Bananatex tells design publication dezeen, which shortlisted the fabric for its material innovation award, that the fabric has among the highest tearing and abrasion strength found in nature and could replace cotton and synthetic fabrics. “The main challenge in developing the jersey was to get a jersey with washing stability and elasticity values comparable to existing materials on the market,” Bananatex said.
The fabric is made by cooking Abacá plant stalk fibers into a pulp, which is made into yarn in Taiwan. The material takes about 10 weeks to break down in industrial composters and 4 months in the ocean, but Bananatex is also working on a way to recycle the material in a circular process.
Sourcing of the fibers is also sustainable. “The Abacá plants are cultivated in the Philippines in a natural ecosystem, supporting reforestation and enhancing biodiversity, whilst improving the livelihoods of local farmers and communities,” Bananatex said. “These communities generate a stable source of income by harvesting the fibers on a regular basis.” No extra water, pesticides or fertilizer are required.