Thae Phyu Ecolodge
A banana plantation working with a banana thread-producing process that is used for weaving fabric. The explanation of process and photos courtesy of Khin Lin Naing (Pochi) and U Myint Thein (Thae Phyu Ecolodge) with minor edits by Dr Britta Boyer.
Cut the stem away from the banana plant
Remove the bark layers from the stem piece by piece
Feed the bark layers through the machine, piece by piece
This produces raw banana threads
The raw banana threads need to be soaked in a softener liquid; if a chemical softener is used, the fibres need to soak for about 2 hours and if a natural softener is used (banana leaves & stem‘s ash powder in photo below), the fibres need to soak for about 8 hours
Dry for one day in sunlight
The banana thread is cleaned by combing it through
The fibre is then dried for three days and is then ready to be sold in the market
