The Bamboo Polo
Most polos go floppy because their collar hides a fused interlining — a thermoplastic adhesive on a polyester base. That is the exact hidden plastic we ban. We build a collar that stands and rolls the way tailored shirts did before fusibles existed.
The Harden Up Collar is a firm, dense bamboo Lyocell collar, three-ply, with a sewn-in natural canvas interlining — never glued — edge- and pad-stitched for a permanent roll that holds wash after wash. Warm-iron it for the crispest stand; add removable bamboo stays if you want a razor point.
The Bamboo Polo
Definitive build spec · Polo Master Tech Pack Rev 1
- Fibre
- 100% bamboo Lyocell — closed-loop spun
- Body
- 200–240 GSM bamboo Lyocell piqué, pre-shrunk
- Collar / band / placket
- Firmer, denser bamboo Lyocell, ~240–300 GSM
- Collar build
- Harden Up — three-ply, pad-stitched, sewn-in canvas, no fusible
- Interlining
- Sew-in natural cotton/linen canvas — never fused
- Thread
- 100% Lyocell (Coats EcoRegen) — sewing & embroidery
- Buttons
- Corozo (tagua nut) or bamboo wood — 3 on placket, no plastic
- Colour
- Raw Oatmeal — the fibre's natural greige tone
- Dye
- None. Ever. No bleach, no optical brighteners
- Fusible / elastane
- Zero — the collar stands by construction, not plastic
- Bamboo share
- ~97–98% by weight — canvas, thread & buttons are the trims
- Fit
- Semi-fitted classic polo, set-in shoulder, side vents
- Packaging
- Bamboo — made in Vietnam, packed at the factory
- Freight
- One origin, one shipment — fewer legs, lower cost, faster
- Free gift
- Bamboo key tag, laser-engraved with your first name
- Engraving
- Made to order in Vietnam — tell us the name at checkout
- Branding
- Embroidered “100%” mark at the left breast, tone-on-tone
- Opt-ins
- Long sleeves · chest pocket · bamboo collar stays · monogram
| Component | Material | Plant-based | Literally bamboo? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body piqué | 100% bamboo Lyocell, greige | Yes ✓ | Yes |
| Collar · band · placket · cuff | 100% bamboo Lyocell, firm dense | Yes ✓ | Yes |
| Collar interlining | Natural cotton/linen canvas, non-fusible | Yes ✓ | Cotton/linen |
| Neck label | Self-fabric bamboo, embroidered | Yes ✓ | Yes |
| Buttons | Corozo nut or bamboo wood, natural | Yes ✓ | Bamboo · corozo seed |
| Sewing & embroidery thread | Lyocell (FSC wood pulp) | Yes ✓ | Cellulose cousin |
| Packaging | Bamboo — made in Vietnam | Yes ✓ | Yes |
| Free key tag · cord | Bamboo wood · bamboo-fibre cord | Yes ✓ | Yes |
From forest to finish.
Four steps, zero plastic — how a bamboo stalk becomes the polo on your back.
The Fiber
Bamboo, regenerated into Lyocell in a closed-loop system that recovers over 99% of its solvent. No petroleum, no plastic hiding in the blend — what touches your skin came out of the ground, rain-fed and pesticide-free.
The Yarn
Long, smooth Lyocell filament, spun fine and even. It wicks moisture faster than cotton and stays soft wash after wash, so the collar and body never turn stiff or scratchy — with no elastane and no plastic core.
The Fabric
Knit into a textured 200–240 GSM piqué for the body, with a firmer, denser bamboo Lyocell for the collar, band and cuffs. Every bit of structure — including the Harden Up collar stand — is engineered by weave and density, never spandex or fusible.
The Finish
Nothing. Every fibre ships greige, in its natural Raw Oatmeal tone — no dye, no bleach, no optical brighteners. We skip the dirtiest, thirstiest step in textiles entirely, and the colour bamboo already is becomes the colour you wear.
See it move.
The hero short-sleeve, on film · undyed bamboo Lyocell
Semi-fitted classic.
Flat measurements in cm, half-body where noted. When in doubt, order your typical size.
| Measurement | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest width (½) | 50 | 53 | 56 | 59 |
| Body length (HSP) | 69 | 71 | 73 | 75 |
| Shoulder width | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 |
| Sleeve length (from shoulder) | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| Sleeve opening (½) | 17.5 | 18.5 | 19.5 | 20.5 |
| Collar length (tip–tip) | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 |
| Placket length | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 |
Every polo ships with a key tag cut from solid bamboo wood — laser-engraved to order with your first name, hung on a twisted bamboo-fibre cord. No metal ring, no plastic, nothing to landfill.
