Bamboo is among the prime materials with a variety of practical applications. Vietnam has the 4th largest bamboo area in the world, and this is also a top manufacturing nation of woven bamboo basket wholesale. If you’re looking for a new material for your basket order, you are in the right place. Let’s explore!
Bamboo Material In Vietnam
Bamboo is a treelike grass (the Graminea), and also among the fastest-growing plants in the world. There are over 1600 different species of bamboo, widely found in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Bamboo grows almost everywhere in Vietnam. Specifically, Vietnam is home to more than 60 species of bamboo with a total area of nearly 1.6 million ha. Most notably, two species, Lung (Bambusa longissima sp.nov) and Luong (Dendrocalamus barbatus) are the main source of raw material for production of handicraft, furniture and construction materials.
Outstanding Properties
The unsurpassed growing speed of bamboo will really amaze you. It just takes only 3 months for bamboo to reach a height of 15-20m. Bamboo is also a generative material which can regrow without the needs for replanting and using pesticides. Bamboo can attain maturity after 3-5 years, and it is the right time when the stem becomes solid and ready for being used.
Woody bamboo stems have a cylinder-like structure which is upright, sturdy and often hollow inside. Not only lightweight, the stems possess a relatively high bending strength and tensile strength. The core of mature bamboo acquires light yellow, and a strong, flexible nature. The outer skin is extremely tough, a bit shiny, which gives protection for the stem and a very rustic appearance.
Bamboo species can differ significantly in size, color, node, distribution, configuration, mechanical properties and climatic or soil preferences. Even with the same species, there can still be many variations in size and quality of bamboo stems.
Application Areas
Currently, we can see a variety of novel applications that can be made out of bamboo. Featuring a high level of sturdiness and flexibility, bamboo can also be mechanically processed in different manners (sawn, split, bent, cut, flattened, laminated, etc).
Each processing method will offer us interesting products in numerous industries from structural, architecture, interior design, homewares, to textile and paper. Let us show you more details about several key applications of bamboo in Vietnam!
Construction & Architecture
Bamboo stems can be cut easily by machine and acts directly as a beam or column in a building. By slicing lengthwise, or heat treatment for bending, bamboo sections can be useful for structural purposes or decor in interior design (e.g. banisters).
Small strips split from bamboo stems can obtain high hardness and hardwood look by hot-pressing and glue activation. They will bring many applications such as floorings, ceilings, beams, walls, window frames, staircases, decking, canal lining, sheet piling, etc.
Furniture & Homewares
A prime example of bamboo in use is furniture. Nowadays, bamboo strips can go through complicated processes such as hot-pressing to eventually make outdoor furniture, panels for table tops, cutting boards, kitchen trays, and desk organizers.
Thin bamboo slivers are more utilized in homeware production with the technique of weaving, coiling (spinning), or connecting. Bamboo weaving is a historic method by which Vietnamese producers manually create strong baskets, lampshades, lanterns, planters, trays, carpets, etc.
Besides that, the coiling method enables the transformation of bamboo slivers into decorative household items such as bowls, vases, trays, lamps with a modern aesthetic. Connected bamboo by means of a thread can be mostly seen as window curtains, mats for table, bath and floor, and also applied to Vietnam lamps, cabinets and furniture.
Bamboo Basket Wholesale Vietnam
Bamboo Basket Qualities & Uses
Inheriting notable characteristics of bamboo, Vietnam woven baskets are durable, stable, well-shaped and less likely to be deformed or crack. The actual weight capacity still depends on the specific structure, commonly 10kg at maximum.
With a sturdy nature, bamboo baskets have better ability to withstand humidity than other pliable materials such as seagrass and water hyacinth. That being said, dried bamboo can absorb water in the long run, and there can still be mold on wicker baskets. Therefore, we suggest the moisture content for bamboo basket wholesale should range from 8% to 16%.
