In Conversation With: Elizabeth from Bumboo

On the fusion of science and fashion, the power of bamboo, and the joy of colourful, sustainable design

This conversation with the absolute darling Elizabeth Hadley of Bumboo kickstarts a new series here on Making Sustainability Sexy: In Conversation With…

This will be where I take the time to have a deep conversation with a sustainable business founder, prominent figure in the intimate apparel industry, or sustainable advocate, and share it here in the newsletter.

I hope that these conversations will facilitate a space for the underwear brands of tomorrow to share their story, and to hear from those actively trying to improve our industry.

With that being said, let’s dive into this wonderful conversation with Elizabeth, founder of Bumboo, the next generation of bamboo intimates.

When I meet with Elizabeth on a video call I can feel her infectious love for what she does through the screen. Scientist turned fashion founder, she is quite unlike anyone else I’ve come across in the intimates industry, in the best way possible.

Her natural-fibre underwear brand, Bumboo, launching later this month, is set to be the next generation of bamboo lingerie; an exciting fusion of both science and fashion. As she so eloquently puts it: “Bumboo is where fashion and science meet; one holds the problem, and the other holds the answers.”

Using a new technique of creating bamboo-based fabric, Bumboo is actively minimising waste in the industry, and transforming what the future of underwear could look like.

On our call Elizabeth stated that for too long the industry has been “designing for the consumer’s eyes, instead of their values or health”; but now Bumboo exists to put an end to that approach to production. Blending the bio-chemistry behind bio-materials, and with a great love for empowering everyone wearing Bumboo’s silky soft underwear, Elizabeth is redefining the intimates industry - one pair of knickers at a time.

You can visit the Bumboo website here or at bumboolingerie.com

Let’s get to know a little bit more about Bumboo. Can you describe the main ethos or goal of the brand?

Bumboo brings honest sustainability into fashion with science-backed, colourful designs made to celebrate and support all bodies. Bumboo is where science and fashion meet to deliver sustainable style. We design vibrant, body-inclusive underwear designed to make fashion feel good for both people and planet.

How does sustainable production and design tie into Bumboo?

Sustainability is considered at each touchpoint of our brand. Beginning with our core fabric, which is a science-backed solution for low impact textile production, and continuing through to our intentional product design choices. For example, removing ribbon labels, eliminating plastic hang tags, and minimising our fabric waste on cutting. Our commitment to responsible fashion carries through to our unique shipping and packaging solutions, both of which rely on bio-based alternatives to traditional, plastic-based options.

Beyond the physical product, we’re also aware of the digital footprint of the brand. As an eCommerce business, our website is a vital touchpoint with our customers, so we’ve used deliberate design to reduce our server demand and to lower energy consumption.

We’re conscious that sustainability is a journey, not a finish line. Our philosophy at Bumboo is to continually evolve alongside emerging biotechnology solutions, meaning that our products keep moving closer to achieving the highest possible levels of sustainable practice.

Creating less is a huge part of sustainability, so if new items are being produced they need to have a compelling reason. What benefit does Bumboo bring to our planet?

Well, we all need underwear! *giggles* We chose to begin with lingerie because it’s such a vital part of every wardrobe. Not only for comfort and hygiene reasons, but also as it is the most intimate, personal clothing choice we make each day. As a brand deeply connected to our values, starting with something so close to the body felt right. It reflects our commitment to living our core, authentic truth.

But underwear is just the beginning. We believe our fabric and methodology can have a meaningful impact and provide a genuine alternative to fast fashion beyond intimate apparel.

The reason for our brand - it’s multifold. It includes both a consumer need for responsible buying options and an industry need for greater responsibility and clearer communication from brands. Our core fabric is a next-generation bamboo-based textile that not only harnesses the natural benefits of bamboo, but also capitalises on an advanced processing technique with a significantly reduced environmental impact – setting us apart from other current offerings.

And that’s just the fabric. We’ve embedded our sustainability-first ethos across every touchpoint of the business, from design and packaging to digital. Our hope is to set a precedent for transparency from fashion brands, and to empower customers to understand the true impact of their purchases.

And importantly, this doesn’t mean compromise – you can still have bold colour, comfort, and style, while making a responsible choice for yourself and the planet.

Who is Bumboo’s muse?

The one and only – Miss Legally Blonde herself - the inspirational Reese Witherspoon. This might seem like a leap for a lingerie brand! Bumboo is a brand built by women, for women, and Witherspoon is the perfect role model - not only as a woman herself, but as someone who proactively supports women and promotes their storytelling. She is deeply committed to lifting other women up.

Her bold presence in business and her value-driven work reflects exactly what we stand for as a female-founded, female-led brand: supporting women and their unique stories. At Bumboo, we see ourselves as a collective sisterhood, a space where every woman can belong. Our community trusts us for our science-backed knowledge and products, and in turn, we empower them to make value-aligned choices. But for us, it goes deeper - we support each woman in owning her body, her self-expression, her choices and her right to joy. And sometimes, that begins with the simplest of acts - like putting on a pair of colourful panties. More confident, more comfortable, and more herself - one woman at a time.

Your professional and academic career has centred heavily around science. With Masters degrees in science from both Cambridge and Imperial College London, what inspired you to transition into the fashion industry?

That is a great question! What is a biochemist doing making lingerie? Yes, I trained in Biochemistry and Biotechnology, and I’ve always been curious about how I could apply that knowledge for a wider benefit. Coming from a family of healthcare professionals, I naturally thought I’d move into biopharmaceuticals - but life had other plans!

