Harvested two to three times a year, banana stems are usually cut and thrown away. But what we think of as waste can actually be used to make clothes. That's right, banana fibres can be used to make fabric that will eventually be used for clothing. So, by opting for products made from natural fibres, we can reduce the waste that we dump into gigantic landfills that eventually comes back to haunt us as polluted air or water. And here is why it makes sense in India. This country is the largest producer of bananas in the world with an annual output of about 14.2 million tonnes.
So, not only are bananas a great source of potassium, they are increasingly becoming all the rage with several fashion brands for the fibre that the peels and stems contain. Not only is this fibre biodegradable and eco-friendly, but it is also providing employment opportunities to thousands of people.
C Sekar from Chennai is known for working with various kinds of fibres. One of them is banana fibre. Temples in South India extensively use banana plants and trees for decoration. They are also a symbol of prosperity and fertility. C Sekar saw this as a great source of raw material, and started collecting banana fibre from amongst this pile of temple waste. Recalling the idea, Mr Sekar, founder of AnanaFit, eco-friendly natural fibers based textile company, said,
About 40 years ago, I read in a magazine that when Sita was kidnapped by Ravana, she had requested Anjaneya (Hanumana) to bring her a saree made of banana fibre. I was impressed by that.
Sekar has experimented with fibres like pineapple, bamboo, and even aloe vera to make yarn since these raw materials are easily available to him. Even though banana fibre is not a new discovery, its use had been very limited. Today, with increasing conversations around sustainable and slow fashion, banana fibre has emerged as a game changer.
Talking about choosing banana fibre, Mr Sekar said,
India is the second largest cultivator of bananas in the world. But at the same time banana cultivation generates waste worth hectares. The price of cotton yarn is increasing day by day, that is why we chose banana fibre as an alternative to cotton.
What started as an experiment now involves traditional weavers. The process of turning fibre into fabric is done by hand, using the traditional handloom. Apart from weavers, AnanaFit has also included women by providing them training in fibre extraction.
The fibre has other advantages too; it's vegan, keeps you cool during summers since it has great absorption properties, and looks very chic and stylish. Mr Sekar added,
This is a completely eco-friendly and zero-pollution fibre. We produce textiles made of natural fibres.
Very few brands have ventured into making yarns or even products from banana fibre, and the lack of awareness is another reason why the demand still remains very limited for these products. Manufacturers have been hesitant when it comes to using agricultural waste. But the ample and abundant supply of raw material makes plant waste fabrics a winner. And if we can also reduce our waste burden, then that will make our planet, our home, the real champion.
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