What abaca is
Where abaca grows
How abaca is grown: from sucker, not seed
Abaca does produce seeds, dark and hard, inside small banana-like fruits. They germinate slowly and unpredictably, so farmers usually plant suckers or pieces of rhizome instead. Each new plant keeps the qualities of its parent. As it matures, fresh suckers rise around its base, and the cycle continues.
From stalk to fibre: tuxying and stripping
The first harvest comes 18 to 24 months after planting, and mature stalks can then be cut every three to four months. Once a stalk is felled, the fibre-rich outer layer of each leaf sheath is separated into long strips called tuxies. This first step is tuxying.
Next comes stripping. Each tuxy is pulled between a block and a knife, by hand or with a simple spindle machine, to scrape away the pulp and free the fibre. The strands are dried in the sun, graded, and bundled, ready for the weaver.
Why abaca is so strong
Abaca is widely regarded as the strongest of the natural plant fibres. It resists salt water and keeps its strength when wet, which is why it once rigged ships across the world. Today those same qualities suit ropes, speciality papers, and handwoven pieces meant to last. And because it is a plant fibre through and through, it is biodegradable at the end of a long life.
Abaca at COLĒRE
Our Colō Colēre crossbody is hand-braided from abaca by fairly paid artisans, coil by coil, in small batches. The same fibre forms the Colō Key Ring and, woven with seagrass, Ocean Dreams and Aether & Me. For the story of the crossbody itself, read The handwoven abaca crossbody: a bag made to be kept.
Abaca questions, answered
Is abaca a banana plant? It belongs to the banana family but is a separate species, grown for fibre rather than fruit.
Where does abaca grow? Chiefly in the Philippines, and in other warm, humid tropical regions.
How long before abaca can be harvested? Around 18 to 24 months after planting, then every three to four months.
Is abaca biodegradable? Yes. It is a natural plant fibre and returns to the earth at the end of its life.
A thought to carry with you: the next time you hold a natural fibre, consider the life that came before it. A growing season, a landscape, and the knowledge of people who work with nature rather than against it.
You are warmly invited to explore The Carry, or to join us in The Garden, where we keep exploring the materials, people, and values behind every piece. Thank you for being part of this story.
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