More about our Green Move

Bambu Batu, The House of Bamboo, currently at 1127 Broad will be moving to 1023 Broad St. on September 1, without the aid of fossil fuels or the emission of greenhouse gasses. We are moving into the building shared by Old World Rugs and the Antique Boutique, across from Creekside Brewing and the SLO Museum of Art. Bambu Batu has been in business for five years, three years in its current location.

We are very excited about moving one block closer to the Mission, into a larger space with plentiful windows, streams of natural light, sweeping creekside vistas, and enhanced Zen access. The move has nothing to do with earthquake retrofitting, it's simply a great opportunity to land a bigger, better location in a space that hasn't come up for rent in over 30 years. We will be holding a storewide moving sale throughout the month of August with everything reduced at least 20%. We'll also hold a grand opening party at the new location, sometime in September. (Details forthcoming.)

In keeping with our philosophy of sustainability and global consciousness, we intend to make this a FOSSIL FUEL FREE move. All of our inventory, fixtures and equipment will be carried, rolled or wheeled up Broad Street by use of organic and socially responsible man- and woman-power. We don't expect to save the planet by moving the entire business without the use of fossil fuels and combustible engines, but we do hope to raise some awareness about the benefits of car-free locomotion.

It happens to millions of Americans every day: they get in their cars just to go 2 or 3 blocks away, and often spend more time parking than it would have taken them to walk the short distance. These short and unnecessary drives typify the conspicuous dependency on oil and automobiles that contributes daily to frivolous fuel consumption, excessive greenhouse emissions, rising rates of obesity, and a general disconnect with the environment.

We expect to carry out this move in just a couple of days with the help of a small team of volunteers, dollies and bamboo wagons. In addition to the warm sense of community and camaraderie, volunteers will also be treated to an assortment of refreshments. For move info about our moving sale, grand opening party, or to volunteer, contact Bambu Batu at 788-0806.

Be Here Now.... Going there soon!

After years of grazing the pastures of SLO County in search of the richest plot of soil in which to run our vigorous roots, Bambu Batu is finally ready to embark on its most promising transplant ever. Just a stone's throw from our current downtown location, across Higuera Street and under the verdant canopy of SLO Creek's thriving grove of willows and sycamores, this bigger and brighter space offers a spectacular opportunity for Bambu Batu to continue flourishing for years to come.

Away from the seemingly endless construction of mandatory retrofits, enterprising pizzerias and up-and-coming mixed-use high-rises, the new, creekside location includes unsurpassed Zen access and plenty of room to develop our own variety of panda-monium.

Still within sight of Big Sky and the beloved Hemp Shak, we now look forward to making good neighbors with the Natural Cafe, the SLO Museum of Art and Creekside Brewing Co. And we can't wait to see you there. In the meantime, we will be conducting a storewide moving sale, with discounts of at least 20% on everything in the store. Come join us in celebration!

Something silky this way comes

Introducing the new Tea Length Skirt . . .

There's a brand new skirt if you please
For they vary in length by degrees
           The shorter one shows
           And the longer one flows
But the new one goes just past your knees

3, 2, 1 . . . Lift-off!

We uploaded, we downloaded, we tinkered and we rasterized. Now, finally, after months of anticipation, the new and improved Bambu Batu webstore is officially up and running.

In the next few days and weeks we will continue to add more and more items from our amazing and unique selection of bamboo products and mindful gifts. Take a look and let us know what you think. We depend on your feedback and satisfaction.

Change is in the air

A new month has begun, the groundhogs are chomping at the bit, and spring is in the air. (If you live in San Luis Obispo, spring is always in the air.) We already have our sights set on some new styles for the new season. Check out the elegant Isis Dress (left), coming this week, and the Zoe Gathered Top coming next month.

In the mean time, we have a new selection of fair trade purses, totes and shoulder bags coming in this week. Also, with the closing of the Hemp Shak this month, we're looking forward to expanding our selection of natural fiber products to include Hemp shoes, bags, wallets and jackets.

And don't look now, but the new, improved Bambu Batu web store is virtually complete.

