Banana is correctly referred to as Kalpataru, a name that refers to an ancient fruit that is grown all over the world.
With an annual output of 24.8 million tonnes, India is the world’s top banana grower, followed by China, the Philippines, Ecuador, and Brazil. India is responsible for 22% of global banana production. Banana fibre production gives employment to thousands of poor people in India, in addition to generating textiles.
Bananas are harvested two to four times a year, and the stems are often removed and discarded. Banana fibre is also used in the pulp sector as a replacement. With so many positive attributes, this fibre is gaining appeal in the fashion sector, with several well-known clothing lines and fashion designers adopting banana-based fabric. In comparison to other synthetic fibres, the fibre is also eco-friendly and biodegradable.
Please give me more: Uses and demand of banana fibre.
It is possible to use every component of the banana plant. Banana leaves are used as bio-plates to serve meals, and the fruit and spadix are edible. The central section of the stem, which is also edible, is used to make medicine. Banana fibre is not a discovery, but it is certainly unusual. This plant has long been a source of high-quality textiles.
Banana fibre had limited use in the past. Mats, ropes, and various composite goods were the most common uses. However, banana fibres have become more widely used in garments, paper, footwear, purses, and home furnishings as consumer awareness of the value of sustainable products has grown.
The banana plant, which is widespread in hot tropical climates, develops quickly and easily without herbicides or pesticides. Banana plants of all varieties are high in fibre. After the banana fruit is picked, the fibres are extracted from the stem of the banana plant. Curtains, bags, cushion coverings, and neckties are all made from banana fibre. Banana silk fibre carpets are hand-knotted in Nepal using bleached and dried banana fibres. These rugs are well-known around the world.
Banana fibre is currently frequently used as a mixing element in the textile industry. There is a significant demand for it in countries such as the United States of America, Malaysia, Korea, the European Union, and the Philippines. The Yen, Japan’s money, is constructed of banana fibre. As a result, exporting banana fibre will generate significant foreign cash for India. There must be proper cooperation with manufacturing units and exporting countries, and there is little question that this industry will revolutionise.
Wearing bananas? What banana fabric is like
Banana fabric is a lovely, cruelty-free textile with a natural sheen that resembles real silk and is an excellent choice for a sustainable and environmentally friendly cloth. Because the quality of the fibre inside the stem varies, it can be utilised to make a variety of fabrics. The stem’s interior threads are exceedingly fine and smooth, with a natural gloss. They’re used to make the softest fabrics, such as kimonos and saris.
Because the outside strands are coarse, they can be used to weave baskets and make handbags. Banana fibre is very good at absorbing moisture. The water is soon absorbed and discharged. A shirt made of banana fabric is quite pleasant in the heat due to its high water absorption quality.
It’s tough to envision the banana stem having silk-like softness and suppleness. Banana fibres, on the other hand, are simple to process and turn into a silk-like fabric. As a result of its shine, affordability, and eco-friendliness, the banana fabric is preferred by many designers and producers. The banana fabric is one of the few textiles in the textile industry that can be utilised for fire protection garments while still being created at a reasonable cost.
Getting it going: Banana fibre extraction
Previously, banana fibre was removed through a laborious and time-consuming manual method. The thread is separated by scraping the stem covering with a metal scraper.
With the invention of the banana fibre separation machine, the traditional banana fibre method is set to alter. One of the machine’s most intriguing aspects is that it produces silk-like fibres from agricultural waste from banana harvest. The handicraft and textile industries benefit greatly from these fibres. Thanks to the breakthrough, what was once considered agricultural trash is now utilised to manufacture high-quality silk-like fibre yarn.
The eco-friendly fabric of the future
The banana-fibre fabric has the potential to be the next big thing in green fashion. According to the experts, if the cloth is mass-produced, it can be less expensive than cotton and linen. Fabrics manufactured from these fibres have a high sheen, are lightweight, absorb moisture quickly, and have a linen-like appearance. It can be used as an eco-friendly substitute for a variety of popular materials.
Eco-friendly materials and sustainable fashion consider the social and environmental consequences of textile production, including carbon footprints. The goal of an eco-friendly manner is to find a way for humans to utilise natural resources without causing harm to the environment.