Future of Sustainable Fashion - Banana Fabric

 Have you ever come across the word sustainable fashion on Instagram or anywhere else? Yes, then slow fashion is the new big thing. Lately, many natural fibers have come up, and bananas are also in the same race. You might be thinking, why Bananas? I thought it was only for eating. You are right, but banana fiber is changing the future of sustainable fashion. There are multiple reasons associated with it. Let's understand them one by one. 

 

What is Banana Fiber?

The banana plant gives fruit once in its lifetime. Usually, after banana harvest, the rest of the plant is considered waste. By using the banana leaves and their stem, fiber is made, called Banana Fiber. A rigorous process is followed to obtain the thread. Two significant advantages of these fibers are sustainability and biodegradability. 

 

Why Prefer Banana Fiber Over Other Available Fibers?

Many fibers are available, like cotton, polyester, acrylic, spandex, etc. Most of these fibers pose heavy damage to the environment in multiple ways. The production of these fibers is a tedious process, so the fashion industry is now inclining towards available sustainable fashion options.

 

Banana fiber has several properties, making it the best alternative to silk, cotton, etc. Here we have listed a few points:

 

●     Cotton has the most significant water footprint, whereas banana plants don't consume that much water.

 

●     Banana fibers are too strong, flexible, long, and durable, making them one of the best choices for making fabrics.

 

●     The banana fiber is 15 times more robust and ten times more durable than linen compared to cotton.

 

●     The structure of banana fibers is a bit complex, making them last longer.

 

●     It is heat resistant because it has lignin as the main component.

 

●     The banana plant has a thick coating which makes a protective layer around it. Thus, the banana fiber doesn't absorb any chemicals and is resistant to them.

●     Compared to other fibers, the banana fabric is highly absorbent.

 

●     The fiber obtained from the banana stem is both elastic and flexible, which means it can be used to make plenty of products.

 

●     The banana fabric is highly biodegradable, which means it barely takes a few weeks to decompose.

 

These multiple properties of fiber obtained from Banana make it the ideal choice for becoming the next preferred sustainable fabric over others. The clothing line will soon make a significant shift to the banana fabric rather than following already available fibers.

 

Banana Products Made Using Banana Fiber

Fiber obtained from bananas can be used for creating multiple creating products that include:

 

●     Clothes

●     Banana Fiber Rugs

●     Banana handicrafts

●     Ropes

●     Twines

●     Sheets

●     Paper

●     Building material

●     Carpets

●     Food packaging

●     Cladding

●     Biofuel

●     Plates

●     Bags

●     Furniture & art and much more.

 

Future of Banana Fiber in Fashion Industry

If we answer in one word, then our answer is BRIGHT. Banana fiber brings multiple benefits, so it is getting all the traction. Also, it is not a newly invented fiber. It has been around for ages, but it got the deserving limelight now.

 

Moreover, when combined with fibers like cotton, wool, etc., the banana fiber gives terrific results. Many companies have already started using banana fiber to make banana fabrics, banana fiber rugs etc and sell them in the market. We will get to see more developments in the banana fabric industry in the future.