The banana plants that are used in the production of Delinear rugs are grown in the southern most region of Nepal near the border of India. The fiber comes from the banana tree trunk. The tree is harvested and cut into small sections so that it can undergo a softening process.  The raw material is then processed by machine to extract the fibrous material.  Once the raw fibers are separated, they are bleached to give a more uniform color.  Upon completion of this process, they are dried and packed into bales for shipment to the Kathmandu valley, where they are dyed and spun into yarns for rug weaving.  The banana rugs under go the same weaving process as the Nepalese hand-knotted woolen rugs.

The unique quality of the banana rug is that it has a look and feel that is very similar to silk but with a loose, casual feel that is not as refined as silk.  The durability of the banana fiber is similar to that of silk or nettle and is not recommended for high traffic areas. The actual weight of the fiber is greater that that of wool and it is best when woven in the 100-knot version.  It can be woven into any of the Delinear patterns, but looks fantastic in a solid color that highlights the beautiful texture and natural sheen.  Since it is similar to silk, it has a very luxurious quality that makes it feel expensive while being considerably less expensive that silk. 

Banana is particularly eco friendly, as it is a natural plant crop that produces not only fruit, but fibers for textiles as well.  In addition, all Delinear rugs are Rugmark certified which supports this important nonprofit organization in stopping child labor and supporting the Nepalese community.

This is an exciting new fiber that is not only eco friendly, but socially conscious and beautiful to the senses.  It is rare to find a new design material that covers all these important criteria.  For this reason we are very excited to introduce Delinear “Banana rugs” for spring 2006.