Abaca a high quality soft banana fiber is now making inroads in world of high fashion as handwoven abacá fabrics are being used by fashion designers. A mix of abacá and polyester is increasingly looked upon as an alternative to cotton in denim in the fashion industry. In automotive engineering, Mercedes Benz makes use of polypropylene thermoplastic and abacá yarn mixture in automobile body parts.

The abaca plant is indigenous to the Philippines, where warm, wet climate and volcanic soils are suited for this cultivation. The Philippines government has decided to promote the abacá industry. Women’s wear designer Tipay Caintic’s knitwear collection at the Future Fabrics Expo primarily used abacá, spun into a silky yarn similar to rayon. Her showpiece was a full length knit evening gown named Black Rain crocheted from banana silk and included a voluminous skirts made out of piña, a material not unlike organza.

Abaca fiber is valued for its exceptional strength, flexibility, buoyancy, and resistance to damage in salt water. Abacá is chiefly employed for ships’ ropes, hawsers, and cables and for fishing lines, hoisting and power-transmission ropes, well-drilling cables, and fishing nets. Some abacá is used in carpets, table mats, and paper. The plant’s inner fibers can be used without spinning to manufacture lightweight, strong fabrics, mainly used locally for garments, hats, and shoes.