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| Fibre Design cum Development Centre, Moonnukallinmoode, Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram |
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See the transformation of plain plantain fibre into costly shirt or shawl at the Fibre Design cum Development Centre under Khadi and Village Industries Commission at Moonnukallinmoode, Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram. These and more such products brought out by the Centre show how even ‘lowly’ raw materials can bring forth highly desired products.
Although fibre can be extracted from any type of plantain, bananas are better. An experienced worker can extract 500-600gm of fibre in 8 hours. The next step is to add colour to the dried fibre. For this dye is added to water and boiled for 2 hours. The fibre is then introduced into the solution and again boiled for another 2 hours. After washing and drying, the fibres are ready for weaving into designs.
While a ready to wear shirt made of the fibre costs about Rs.900, a shawl would cost Rs.400. Shirts are preferred for marriage ceremonies and have market in and outside the country. Other items manufactured by the Centre include handbags, tablemats and shopping bags.
A shirt made of plantain fibre
Courtesy: Suresh Muthukulam, Malayala Manorama, April 2, 2004
Contributed by: Administrator