It is engraved in the same Vietnamese workshop that engraves our bamboo details, packed into your parcel at the factory. Type the name in the order box — that's it.
One polo. One plant. Zero plastic.
Bamboo — fast-growing, rain-fed, grown without pesticides — broken down into Lyocell in a closed loop that recovers over 99% of its solvent. Knitted, sewn, finished — and packed — in Vietnam, in bamboo packaging made there too.
The collar is the one place a polo normally hides petroleum — a fused plastic interlining. We engineered it out, and stand the collar with sewn-in natural canvas instead. That is the product's single strongest green story.
One origin also means one shipment. Garment and packaging never cross an ocean to meet each other — fewer freight legs, lower freight cost, and faster delivery, with the emissions savings to match.
The result is a polo that is ~97–98% bamboo by weight, sewn with biodegradable Lyocell thread — and when you are finally done with it, decades from now, it goes back to the earth.
Structure without spandex — or fusible.
Elastane is plastic. Fusible is plastic. Shape is engineered instead.
The Fibre
Bamboo, spun into Lyocell in a closed loop. Rain-fed, regenerative, grown without pesticides — lower water and chemistry than cotton, organic included.
The Piqué
200–240 GSM bamboo Lyocell piqué — textured, breathable, dimensionally stable and firmer than jersey. Denser recovery zones at collar, band and cuffs. Zero elastane.
The Collar
Firm dense bamboo Lyocell, three-ply, with a sewn-in natural canvas interlining — never fused. Edge- and pad-stitched for a permanent roll. Optional slide-in bamboo stays.
The Greige
Dyeing is the dirtiest, thirstiest step in textiles — so we skip it entirely. No dye effluent, no bleach, no brighteners. Raw Oatmeal is the colour bamboo already is.
The Buttons
Corozo (tagua nut) or laser-engraved bamboo wood on a self-fabric placket — never poly-resin, never plastic-backed shell. Worked with Lyocell thread.
The Parcel
Bamboo packaging, made in Vietnam and packed at the factory. No poly bag, no plastic tape — and one origin means fewer freight legs, lower cost and faster delivery. Your engraved key tag rides inside.
FAQ
Is it really 100% plastic-free?
Yes. Body, collar, band, placket, cuffs and neck label are bamboo Lyocell; the sewing thread is wood-pulp Lyocell; the collar interlining is natural cotton/linen canvas; the buttons are corozo or bamboo. There is no polyester, nylon, acrylic, elastane, fusible or plastic coating anywhere — and no bio-based plastic either. Plants only.
What is the Harden Up Collar?
It's a firm polo collar built without the fused plastic interlining most polos hide. Ours is firm, dense bamboo Lyocell with a sewn-in natural canvas interlining, edge- and pad-stitched so it stands and rolls like a tailored shirt — and holds that shape wash after wash. Zero fusible, 100% plant-based.
Will the collar stay firm after washing?
Yes. The stand is mechanical — stitching plus dense weave, not glue or heat-set plastic — so it survives the wash. Reshape it damp and give the collar a warm iron for the crispest roll. Want a razor point? Add the removable bamboo collar stays and slide them out before washing.
Why is it undyed — can I get other colours?
Undyed is the point. Dyeing and finishing is the most polluting, water-hungry step in textiles, so we skip it entirely. Every fibre ships greige in its natural Raw Oatmeal tone. There are no dyed colours, by design.
How does the free key tag work?
Every polo comes with a bamboo key tag, laser-engraved to order with the first name you enter in the order box — solid bamboo wood on a bamboo-fibre cord, with no metal ring and no plastic. It is engraved in Vietnam and packed into your parcel at the factory. If you leave the name blank, we'll ship it unengraved.
What are the opt-ins?
Four, all added at checkout: long sleeves (+$20), a chest pocket (+$12), removable bamboo collar stays (+$14) and a monogram (+$12). The base short-sleeve ships with none of them — it's the greenest build, and every green claim is anchored to it.
Why does the tag say 'lyocell' and not 'bamboo'?
US labelling rules require regenerated fibre to be named 'lyocell' on the care tag, even when made from bamboo. The fabric is genuinely bamboo Lyocell — we follow the labelling rule to the letter.
Does it really biodegrade?
Every fibre is cellulose — bamboo Lyocell fabric, Lyocell thread, natural cotton/linen canvas, bamboo or corozo buttons — and breaks down at end of life. Nothing to landfill.
How do I care for it?
Cold machine wash gentle, inside out, with like colours. Skip the tumble dryer — reshape while damp, warm-iron the collar for the crispest stand, and dry flat in the shade. Treated this way the greige tone and Harden Up collar hold for years, and no fabric softener is needed — bamboo Lyocell stays soft on its own.