Let there be stripes

Yes, that's right, more baby clothing. Just when you thought it couldn't possibly get any softer or cuter, leave it to Bambu Batu to startle your senses. Also, for all the grown ups trying to stay bundled in this stormy weather, check out our ultra-cozy bamboo blankets - pictured here in chocolate brown - 100% bamboo inside and out.

And remember, just 10 days left on our bamboo SHEET SALE – save $30 on all queen, king and cal king sheet sets – through January 31st.

Change your life, change your shirt

Choose bamboo - for the softest shirt you'll ever wear. Starting at just $19.95, Spun Bamboo t-shirts are woven from a luxurious blend of 70% bamboo and 30% organic cotton. Available in 10 assorted colors, men's sizes S-XXL. (Also available in long sleeve, starting at $24.95.)

Natural/un-dyed bamboo t-shirts are now ON SALE for the Holidays - JUST $12.95. Available in natural only, men's sizes S-XL.

Oooh, baby!

Mathilda, our new vice president of customer relations, is delighted to announce the largest selection of bamboo and organic cotton baby garb in Bambu Batu history.

"If you want to make a difference," Mathilda says, "you must start with the children."

Super soft on the skin, and always easy on the earth, you can't go wrong with Bambu Batu baby gear. "And lots of it made in the USA, just like me!"

Because pesticide-rich cotton is not an option

The new baby onesies from Dreamsacks: Baby tested, Grandpa approved.

When only the very best will do, do the bamboo. Because sometimes you just can't settle for anything less.

Bamboo on the Move

Just as a stroll on the strand wouldn't be right without your favorite bamboo zip-up, neither would a trip from Boxberg, Germany to the Central Coast be complete without a visit to Morro Rock and the fabled smokestacks.

Featured here, the Bamboo Dreams zipper jacket from Dreamsacks.

Yet another Bamboo breakthrough

Another step for bamboo, another leap for mankind. Bambu Batu is electrified to introduce a new line of men's and women's bamboo fashions from Arbor Collective of Venice Beach California.

Since 1995, Arbor has been using sustainable materials to develop cutting edge products for the surf, skate and snowboard industry. In the words of co-founder Bob Carlson, "The mission is to deliver performance, durability, and style in the most responsible way possible. The result must be quality and reduced environmental impact."

The Arbor philosophy is a perfect fit for Bambu Batu, and we're sure you'll find their stylish line a sportswear a perfect fit for your active lifestyle. This week, take home a fresh new Arbor t-shirt or pair of bodacious board shorts, and receive a free gift from Bambu Batu, while supplies last.

Don't have a cow, please

As more and more people are exposed to the facts about cotton farming, like the fact that it's the most pesticide- and herbicide-intensive crop on the planet, we see more and more alternative clothing fibers cropping up. But King Cotton – the fabrication of our lives – clings tightly to its stranglehold on the international textile industry.

When we launched the original HempShak in 1994, we could see that it was going to be an uphill battle against monopolies and misinformation. In those 15 years, the hemp industry has grown incrementally, despite the fiber's long litany of advantages. The crop remains impeded by a century of propaganda and draconian prohibition.

But the field of alternative fibers is spreading. Today we enjoy a wide array of organic cotton products and a burgeoning wardrobe of superlatively renewable, surprisingly affordable and incredibly comfortable bamboo. Still, it's not easy for these cottage industries to butt heads with cotton.

Now, there's finally an industry with enough muscle to challenge king cotton. Got milk? That's right, now they're making clothing from fiber spun from milk. Yes, probably the only sector of the agriculture industry that can rival cotton for its environmental devastation: dairy. Learn more.

Unlike hemp and bamboo, milk is deeply entrenched in the fabric of our society. Consider the overwhelmingly effective and persuasive "Got Milk" campaign. Yet the genuine health hazards of milk consumption and the environmental (not to mention humanitarian) ramifications posed by dairy farming are enough to tie your intestines in a square knot (metaphorically speaking, of course). July's issue of Good Housekeeping features a milk-fiber t-shirt for $110. It will be interesting to see where this all leads.