Four innovative materials made from banana were showcased at this year's Future Fabrics Expo in London, held annually by the non-profit The Sustainable Angle. Sustainable and durable, the "banana" textiles could become an alternative to leather and fabric.
The annual Future Fabrics Expo was held at Magazine London, a modern space with impressive views of the River Thames and the city skyline. Exhibitors showcased ten thousand sustainable materials with potential for use in the fashion and interiors industries, and textiles made from banana crops were one of the most popular.
1. Banofi
Banofi is a plant-based leather that was created as a vegan alternative to leather, as well as a way to use the waste from banana trees, which only bear fruit once in their lives. The waste, which serves as the main raw material, is sourced from Indian farmers. The fibers are combined with natural resins, which are then coated with synthetic coatings to make the leather more durable. The manufacturer claims that Banofi uses 95 percent less water and emits 90 percent less carbon dioxide than its natural counterpart. In the future, the brand hopes to make the material entirely bio-based.
2. Fiiba
Banana crop waste was also used by Fiiba, which turned the raw material into a fabric designed as an alternative to cotton and viscose. The brand explained that banana plants are often burned or left to rot. Using banana as an eco-friendly base for the fabric avoids the heavy use of water and insecticides needed to grow cotton, as well as the deforestation required to produce viscose. The Fiiba team dried the fibers from felled trees, processed them, and turned them into fabric.
3. Bananatex
In an effort to replace synthetic clothing, nonprofits Parley for the Oceans and Sky High Farm Universe have created a bio-based clothing collection called Bananatex. Bananatex is a canvas fabric made from abaca, or textile banana, which does not require pesticides, fertilizers, or irrigation. According to the brands, abaca can be planted alongside other species in destroyed monoculture palm plantations to increase biodiversity.
4. Green Whisper
Green Whisper sources fibers from banana tree trunks directly from farmers' fields. The fibers are blended with organic cotton to make the fabric biodegradable. The brand also produces notebooks and other paper products from banana raw materials to reduce waste burning and provide additional income to farmers.
Photos: The Sustainable Angle
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