Four overlapping swatches of woven abaca fabric fanned across one another: black twill, a fine grey herringbone, a silvery metallic weave, and a smooth olive-khaki coated face.
  • One swatch alone in pale silver-grey, showing the fine even weave that the fanned group obscures.
  • The four swatches spread apart rather than overlapping — black, two silvers and olive — so each finish is visible in full.

Bananatex® is a durable, technical fabric made purely from naturally grown abaca, a fiber found in banana plants. Cultivated in the Philippine highlands within a natural ecosystem of sustainable mixed agriculture and forestry, the plant is self-sufficient and requires no pesticides, fertilizer, or extra water.

Composition

Abaca fiber

Handling Notes

  • Bananatex® fiber is used for textile and garment production and in upholstery
  • It is durable, stiff, and naturally water-resistant without additives—test before laminating or coating unnecessarily

Applications in Craft

Keywords

Provenance

Bananatex®, Zug, Switzerland. Acquired 2024.

In Use

Have you used this material?

Please contact Mellanee Goodman, Program Director, Curator, and Materials Specialist, to start a conversation about submitting your work for inclusion on this site.

mgoodman@centerforcraft.org