool, which can take five years or more to decompose, depending on how it is made.

However, like cotton, linen and 100% natural fibers, viscose is often combined with other materials (hence our 5% elastane) to improve the expandability and the shape of the products. These other materials are not fully biodegradable.

You may be disappointed to discover that our products are not fully biodegradable? Well, you will be reassured by the other benefits of choosing fabrics derived from natural sources.

 

 

Is bamboo viscose an ecological material?

Bamboo viscose is more environmentally friendly than traditional rayon because no old or clear-cut trees are used in its production. However, its spinning requires a chemicalintensive process.

The disadvantages of bamboo fabric are minor compared to its many advantages. This natural material is sustainable and environmentally friendly: the agricultural inputs required for its production are lower than for many other types of fabrics, which also require heavy harvesting machinery.

The many uses of bamboo viscose

Bamboo viscose can be used in the production of a wide variety of products due to its many qualities.

 

 

Clothing

Clothes made out of bamboo fabric are popular for their cooling effect. But also for the polyvalence of the products it is used for.

Bamboo viscose can be used to create dresses, t-shirts, nightgowns, bathrobes, etc. It is also a great choice for intimate apparel such as swimwear, underwear, socks and blankets due to its breathable nature.

 

 

Sanitary and Medical Supplies

The hygiene products industry also embraces bamboo viscose. It is therefore used to conceive some sanitary materials and medical supplies: medical masks, sanitary napkins, absorbent pads, gauze, surgical garments…

The main reason is that bamboo has antibacterial properties. Moreover, the fiber is soft and skin-friendly, making it an excellent choice for hospitals.

 

 

Nonwoven Fabric/Food packaging

Bamboo nonwoven fabric can be used to manufacture other practical items such as food packagings. The viscosity of the fibers is exploited before they are spun.
Note that non-woven bamboo fabric still has a soft and antibacterial property.

 

 

Sheets and blankets

Bamboo fabrics are also used to make bedroom items such as sheets, mattresses, bed skirts, pillows, comforter covers and curtains.

You can also find bamboo fabric products in the bathroom including bath mats, shower curtains, towels and bath sheets.