Bamboo basket wholesale thus can suit many functions from storage to decoration, and complement a variety of spaces and settings. They are nice storage hampers for blankets, clothing, books, toys, fruit, and also used as flower pots, shopping bags, gift baskets. It is advisable that woven bamboo should be used indoors for lasting longevity.
How Is Bamboo Basket Wholesale Made?
Vietnam enjoys the benefits of bamboo resources and low labor cost. These attributes make Vietnam an attractive location for sourcing bamboo-based products, particularly bamboo basket wholesale.
As of 2019, there are nearly 300 companies and exporters focusing on these products, according to Vietnam Yellowpages. The main areas for bamboo processing in Vietnam are Ha Noi, Thai Binh, Nghe An, and Thanh Hoa province. Here is how bamboo basket wholesale is made in Vietnam!
Bamboo Harvesting
Lung (Bambusa longissima sp.nov) is the main bamboo species used in producing handicrafts, including bamboo basket wholesale. A large amount of the Lung bamboo is harvested in Nghe An province, then collected and sold to handicraft producers for processing.
The ideal time to harvest this bamboo species for handicraft production is when the young culms are 1.5 to 2 years old, 4 to 6 cm in diameter and 60 to 70 cm in length. The old ones are used to make edges and frames.
Bamboo ProcessingÂ
Bamboo culms are then air-dried and soaked in a special solution for about 10 days to avoid termite attacks. Afterwards, producers chop off any bumps, remove outer and inner skin by sanding machine, and use sandpaper to smooth bamboo (burn all marks and scratches), and consequently dry them thoroughly.
If requested, bamboo culms are thermally steamed to acquire a light brown (caramel) or dark brown (chocolate). This also contributes to making bamboo more flexible for bending. Producers also need to straighten bamboo stems, and mechanically split them into thin strips for weaving. The thickness and sizes of strips vary according to product requirements.
In case that buyers want colored woven baskets, Vietnam producers need to dye bamboo strips with water-based solvent with pigments at high temperature in about 5 minutes. Dyed bamboo strips are then exposed to the sun until they are completely dry.
Bamboo Basket Weaving
Bamboo strips are manually woven into baskets by local people in traditional handicraft villages. After weaving is done, qualified baskets are collected and moved to Vietnam producers for further treatment.
Bamboo basket wholesale in Vietnam comes in many shapes, sizes, weaving styles and patterns. Thanks to the frame or strong base, woven bamboo baskets can have a sturdy structure and limit the risk of deformation. Several popular weaving styles of bamboo baskets consist of Mat plaiting, Square plaiting, Twill plaiting, and Diamond twill plaiting.
Bamboo Basket Finishing
In this stage, craftsmen rub the surface of bamboo basket wholesale. As bamboo strips are rigid and include many fibers, there will still be a relatively sharp edge and excess details on the surface. Therefore, Vietnam producers use a mini flame gun and also trim by hand to clean the surface.
Subsequently, bamboo basket wholesale will be dipped in glue for sturdier shapes and weave connection. If required for colors, the Vietnamese baskets will be sprayed with one layer of paint, then dried out before packaging.
Caring For Bamboo Basket Wholesale
Like other natural fibers, wholesale bamboo basket require special care and maintenance. First, Vietnam woven baskets should be protected from damp/wet environments. The humidity of the insulation room should be 30-50% – ensuring a dry, cool place.
Do not let any baskets come in contact with ground, against walls, or near air conditioners; place baskets on pallets or shelves instead. If you store bamboo basket wholesale in airtight bags or boxes, just put some desiccant packs inside too.
Secondly, the warehouse must be fumigated so that no insects can attack and cause structural, aesthetic damage to bamboo basket wholesale.
You have just explored how thin bamboo strips become functional baskets, as well as proper ways to make the baskets durable before putting them on sale. If you love the sturdiness of Bamboo, we bet you might also be interested in Rattan too. Let us know if you have any questions or would like to see more stunning bamboo homewares!
