Why Bamboo Fleece Belongs in Your Summer Wardrobe — Bear & Roo

Why I Built an Entire Summer Collection Around Bamboo Fleece — And Why It Makes More Sense Than You Think

If you’ve been following along this week, you already know that something new is dropping at Bear & Roo. The Prairie Heat Collection — a full line of cozy, comfortable, made-to-order pieces in lightweight bamboo fleece. Six colours. Multiple styles. All made by me in my Saskatchewan studio.

And if you’re new here — welcome. I’m Jen, the maker behind Bear & Roo. I design, cut (with help of casual employee) , and sew every piece myself. No factory. No overseas production. Just me, my studio, and a genuine obsession with finding fabrics that actually work for women’s real lives.

Today I want to talk about bamboo fleece — what it actually is, why I chose it, and why fleece in summer makes a lot more sense than you might think.

First, Let’s Talk About What Bamboo Fleece Actually Is

The word “fleece” tends to make people picture something heavy and warm — the kind of pullover you reach for in January when the temperature drops to –40. That’s not what bamboo fleece is.

Bamboo fleece is a mid-weight, stretchy knit fabric made primarily from bamboo rayon fibres. The blend I use in the Prairie Heat Collection is 66% Rayon from Bamboo, 28% Cotton, and 6% Spandex — and that combination gives it a very specific feel that’s hard to describe until you’re wearing it.

Soft. Stretchy. Breathable. With just enough body to drape beautifully without feeling heavy.

It’s also certified OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 — which means every component of the fabric has been tested for harmful substances. When I put something against your skin, I want to know it’s safe. This certification matters to me.

Why Bamboo Fleece Works in Summer

Here’s the honest truth about Canadian summers — especially in Saskatchewan. They are not one temperature. They are cool mornings, warm afternoons, air conditioned everything, and evenings by the fire or the lake that have you reaching for a layer before the sun even finishes setting.

Bamboo fleece was made for exactly that.

The bamboo rayon fibre is naturally breathable and moisture wicking — which means it doesn’t trap heat against your body the way synthetic fabrics can. It regulates your temperature instead of fighting it. On a cool morning it feels cozy. On a warmer afternoon it breathes. Coming off the lake or out of the pool, it’s exactly what you want to wrap yourself in.

That’s the thing about fleece that people forget — cozy isn’t a season. It’s a feeling. And bamboo fleece delivers that feeling without the weight or the warmth that makes traditional fleece impractical in July.

The Fit Problem That Bear & Roo Was Built to Solve

I started Bear & Roo because I couldn’t find clothes that fit my real life. Not just my body — my life. The busy mornings, the active days, the evenings where I wanted to feel comfortable and still look like I’d made an effort.

And I know I’m not alone in that. Women, especially women over 40 are consistently underserved by clothing that’s designed for an average that doesn’t exist. Too long in the inseam. Waistbands that dig in by noon. Fabric that looks good on the hanger and disappoints you the moment you move.

Made to order changes that entirely.

When you order from Bear & Roo, your piece doesn’t exist yet. It gets cut and sewn after you place your order — to your measurements, your inseam, your body. Every bottom in the Prairie Heat Collection is made to your custom inseam length. No elastic waistband. No guessing. Just clothes that fit the way clothes should.

In over 10 years and 19,000+ orders, the thing women tell me most consistently is that they didn’t know clothes could fit like this. That once they try made to order, they can’t go back.

That’s what I’m building every time I sit down at my sewing machine.

What’s in the Prairie Heat Collection

The Prairie Heat Collection is eight plus best seller styles in six colours — all in lightweight bamboo fleece, all made to order in my Saskatchewan studio.

The colours are Jay, Golden, Stargazer, Sand, Moonscape, and Brick — a palette that was designed to mix, layer, and live in. Warm neutrals and rich saturated tones that work together and feel intentional.

The styles include the Sprint Zip Up, the Banff Sweater (new this season), the Restore Pants, the Lakeside Jogger, the Nevada Hoodie with Scuba Hood, the Restore Shorts, the Lounger, and the Cardigan. Every piece was chosen because it’s the kind of thing women reach for again and again.

This is a collection for the woman who is done choosing between comfortable and pulled together. Who wants to feel like herself in what she’s wearing. Who knows that the right fabric and the right fit change everything.

How to Care for Bamboo Fleece

Bamboo fleece is easy to care for when you follow a few simple rules.

Wash cold, gentle cycle, inside out. This protects the fibres and keeps the fabric looking its best wash after wash. Avoid high heat — bamboo rayon doesn’t love a hot dryer. Lay flat or hang to dry for best results, or tumble dry on low.

Treated well, bamboo fleece holds its softness and shape beautifully. This isn’t fast fashion fabric. It’s made to last — just like every Bear & Roo piece.

Ready to Find Your Piece?

If you’ve been curious about the Prairie Heat Collection and want to be first in line when it drops — comment SUMMER on any of my Instagram posts this week for early access Thursday night at 7pm MST. Or sign up here 

EARLY ACCESS - SUMMER COLLECTION

Or if you want to get a feel for the Bear & Roo cozy style before the new collection lands — the current cozy collection is live right now. Browse the styles, find what speaks to you, and know exactly what you’re looking for when Prairie Heat drops.

Every piece is made to order. Made in Canada. Made by me.

I’d love to make something for you. 🌿

🌿 Comment SUMMER on Instagram for early access — Thursday May 22 at 7pm MST

🧲 Shop the current cozy collection now — www.bearandroo.com/collections/cozy-women-s