BAM, Natural Fabrics, Sustainability
PFAS-Free Clothing and Natural Fibres for Sensitive Skin
Discover the difference PFAS-free clothing and natural fabrics like bamboo can make for sensitive skin and sensory sensitivities.
The skin is our largest organ and for most of our waking hours, clothing is in constant contact with it. For people with sensitive or reactive skin, or for those who find certain textures difficult to tolerate, the choice of fabric isn’t a minor detail. It’s one that plays out every single day.
At BAM, we make clothing from bamboo viscose, organic cotton and RWS certified wool. Fabrics that are naturally soft, naturally breathable, and are entirely free from PFAS (the synthetic “forever chemicals” found in many high street activewear). Even our outerwear, which is recycled (and recyclable) polyester, is PFAS free.
What are PFAS, and why are they in clothing?
PFAS are a large family of synthetic chemicals used across many industries, including textiles. In clothing, they’re typically applied as a finish to make fabrics water-repellent, stain-resistant or crease-free. They work well. The problem is that they don’t break down. Not in the environment, and not in the body – which is why they’ve become known as “forever chemicals.” We don’t use PFAS and we never have.
Why natural fabrics and Bamboo Viscose are different
The reason bamboo viscose fabric feels so immediately different to hold and to wear comes down to the structure of the fibre itself. Bamboo Viscose fibres are naturally round and smooth, no sharp or irregular surfaces that catch against the skin. The fabric moves with the body rather than creating friction against it.
That signature smoothness isn’t a temporary finish applied in a factory- it’s structural. It doesn’t wash out because it’s a fundamental characteristic of the fibre, which is why bamboo viscose is so consistently well-received by people with sensitive skin or those who find traditional fabrics abrasive.
Bamboo is also naturally breathable and highly absorbent, allowing it to regulate temperature by pulling moisture away from the skin rather than trapping it. We blend our bamboo with organic cotton-grown without synthetic pesticides-and add a small amount of elastane for the perfect fit. For anyone who’s felt the clammy discomfort of synthetic polyesters, the difference of natural fabrics are immediate.
Soft, nature-based fabrics and skin that’s easily irritated
Natural fabrics behave differently from synthetics. Because bamboo viscose’s breathability and smoothness are inherent to the fibre rather than a result of topical coatings, there is no chemical finish to wash away or degrade. The fabric simply sits against you calmly and quietly, allowing your skin to breathe without synthetic irritants getting in the way.
How soft, natural fabrics help sensitive skin thrive
For people with sensory sensitivities, the physical sensation of clothing can be far more significant. A seam in the wrong place, a fabric that’s slightly scratchy, a label at the neck – these aren’t minor irritations. They can make wearing certain clothes feel impossible.
While soft, nature-based fabrics won’t solve every sensory challenge, the structural smoothness of natural fibres like bamboo viscose is significant. The natural fabrics move with rather than against the body, stays cool and calm against the skin, and avoids the micro-friction of coarser or synthetic materials which means it sits more quietly against the nervous system too. Less to process and less in the way.
Explore our range of PFAS-Free clothing – made from bamboo viscose, organic cotton and RWS certified wool. All free from synthetic chemical finishes. Shop Now.
