Abstract
Banana fiber, an agro-residue-derived cellulosic feedstock, is emerging as a sustainable textile raw material with potential across apparel, interior textiles and technical fabrics. This review synthesizes botanical origins, historical use, yarn and fabric formation pathways, current industrial practice, sustainability considerations and research priorities for banana-based fabrics. Emphasis is placed on fabrics (woven, knitted, nonwoven) rather than composites. The article also maps growth of fabric-level research and identifies technical, standardization and scale-up gaps that must be addressed to accelerate industrial adoption.
This work aligns with NFC’s mission to advance natural fiber innovation and build practical, scalable solutions from agricultural residues: www.naturalfibercompany.com.
1. Introduction
The global textile industry faces urgent sustainability challenges: high water and chemical use, large greenhouse-gas footprints, and extensive post-consumer waste streams associated with synthetic fibres and intensive cotton cultivation. Against this backdrop, agricultural-residue-derived fibres—those recovered from crop by-products—have gained renewed interest as low-impact, biodegradable alternatives for textile applications.
Banana fibre, obtained from the pseudostem and leaf sheaths of Musa species, is especially attractive because it derives from abundant plantation residues and offers a largely cellulosic fibre suitable for yarn and fabric production. This review focuses specifically on banana fiber fabrics (woven, knitted, and nonwoven forms), positioning banana textiles within the broader family of natural cellulosic fibres.
The objectives are to: (i) document botanical and historical contexts relevant to fabric production, (ii) synthesize the state-of-the-art in yarn and fabric formation and industrial practice, (iii) appraise sustainability attributes and market dynamics, and (iv) identify research gaps and future directions for fabric-level innovation and scale-up.
For global context on how banana waste can be valorized into higher-value products, see: ITC’s perspective on banana waste and opportunity.
2. Botanical Origin and Taxonomy of Banana Fibers
Banana fibre is principally sourced from the pseudostem and leaf sheaths of Musa spp., perennial monocots cultivated for fruit in tropical and subtropical regions. The fibre-bearing tissue occurs as longitudinal vascular bundles and sclerenchymatous sheaths within the pseudostem; these bundles are the botanical basis for textile-grade fibres.
2.1 Banana Plant Anatomy Relevant to Fiber Production
The pseudostem—formed by tightly overlapping leaf sheaths—yields continuous bundles of bast-like cellulose fibrils. Annual harvest cycles (fruit bunching and pseudostem disposal) create recurring biomass availability, making banana plantations a renewable source of fiber feedstock without dedicated land expansion when residues are valorized.
2.2 Taxonomy of Banana Species Used for Fibres
Species and cultivars vary in fibre yield and morphology. Commonly referenced taxa in textile research include Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana and the fiber-specialist Musa textilis (abacá), although many cooking/fruit cultivars are also used for pseudostem fibre recovery. Hybrid cultivars and local landraces influence fibre fineness and length, with notable regional differences.
2.3 Geographic Distribution and Fiber Utilization
Banana fibre utilization clusters in South and Southeast Asia (India, Philippines, Indonesia), parts of Africa and Latin America, where banana and abacá agriculture is established. The Philippines is historically associated with abacá textiles, while India and Bangladesh have active cottage and small-scale banana-fibre fabric production. Correlating species/cultivar selection with textile suitability remains an active area of study.
A Pakistan-focused overview of banana fiber’s sustainability relevance is also discussed here: Banana fiber in Pakistan (sustainability discussion).
3. Fibre-to-Fabric Pathways
3.1 Fibre Extraction and Preparation
Fibre extraction is typically based on mechanical decortication or stripping of pseudostem sheaths, followed by cleaning, drying, and grading. Preparation steps may include softening, partial degumming, and controlled alignment to improve spinnability. Because banana fibre properties can vary strongly by cultivar, maturity, and extraction technique, consistent preprocessing is foundational for reproducible yarn and fabric outcomes.
