I’ve actually had trouble finding the history of the bamboo window shade.  Most of the history was based more around window blinds and shades in general and wasn’t specific to bamboo window shades.  Here are some general facts about blinds.

• Window blinds, specifically Venetian blinds came from Persia
• Venetian travelers and traders brought the blinds to Venice and Paris
• In the 1950’s the blinds were made of 2 inche metal slates and were hung with pieces of fabric
• In the 1980’s the metal blinds were replaced with other materials such as vinyl and wood
• The horizontal lines are great from an interior design point of view
• Bamboo window shades create a very laid back and calming atmosphere
• They are very cost effective compared to other types of window coverings such as drapes
• If you use outdoor bamboo shades make sure they are treated to stop water and sun from damaging them

If you find any other information about bamboo window shades feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll add it to the list.

After more research I did find some information saying that in Japan around 794 and 1185 they used a bamboo window shade as a type of screen from the sun.