Well, Toronto-based JUZD (pronounced “joost”) Bamboo is a particular case – it’s an unknown urban street wear designer that has been recently picked up by Holt Renfrew. I asked them a couple of serious questions and I was surprised by the thorough responses and learned a thing or two, it gave me some hope that there are brands out there who aren’t afraid of answering questions that are really relevant to the fashion industry. Jing Liu, Chief Designer of JUZD, happily answered my questions. Read on:

Q: How is bamboo fabric “eco-conscious” (i.e.: Aren’t bamboo trees part of the environment? How does it compare in being eco-friendly from the likes of cotton or wool?), and with so many brands pulling the eco-friendly card on consumers, what makes this brand stand out?

Bamboo is the most sustainable plant. It is consider a grass and grows up to one metre within 24 hours (Dahlia’s note: this is actually confirmed on Wiki if you were skeptical). It reaches maturity in just six months. Bamboo is antibacterial so it does not require pesticide. In fact the antibacterial characteristic is transferred when it is made into a fabric so it kills body odour and bacteria. It can grow in almost any environmental and soil condition. When cut it regenerates itself, this is seen when you cut a bamboo stick, it will grow on both ends. Growing bamboo actually enriches the soil unlike cotton which takes nutrients from the soil. Lastly bamboo consume four times more carbon dioxide than trees which creates a cleaner environment.
You can find our research article on bamboo here: http://www.juzdbamboo.com/benefitsofbamboo.php

JUZD is different in that we are not about jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon. The use of bamboo is secondary to the design philosophy of respecting nature and the power of the human. Another big difference compare to other “eco” brands is that JUZD designs are edgy, aggressive, and fashionable. This targets a segment of consumers that have been traditionally ignore by eco-conscious brands. Lastly a great amount of attention is paid to the quality and standard of the clothing pieces hence creating pieces that are luxurious and comfortable instead low cost and low quality.

Now I know you’d have to be hardcore granola and a major treehugger if you really want the nitty gritty about the provenance of bamboo fabric. So I found a site that pretty much will answer most of your questions about it.
To sum it up, bamboo itself is way more environmentally friendly than growing cotton or any other textile plant, and it has loads of benefits. The only reservation one might have is how it is actually produced (not labor wise, but how it’s made in the factories) that may be criticized. Now this goes well into the textile industry and I certainly don’t have much say on ethics in creating fabric (that’s a whole other realm altogether). Just know that the fashion industry is whole lot deeper than people are led to believe

Luxury retailer, Holt Renfrew, will be the first retail chain to unveil the JUZD Bamboo Streetwear collection from unknown Canadian designer, Jing Liu. The collection, consisting of edgy graphics on an exclusive bamboo fabric, will debut in stores as early as next week.

Toronto, Ontario – July 17th, 2008 – Jing Liu may still be unknown in the design world, but that’s about to change. Liu’s JUZD Bamboo Streetwear Collection has just been picked up by Holt Renfrew, a leading Canadian luxury retailer, rarely known for taking a chance on an unproven line from a new designer. JUZD (pronounced “joost”) is the world’s first bamboo designer label, and features high-end streetwear created using an exclusive bamboo fabric and Liu’s edgy “organic” and aggressive style of art.

Liu isn’t following the path of a “typical” fashion designer. He has no formal training in fashion or design. He has no work experience at any design agency. With no exhibits to his name, Liu’s creative and eco-conscious style have seemingly come out of nowhere, beginning with his first collection of custom-designed tees with original and edgy graphics.

Holt Renfrew’s formula for success, at least for the last several years, has been about picking proven lines. It might seem a risky move then for the company to put its faith in unknown Canadian designer, Liu. Industry insiders, however, are taking note of the JUZD line’s bamboo fabric, with even industry veterans of over 50 years is in awe of the fabric, custom-designed and milled with advanced textile technology.

According to Liu, his success was foreshadowed in feedback from metro boutiques and end consumers. “The fabric’s potential revealed itself when it was shown to boutique sales staff members and stylists. These are the trendsetters – they live and dictate style in our culture. Their excitement at the fabric and graphics really kept the dream, and motivation, alive from the beginning.”

Holt Renfrew picked up the collection on July 8th 2008 and wanted delivery the next week. “This is unheard of in the retail fashion industry,” says Liu. “Retailers typically buy lines at least nine months in advance.” The JUZD collection is scheduled to appear in Holt Renfrew in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Edmonton as early as next week.

About JUZD – The Bamboo Streetwear Clothing Company

JUZD (pronounced joost) www.juzdbamboo.com is the planet’s first bamboo designer label, established in 2007 by Canadian designer Jing Liu. The label emphasizes contemporary high-end streetwear created using exclusive custom-designed and milled bamboo fabric. Each design is inspired by the designer’s vision of “organic” and aggressive style and the philosophy that art and fashion should co-exist in a way that is innovative, eco-conscious, and empowering.

For more information about the JUZD label or new clothing line, or to learn more about or set up an interview with Jing Liu, please contact Davi Tham at 416-561-4840.

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