3.2 Yarn Formation and Spinning Compatibility
Yarn formation pathways include blending with other natural fibres to improve flexibility and cohesion, as well as optimizing staple length distribution and fibre fineness through preparation steps. In practice, banana fibre may be used in blended yarns or engineered structures to balance hand-feel, strength, and process stability—especially when targeting apparel-like comfort or consistent weaving/knitting behavior.
3.3 Fabric Formation: Woven, Knitted, and Nonwoven
Banana fibre can be converted into woven fabrics for structured applications, knitted fabrics for flexibility and comfort-oriented uses, and nonwoven fabrics where entanglement or bonding creates sheet-like structures. Fabric architecture determines key performance properties such as drape, abrasion behavior, moisture transfer, and dimensional stability—making fabric-level design central to commercial adoption.
A broader framing of sustainability and circularity challenges in textiles can be explored here: Global sustainability challenges in materials & textiles.
4. Current Industrial Practice and Scale-Up Considerations
4.1 From Cottage Systems to Industrial Lines
Banana fibre textiles span a spectrum from cottage production to emerging industrial approaches. Cottage systems often excel in artisan value and localized supply chains, while industrial pathways emphasize repeatability, throughput, and standardized quality. A key transition point is the ability to maintain fibre uniformity and predictable yarn behavior at higher volumes.
4.2 Quality Control and Standardization Gaps
Standardization remains a critical bottleneck. Variability in fibre fineness, length, and residual non-cellulosic content affects spinning and fabric appearance. Fabric producers require reliable grading systems, test protocols, and clearly defined specifications to support consistent fabric outputs and downstream product development.
For a practical comparison of natural fibres versus synthetics (durability trade-offs and environmental logic), see: Synthetic vs natural fiber (performance and sustainability).
5. Sustainability Attributes and Market Dynamics
5.1 Environmental Rationale
Banana fibre’s sustainability rationale is anchored in residue valorization: converting pseudostem biomass into textile feedstock can reduce waste disposal burdens and create higher-value outcomes from existing agricultural systems. In markets under pressure to reduce plastic and microplastic emissions, biodegradable natural fabrics provide a compelling route for lower-impact textile portfolios.
5.2 Circularity and End-of-Life
Circularity depends on system design: fibre extraction, processing chemistries, dyes/finishes, and product architecture all influence whether banana fabrics can be recycled, composted, or safely biodegraded. Framework-level thinking about circular economy in textiles is discussed here: Circular economy frameworks in textiles.
5.3 Supply, Residue Availability, and Waste Management
Because banana cultivation generates recurring pseudostem biomass, the scale-up conversation often focuses on collection logistics, preprocessing infrastructure, and stable feedstock availability. A deeper discussion of pseudostem volumes and the climate cost of current disposal practices is outlined here: Agro-waste and banana pseudostem climate cost.
6. Research Priorities and Future Directions
Fabric-level adoption will accelerate when research and industry converge on repeatable, standardized pathways from fibre extraction to yarn formation and fabric engineering. Key priorities include: (i) improved fibre grading and predictive quality metrics, (ii) scalable preprocessing/softening methods compatible with low-impact chemistry, (iii) robust spinning compatibility across common yarn systems, and (iv) standardized fabric testing methods for abrasion, moisture transfer, and long-term durability.
Bibliometric mapping of banana textile research suggests growing attention at the materials and processing level; however, fabric-level standardization and industrial transfer remain core challenges. Addressing these will require coordinated efforts between fibre producers, spinners, fabric mills, and standards bodies.
International attention to banana fibre innovation continues to expand, including coverage related to Pakistan’s emerging work in this space: ABC coverage on banana fibers from Pakistan.
Conclusion
Banana fibre fabrics represent a credible pathway toward low-impact natural textiles, particularly when residue-based feedstocks are paired with scalable, standardized fibre-to-yarn and yarn-to-fabric systems. The strongest adoption trajectory is likely to come from fabric-level engineering—where structure, finishing, and performance targets translate sustainability from a concept into a reliable material platform.
To explore NFC’s work in natural fibre innovation and product development, visit: The Natural Fiber Company.
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