Portland, OR – Bambu today announced the launch of a new line of kitchen, travel and lifestyle products derived from hemp, according to Bambu president Jeff Delkin.
“Like many of our products, this material improves with age,” Delkin said. "It looks and feels like linen. In fact, hemp is a cousin of linen—lightweight and durable. We spent months getting the fabric just right.”
Bambu’s Hemp Denim Collection includes:
Hemp Denim Maker’s Apron (with or without tools): A classic full-size apron with adjustable neck strap and two generously sized pockets to hold tools and accessories, made from 60 percent hemp and 40 percent Certified Organic cotton. The apron with tools comes with a Certified Organic bamboo spoon, slotted spoon, spatula, conversion ruler, and tasting spoon. It cleverly rolls up and secures with a fabric hangtag, making it ideal for gift-giving.
Hemp Denim “Adjust-A-Bowl”: Fashioned after Bambu’s popular cork fabric bowl collection, the Hemp Denim bowl edges can be shaped, folded or rolled to modify its size, and can be used for fruits, bread, soaps and toiletries or anything else that needs to be contained fashionably and sustainably.
A Hemp Denim Baby Bib, Utensil Travel Set, and Chopstick Travel Set round out the collection.
Bambu uses EU approved dyes and chemicals in finishing its hemp, and natural indigo is also used in the dyeing. The company’s hemp source has been audited by Fair Wear Foundation and its organic cotton is certified IMO.
"We have been wanting to bring a textile fiber into our line that was manufactured to our standards while providing a beautiful alternative to synthetic textiles," Bambu co-owner and creative director Rachel Speth said. "I've been a fan of denim most of my life."
Hemp is planted in dense crops that do not allow sunlight to penetrate, which reduces weed growth by 95 percent, therefore eliminating the need for herbicides. No pesticides are used due to the inherent properties contained in the plant itself; it has the ability to suppress the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. This in turn promotes water quality, as there is no toxic runoff from the fields, hence hemp does not require organic growing certification.
With roots in Portland, Oregon, since 2003 Bambu has designed, developed and manufactured handcrafted, modern home products made from renewable materials such as bamboo, cork, coconut and soy. The company is headquartered in Shanghai, China, where it produces more than 150 different products in its own production workshop and partnering facilities, all of which are located close to their raw-materials sources. Bambu products are sold in more than a dozen countries through diverse retail distribution partnerships in the gift, kitchen, gourmet, grocery and hospitality market segments. The company is a member of Green America and its Green Business Network, and manufactures using organic sources certified by IMO Switzerland. A selection of Bambu’s products is USDA Biobased-certified.
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