Timeline by Cruz Greico

Bananatex

cruzvincicf — 2024-11-10 22:27:04 UTC

Bananatex is a strong, biodegradable fabric made only from Abacá banana plants grown in a sustainable way in the Philippines. These plants don’t need extra water, pesticides, or fertilizers, so they help bring back forests and support local wildlife and farmers. After three years of work, this fabric was created as a better choice for the environment. Bananatex® is shared as an open-source project, offering a natural alternative to synthetic fabrics.

Abaća Banana Plant

cruzvincicf — 2024-11-10 22:29:22 UTC

It all starts here with the Abaća Banana Plant

Cutting the Stalks

cruzvincicf — 2024-11-10 22:30:19 UTC

"Each Abacá plant has several stalks that can be harvested once a year, and regenerate fully within one year. The first step is “topping”: cutting the leaves, then “tumbling” the stalks. The leaves are left to decompose, creating a natural fertilizer."

Stripping

cruzvincicf — 2024-11-10 22:32:02 UTC

"The stripping is handled at the harvesting site, and the fibers are “combed” to separate them from one another."

Sorting

cruzvincicf — 2024-11-10 22:32:50 UTC

"The raw fibers are sorted at the warehouse of the farmers cooperative."

Environment

cruzvincicf — 2024-11-10 22:39:02 UTC

Abacá is an eco-friendly plant that grows naturally without needing pesticides or much water, making it a low-impact crop. It helps replant and heal damaged forests in the Philippines, where soil was harmed by big palm farms. For yarn production, Abacá fibers are dyed using a special method that’s safer for the environment. The White yarn isn’t dyed at all, saving even more resources. Altogether, Abacá supports both nature and local farmers, creating a strong, sustainable option that’s better for the planet than many other crops.

Bananatex Being Used

cruzvincicf — 2024-11-10 22:41:32 UTC

"A signature design of Balenciaga, the iconic Triple S Sneaker was first introduced in 2017 and has become an instant classic. This new edition, created through several years of development and close collaboration between Balenciaga and Bananatex®, now features a Bananatex® upper and is available in natural white and all black. Both versions come with matching laces and an embroidered Balenciaga logo on the side."

Bananatex Being Used

cruzvincicf — 2024-11-10 22:42:16 UTC

"Stella McCartney has launched its first-ever bag crafted from banana plants as part of its Autumn 2023 collection – a vegan Logo tote, embroidered with the brand’s iconic Fungi Forest toile de Jouy print. Autumn 2023 is an ageless wardrobe revisiting Stella icons – rooted in a love for trees and Mother Earth, celebrating the power of plants and the role they play in conscious fashion. The hand-drawn Fungi Forest toile de Jouy debuted as part of the Summer 2022 collection, woven now onto the Logo tote’s Bananatex® base."