During Covid, I had the time to explore new interests around work and I picked up sewing. I loved learning how to draft patterns and working with fabrics - this time really played to my mathematical brainset, particularly in how to take a 2D piece of fabric and convert it into a 3D garment. I also became interested in the fabrics I was playing with. At the time, I was researching how bio-based materials could be transformed into useful substances. And that’s when stars began to align.

My Covid-inspired sewing hobby leapt forwards when I found myself at the final audition round for the 2025 Great British Sewing Bee. At the same time, I came across a new textile processing method that was emerging from the labs and was ready for industry use. Layered on top of my own frustrations as a consumer - uncomfortable underwear, limited designs that excluded many body types, and a lack of clarity in the so-called ‘sustainable’ market - I realised I might have a unique combination of skills and insights to challenge the problem.

That’s when Bumboo was born.

How has this background helped guide your journey to creating Bumboo?

Science is at the heart of Bumboo - our bamboo-based fabric was the spark that inspired the brand’s inception. My academic background, research, and a fascination for bio-based solutions to global challenges is the heartbeat of our brand, and continues to guide every decision that we make.

I’m also a lover of maths. I loved developing the underwear patterns, carefully exploring new shapes for different curves and discovering idyllic dimensions for different bodies. I’m so excited to share future collections of the brand.

Beyond that, my passion for creativity, innovation, and working with fabrics has fuelled Bumboo’s journey - the brand embodies so much of me as a person, and without my tendency to be a bit inventive, it simply wouldn’t exist. I’m incredibly excited to continue to bring that curiosity and creativity into future collections. Who knows what we’ll come up with!

Bamboo underwear is a growing market in the sustainable underwear niche, what makes Bumboo different?

As a product, our lingerie is different in the fabric used - we use bamboo lyocell, not traditional bamboo viscose typically found on the market. This distinguishing feature has a large impact on the responsibility and environmental impact of the product we create.

As a brand, our sustainability journey is science-driven and navigated using academia. This has been fuelled with our involvement with Innovate UK and UKFT. Importantly, we’re committed to evolving - moving in alignment with new biotechnological advancements to deliver more responsible, more ethical products to our women.

From the perspective of the fashion industry, we are transparent in our practices and stand against greenwashing.

It’s these three factors together that really set Bumboo apart from other brands in the sustainable underwear market.

You mentioned how your unique textile is manufactured differently to viscose, can you delve deeper into this?

There are two main methods for making bio-based fabrics. Both start with a natural raw material, in this case bamboo. However, the process of converting that raw material into a wearable fabric is very different. The traditional method, called viscose processing, employs harsh chemicals that are dangerous to the environment and workers. A newer methodology, called lyocell processing, has re-developed this manufacturing process.

Layered onto this new fabric, we also didn’t want Bumboo to fall into the stereotypical “minimalist aesthetic” of sustainable pieces. Women can shop for fun and self-expression, and Bumboo cater for this. Through the use of low-impact printing and Azo-free dyes, we can create fun, colourful designs that are kinder to the planet.

Using advancements in science and technology, we can now create a fabric from a green raw material in a more responsible way. Using the lyocell process on bamboo, and combined with low impact dying practices, we create a truly responsible fabric.

Why is bamboo a better choice than, say, organic cotton?

That’s a great question, because both bamboo and organic cotton have their place in sustainable fashion - but bamboo lyocell really stands out for us at Bumboo. First, it’s incredibly resource-efficient. Bamboo grows much faster than cotton, it can shoot up a metre a day in the right conditions. It also doesn’t need replanting because it regenerates from its root system. Bamboo also uses significantly less water compared to cotton, which is crucial given how water-intensive cotton farming can be.

Secondly, our bamboo is processed into lyocell using a closed-loop system, which means the solvents are safely captured and reused rather than released into the environment. That makes it a cleaner production method than traditional viscose, or even some cotton processing.

And then there’s the customer experience. Bamboo lyocell is softer than cotton, naturally breathable, and hypoallergenic - so it’s better not just for the planet, but also for your skin. In short, bamboo lets us combine sustainability with comfort, which is exactly what Bumboo stands for.

Have you integrated regenerative farming into your process/procuration of bamboo?

Growing bamboo is regenerative by nature; as stated above, the plant regenerates itself from its own root system, meaning you can cut it down, and it will grow right back. Our bamboo supplier is Tanboocel® certified, meaning that all of our raw material is responsibly sourced.

Bamboo lyocell also makes for a more ethical choice with regard to farming than other lyocell fabrics - which sources primarily from non-regenerative wood-plants. Once these trees are felled, a new tree must be replanted instead of capitalising on regrowth. Harvesting bamboo doesn’t require this deforestation, thereby saving countless trees and minimising soil erosion, and will also grow back of its own accord.

Bamboo lyocell is the next evolution from wood-based lyocell fabrics; and a next step forward for the sustainable fashion industry.

Have you opted for local manufacture? Why/why not?

We currently produce all of our products in China. Bamboo is indigenous to China; it’s a natural Chinese resource and they know how to use it best. Bamboo products are their artisanal craft!

How are you ensuring that Bumboo products are made ethically?

We only work with factories that are accredited and certified. To ensure that fair working spaces are being implemented, our brand representative has visited our factory to oversee the working conditions. We would never work with a factory that we aren’t sufficiently confident is a safe working space.

A massive thank you goes out to Elizabeth for featuring her wonderful brand here on Making Sustainability Sexy and sharing her story with us.

Visit bumboolingerie.com to sign up for their launch countdown and be part of the movement. Be part of the joy. Be part of Bumboo.