Today let us look at two textile fibers from the
Philippines: Abaca and Pina
The abaca plant (Musa textiles), a species of banana is native to the region and grows
naturally. Strong, coarse fibers are
extracted from the large oblong leaves and stems. The leaves grow from the trunk of the plant and the base of the
leaves form a sheath around the trunk. The striping process separates the long
leaf fibers (5 to 11 ½ ft in length) from the pulpy matrix. The fibers are dried in the sun and gathered
into bundles. If the fibers are
intended for textiles, they are softened by pounding in a mortar, increasing
their flexibility. The fibers cannot be
spun, but are hand tied end –to-end and are carefully coiled in baskets to keep
them from tangling. Before they are
woven, they are dyed in skeins of plain colors or on tying framed for ikat.
Characteristics of abaca; elegant in appearance and similar
to linen
lightweight
abaca fibers are
usually blended with other fibers such as silk or polyester which produces a
fabric with a distinct nubby appearance
the fabric is washable
and easy care
Pina (pineapple) is an herbaceous perennial , 2/12 to 5 feet
in height with a spread of 3-4 feet. It
is not native to the Philippines, but a native to Brazil and Paraguay. The native Indians spread the plant
throughout South and Central America where Columbus found the fruit on the
island of Guadeloupe in 1493 and brought it back to Spain. The Spanish introduced it to the Philippines
in the 16thC.
The fiber is a leaf fiber ( leaves are 20-72 inches in
length).
Characteristics are similar to abaca and is usually combined
with other fibers. Combined with abaca,
it is called ‘justi”.
From the Rainbow's Varied Hue: Textiles of the Southern Philippines,
Roy W. Hamilton, ed.,
UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, Los Angeles, 1989
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