When did Bamboodah Start, and Why?

Bamboodah was founded in the spring of 2009 as I was seeking a way to leave the corporate world behind forever and start my own venture.  Both of our children were adopted from China.  I really wanted to incorporate their ancestral culture into what ever business I chose to begin.

What Does Bamboodah Do?

Bamboodah creates eco-enlightened fashion merchandise manufactured from a common raw material…bamboo.  The products are sold at outdoor fairs and festivals throughout the southeastern United States, through our online store and at select retailers.  Available products include a line of tote bags, shopping bags, laptop computer and attaché cases.  

Why Bamboo?

I have always loved the look of bamboo clusters growing in gardens throughout our home state of Florida.  I enjoy the tranquil sound of the shoots clacking together at night as they sway in the sea breeze.  Bamboo has a long history in China, where it is still commonly used in everything from fencing, to furniture and even scaffolding.  Bamboo has long been used in the United States for many of these same uses…except perhaps the scaffolding.

Scaffolding outside a building in Guangzhou, China.

Recently, many have been turning their eyes to bamboo for another reason.  Bamboo is readily renewable and shoots grow to full maturity in as little as 2 years.  Hardwood trees, by contrast, can take 30 or more years to reach a height where they can be harvested for lumber.  Also, the harvesting of hardwood forests destroys habitats for wildlife, subjects soil to erosion and damages the overall ecology of the region.